If you don’t ask, you don’t get so don’t be afraid and go for it. 32 (actually) interesting networking questions you could ask instead. Show up prepared. Top 10 coffee questions that people ask me; Top 10 Coffee Myths: True or false? You don’t need to go into full stalker mode, but be aware of who you’re meeting with, their accomplishments, and their general career trajectory. What experience did you have to get your job? If you think you’re weird for reaching out to someone you don’t know, relax! So you notice that an old acquaintance you have not been in touch with for years has your dream job. (or, what advice would you have liked to have had if you were in my position in your career?). Show gratitude at the end, send your thank-you email quickly, and promise to keep in touch. The biggest hurdle is making sure what you say is clear, concise, and specific. That it’s not answered anywhere on their blog, website, or on the internet somewhere else. I'm very interested in Evercore, but Evercore barely hires from our school. Bookmark this article and grab some of these questions if you are stuck or lost on how you should approach a networking conversation. Your “when” will probably be limited by schedules, but if you have some leeway, try to meet up during off-peak restaurant or cafe hours. What is your own background and experience? Pro-Tip: It shows that you're looking to learn and network with the best and you appreciate their opinions. It … In recent months, her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, Glamour, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, TIME, Newsweek, Fast Company, and Mashable. If you keep these three major things in mind, you’ll be building those connections in no time. Your meeting guest will most likely give you an answer and volley the question back to your court. Provide no context to the conversation. There are Insightful Questions. You've probably heard of Meetup.com, checked out LinkedIn groups, or have heard of a networking event through the grapevine. James Conti’s #1 question (in a formal interview): Q: What could I do to significantly make an impact in the first 90 days? I'm wondering how should network with him during our coffee chat and get my first-round. During calls and coffee chats, I have had individuals ask me about the type of questions they should be asking. You can ask anyone to go to coffee with you, but if you're new to networking, I recommend that you start your coffee meetings with people you … An easy route to go is to periodically follow up on social media with a tweet or a comment on a LinkedIn post. Show up without anything to take notes on, without your computer, without any story to explain the “who you are, what you’ve done, and what you are looking to get into.". If it feels like it’s going poorly, the most important thing is to keep your cool and to continue being enthusiastic without not trying too hard to impress. When sitting down for a one-on-one meeting, your preparation will be key to leaving a positive lasting first impression on the person you are meeting. Good news: This doesn’t have to be complicated. Let's go through the top 8 questions we recommend asking at the end of consulting interviews. Specific enough to that person that nobody else should be able to answer it and B. Lastly, formulate your questions for this person and write them down. You want this to be a conversation, not an interrogation. Unfortunately you only call something “networking” when you don’t like nor look forward to the experience of meeting or seeing people. Two, be sure to get the other person’s phone number if you’re meeting somewhere that requires travel. Keita Nakamura: I hope to be the director of your day. VFS Digital Design/Flickr. You can use the referral at the meetup as a tool to start new conversations at the meetup. Networking In 2016: Stop Asking People To Coffee / The Golden Girl This advice couldn’t have come at a better time for me personally! Below are a few sample questions provided by my awesome Career Services team here at Galvanize. Try to keep the conversation as natural and spontaneous as possible. Research their career and interests so you know what to talk about, and ask them broad questions that allow you to have a … Pro-Tip: This is great because your meeting guest is going to feed you 'ammunition' for when you go into your formal interview - where you can suggest that will add value to the team by completing projects that they are unable to achieve right now. You want to know what a terrible meeting looks like? We received a lot of feedback from the CEOs who took part on career growth and development. Taking the plunge and setting up a networking coffee date may be seem scary — it’s easy to to shy away from this kind of meetup in the world of instant messaging, email, and online forums. It’s all in the question that you ask. However, meeting with other professionals (a.k.a., strangers) for coffee, drinks, or a meal can feel awkward and unnatural. First, it comes off as rude—even if you’re not surfing Facebook while the other person is talking. Once you have that, go back and document the conversation somewhere (this could be on a spreadsheet, a journal, an email draft...whatever is easiest for you) But alway, always, ALWAYS, follow up with a thank you note. With all of the small talk (and of course, the awkwardness associated with it), most conversations at networking events end up lacking substance – making it difficult to justify the time and money spent. Networking over coffee is about building a relationship with the other person, not giving them your resume. General rule of thumb: Try to specify this beforehand in your email (“I want to treat you to coffee!”) to avoid confusion, but if it’s a single beverage and you asked this person to take time out of his or her day to meet, you should be the one paying for it. You won't get an interview slot or job offer because of your participation, no matter how charming you are or insightful your questions. But also know that it really is OK for your meeting to end earlier than you thought. they order a $3 coffee, don't order the fancy $9 one). You want to make sure that you leave your first interaction with this person with both parties feeling good about their use of time, mentioning in your note: “would you mind if we reconnected sometime down the road to chat a bit more about X?” This leaves the door open for you to continue the conversation. Your meeting guest may be able to provide you with some great insight on the good, the bad, and the ugly of their company, or industry, or technologies, etc. So you arrange a coffee date with said person who’ll hopefully dish out some juicy career advice, and maybe even some work experience. Send emails if this person experiences any big career milestones (like a promotion or an award), or if you come across an article or story that pertains to this person’s work or areas of interest. Don’t be afraid to ask: “I’m not too familiar with X technology, do you mind explaining how it ties into Y technology?”, Q: What's the most enjoyable aspect about working at x company, or with x technology? Remember, the very questions you ask someone are often the same questions they ask of you—meaning the questions I have given you are a perfect way for you to tell your story. As Muse writer Aja Frost says, it’s important to identify the reason why you’re reaching out and to keep your pitch short (no more than three or four sentences). “Hi, _____. When taking notes during an informal coffee, an in-person interview, and even after you land the job at your dream company, always make sure to make eye contact and let the speaker know that you are listening - only taking a few short notes to break eye contact. But with a little planning and preparation, you can make the most of … I was super lucky, this MD agreed to grab coffee with me. [closed] Ask Question Asked 4 years, 1 month ago. Will they discuss mistakes along the way, or just triumphs? I would love to grab coffee with you sometime to really hear your thoughts on [add one sentence explaining what you specifically need]. People are busy, have different schedules than you, and forget things easily. Long story short: The bridge was burnt between the two of us. Active 4 years, 1 month ago. How long is your work day? Getting this advice from a few different people will help you understand what you should be doing, what you should be expecting, and provide you with information that you will soon pass on to the next person looking to network with you! First things first, send a thank-you email as soon as you’re done with your meeting (pro tip: Have a draft ready to go before you head out to the meeting!). We talk a lot about the importance of networking, but often time, we aren't sure what questions we should ask. Don’t prepare, don’t remind the coffee attendee you are meeting why the meeting is even taking place, and wait for the awkward silences in between coffee sips. This question is opinion-based. I got selected for a phone screen....what…, The (Non-Technical) Value of a Whiteboard…. Suggestions/Comments are always welcome! Make sure you know what that person has been up to and what his or her current work entails before you send that “Hey, what’s up?” email. You are setting the stage to hear their story. This is a good question to ask early on in the conversation because it's a fresher take on a classic question: "So what do you do?" Typing out questions on a phone or computer is problematic for two reasons. For the introverts, the mere mention of the word “networking” can send shivers down their spine and sweat to their palms. I’m [explain what you’re looking for in 1-2 sentences] and would really appreciate your help. And if you ask questions that are too detailed you might not learn anything valuable. If you are ordering food and/or drinks, get something within the same price range as the person you are meeting (ie. Muse co-founder Alex Cavoulacos has got you covered with this “Could you make this introduction?” email. In his book, "Networking Like a Pro," Brian Hilliard makes several pertinent points about networking and the conversations that go with it. 3. What meetups/networking events do you find valuable? Asking the question above, however, makes sense in the context that you are open to looking at any opportunity that they are aware of now, while not asking them to put their stamp of approval for you at their current company. I’d just ask the contact if he’s free for a brief chat and you can ask him questions on interviewing then. Here are the three questions you need to ask to ensure it goes well. LISTEN! If he or she seems pressed for time, cut your question list down and keep it to the important stuff. In theory, for the extroverted folks out there, performing at networking opportunities should be comparable to a fish performing in water. Pro-Tip: If you’ve done your research, you should have a fundamental understanding of what the attendee has done in their past and what the attendee is currently doing now for work. This is another tip that Sandberg touches on in Lean In. It’s not uncommon for people to run late or to have something come up last-minute, and trying to communicate via email can get very tricky. Bring a set list of premeditated questions, something to take notes with (and on), and a great story to answer the “tell me about yourself” question that will lead off the conversation in one form or another. It can be a bit jarring for someone else to receive an email out of the blue, so the more personalized yo… Q: Tell me about yourself and your background. Felipe Cisneros: Coffee was not a social thing. If you’re struggling to find the right phrasing, check out Frost’s brilliant email template for getting a meeting with anyone. Not only that, but he or she always makes it sound so simple. Don’t be boring: put yourself in the shoes of the consultant conducting the coffee chat. And finally, how can you make sure the connection keeps growing afterward? Like I mentioned earlier, bookmark this article and feel free to use these questions when heading into an informational interview (or in-person). This is why I prefer to have a coffee chat — a more personal alternative to the chaos that is mass-scale networking. Learning about the types of positions and the company’s employees will give you an advantage in understanding how you can be a unique asset to their work. Now what? You can check out her, Actionable Steps to Fight Workplace Racism, “Could you make this introduction?” email, “I know you’re a [job title], but what does a typical day look like for you?”, “What’s one skill you need for this field that most people wouldn’t guess?”, “Is there anything you wish you’d know about this particular field before you got into it?”, “What energizes you about working for [Company A]?”. Startup Life 3 Questions to Ask at Every Coffee Meeting Have a coffee meeting coming up? The following are some questions you may wish to consider asking when networking with individuals or potential employers. 15 questions you can start using to have better, more profitable conversations when you’re networking at events. Take notes on a few technologies that you are familiar with, while also taking notes of the technologies you are more unfamiliar with. If you have network at the firm you’re interviewing for yes you can let them know though may not necessarily be too useful. Taking the plunge and setting up a networking coffee date may be seem scary — it’s easy to to shy away from this kind of meetup in the world of instant messaging, email, and online forums. 32 (actually) interesting networking questions you could ask instead. We all feel like we could be doing more, maybe looking at others who were in our class, or others with similar backgrounds. Mar 24, 2017, 21:02 IST. business networking; coffee date; coffee meeting; networking ; How many times have you heard the advice ‘go and grab a coffee with them’ or ‘ask them to meet up for a coffee’? Here are a few examples of the positive inputs that you will need to have a successful outcome: Unsuccessful meetings come in a lot of different forms as well. If you ask questions that are too generic your interviewer might think that you haven't really prepared questions in advance. Q: What technologies does your team predominantly use to accomplish these tasks? More than likely, they have another 10 candidates who are going to ask the same questions (plus 10 hours of work when they get back to the office). To give yourself the best odds, do your homework, ask great questions, 'always be closing,' and remember the thank-you note. You can use this as your next “hook” when rekindling the conversation. Don’t come off as a stalker or anything, but don’t hesitate to say: “I noticed that you went to school at _________ University...my cousin attended the same school!” or something that promotes a deeper connections in the relationship. Avoid the morning coffee rush like the plague, and try to avoid the lunch rush, too, while you’re at it. Lily Herman is a New York-based writer and editor. … ONE question.) 5 comments. 0. And generally speaking, people tend to talk more than they listen. A couple of items to have on you: Depending on why you’re meeting, it may also be helpful to have a resume, your portfolio, or other materials with you in case the other person asks for them. Closed. Aka not a warm connection. You can ask anyone to go to coffee with you, but if you're new to networking, I recommend that you start your coffee meetings with people you already … Q: You have been so helpful, is there anyone else you think I should chat with? 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