How do I ask for a coffee chat?
Requesting for informational interviews can be tricky, here are some tips and templates
Last week we discussed why you’re missing out if you’re not having coffee chats, and who you should have a coffee chat with.
I used to doubt when I started asking people for coffee chats. What would I talk about? What if I’m not impressive enough to be worth their time? What could I possibly offer them in return?
Before we dive further into requests, a simple paradigm shift is needed: professional networks should be human and relationship first. I cannot stress this enough.
Mentors help others without expecting anything in return, most of the time to pass on the good will they received when they were in your shoes (case in point: me!).
Contents
3 components of a successful request
Requests over email vs LinkedIn connection requests
Requests through a friend: the ‘forward intro’ email
What’s the best time to send a request?
Templates and personal examples: how I have asked for coffee chats over email and LinkedIn, with follow-up templates
Next steps
Components of a request
Ground rules
When reaching out, you're asking for their help, time and attention. Two simple rules to note:
Be polite
Be informed (do your research!)
Be careful not to come across as demanding or entitled (often, just a word or two could set the tone wrong). It's a huge turn off!
3 key components
Each of the following components should be 1-2 lines, leaving the email short and succinct (aim for under 120 words).
Introduction
Career aspirations and educational
Highlight shared identities/experiences
I appreciated our conversation about xxx the other day...
I am also a member of xxx...
I am a current undergraduate of xxx... (when approaching alumni)
What you want to learn from them (2-3 points, bullet points are okay)
Be specific - tie it to their experiences or a previous conversation; make the why them obvious
Explain how it's relevant to you, if not already obvious
As I am currently exploring roles in this industry...
As I am working on a project closely aligned with your work...
Ask for a 20-minute call
Provide your availability
Acknowledge their packed schedule and propose alternatives, like asking your questions over email
When’s the best time to send requests?
Over email, shoot for Tuesday or Wednesday morning, when the weekend backlog of work has been dealt with.
Over LinkedIn, send your request Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunch time or late afternoons (according to The Balance).
From my experience, emails and requests on Friday and the weekend almost always fail.
Requests over email vs LinkedIn
Over email
Email requests are the most conventional way of outreach, and are guaranteed higher visibility than a LinkedIn connection request since people check their professional emails with higher frequency than they do for LinkedIn. They also allow you to be more personal and demonstrate sincerity.
However, finding a contact’s email can be difficult. If someone’s email address is hard to find, consider sending a request over LinkedIn connection requests (see next section).
Subject line
Keep the subject line short, succinct and informative. Avoid something generic like Can I buy you coffee? and go for something like Current UCB undergraduate interested in learning about your experience in tech.
Length
Along the same lines as above, your contact is a busy person, so keeping it straightforward shows you value their time and attention. Try to keep your email body under 120 words.
Over LinkedIn connection requests
Often overlooked are LinkedIn connection requests - yes, the personalized note that you should be leaving even if you’re not asking for a coffee chat. Contacts are more accessible through this medium since profiles are easier to find than emails.
While the character limit restricts personalization, the shorter time taken to write each note allows you to send more requests. I’d suggest this medium for people who are active mentors (through community, LinkedIn, or otherwise), as they are already motivated to connect with people who want help.
300 character limit
The three key components (introduction, what you want to learn, specific ask) still apply but keep it succinct under 300 characters.
Requests through a friend: the ‘forward intro email’
In cases where you have a mutual connection with the person you’d like to have a coffee chat with, or if you’d like your coffee chat partner to introduce you to their contacts, turn to the ‘forward intro email’ is a concept introduced by Roy Bahat.
The forward intro email is exactly as it sounds, an email introduction your friend forwards to the professional you’d like to connect with.
There are three key reasons why this works:
You make it easy for your friend to introduce you: not only are you able to control the image or interests you’d like to present to your prospective coffee chat partner, you also reduce the time and effort required for your friend to help you.
Social proof: when a friend introduces you, they are putting in a good word and staking their reputation for you. You are going to seem more trustworthy and credible right off the bat.
Friendship obligations make it hard to say no: it’s difficult for someone to say no to their friend.
Outline for a forward intro email
Subject line
Keeping to the principles of informative and succinct, try something like: Connecting Minerva CS senior and aspiring PM to FirstName for a coffee chat
Outline
The order of the components for the forward intro email are in reverse to the usual request. Note, it should be addressed to your friend and written in your voice.
Who do you want to be introduced to and ask for a 20-minute call
What you want to learn from them
Introduction about yourself
Templates and Personal Examples
To help move things along, I’ve collated templates and personal examples I have used to land over 50 informational interviews last summer here. Feel free to leave comments on the Notion page or email me if you have any questions!
Next steps
Now that you’ve narrowed down people you want to chat with (past week’s issue), the next steps are to reach out!
Pick one medium (email, LinkedIn connection requests, forward intro email) and send 2-3 requests via that medium. Experiment with style, tone and what you share to see which ones work.
I’d love to know how it goes for you 👇
The next issue’s going to be on what questions to ask on a coffee chat, and resources that helped me calm my nerves. Till then, remember that tech needs you as you are!