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What is an informational interview or coffee chat? And how do you get one?

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Informational interviews or coffee chats are conversations that will change your life.

Think I’m exaggerating? With 20 years of coffee chatting* experience under my belt, I kid you not. It’s the most important tool that has helped me find job leads**, meet collaborators, connect with clients, make friends, and more generally, learn about what I want (and don’t want) as I plan upcoming career moves.

*Fun Fact: No coffee was ever consumed on my end because I can’t handle the caffeine in coffee! So feel free to choose another beverage of your choice at your next informational interview. Or skip the drink altogether with a virtual chat.

**Important Note: I say “job leads” because informational interviews are NOT about asking for a job. You might indirectly hear about a job lead during your chat, but your main goal is to learn (about the other person’s career journey, role, company, industry, etc. to inform your decisions) and to build rapport (so you’ll ideally spark a long-term relationship of mutual support).

So is it an informational interview or a coffee chat?

In this post, I’ll use the phrase “informational interview” and “coffee chat” interchangeably. “Informational interview” might sound too official and scary, so ☕”coffee chat”☕ is gaining popularity for its approachability. However, if you’re reaching out to someone in a higher position or in a more formal industry, using “informational interview” could be a more appropriate way to frame it. At the end of the day, they both follow the same flow.

The general flow of an informational interview or coffee chat

  • You are interested in a certain topic and have some questions.
  • You find someone who has experience with that topic.
  • You ask if they’d be willing to meet for a short conversation.
  • You two meet, share introductions, and chat about that topic of interest.
  • You get your questions answered. (And hopefully you two enjoyed getting to know each other.)
  • You thank the other person.
  • You two are now connected and can potentially stay in touch.

Sounds simple enough right? I bet you have questions though. Like, how do you approach someone for a coffee chat? And why would they agree to talk to you? Wouldn’t they just ignore a random stranger like you?

Great questions! And the truth is yes, not everyone will agree to an informational interview. Yes, you’ll probably be ignored a few times along the way. But there are steps you can take to increase your success rate.

Young Black man sitting across the table from another person in a seated booth

Apply these strategies to increase your chances of getting an informational interview or coffee chat.

1) Identify your targets.

If you’ve done some personal reflection (this tool can help), you should have an idea of where you’re feeling stuck or unsure. Then it’s a matter of figuring out who might have answers. For example, if you wonder whether you need a particular certification for a certain type of role, look for someone in that role and ask them if you need that certification to start out. If you dream of working for Company Wishlist, find people working at Company Wishlist to ask how they landed there. LinkedIn is a great place to search for folks with specific job titles and at specific companies. You can also explore company team pages, directories of professional associations, and members of professional online communities.

2) Get warm introductions.

The best way to make a new connection is to go through an existing one. When you’ve identified an area that you’d like to learn more about, ask your friends and family if they could introduce you to anyone who would have insights. If your Aunt Susan sends an intro email, that other person would be so much more likely to free up time for Aunt Susan’s darling niece/nephew!

3) Do your research.

Before connecting with anyone, research their history. Browse their LinkedIn profile and see what roles they’ve had. Does their career journey mirror your aspirations? What volunteer work are they involved in. Do you share any common interests or education? Look at their portfolio or company website and see what they’re up to. Start noting ways you relate with them and why you think they may have valuable information to support you with where you are now.

4) Don’t sound like a robot or a scam.

We all get phishing emails and spam calls, so our brain is wired to go to ⚠️Warning Mode⚠️ when we get a message from someone we don’t know. Try your best to appear human and real. One way is to make sure your LinkedIn is complete and up-to-date with a friendly, professional photo. Scam messages often sound vague and generic, contain lots of typos, and come from weird email addresses. So do the opposite! Make sure you send a clear, tailored message, with excellent spelling and grammar, and sent from a professional email address or from your LinkedIn account.

5) Tailor your message to show you’ve done your research.

Remember the research you did? Now is the time to sprinkle that in with your request for an informational interview. For example, “I’m currently (a nugget about you) and I’m exploring a career in (their field). I see you’ve (something you researched) and I’d love to learn more about (what you want to know).”

The more you practice, the better you’ll get at this. This is especially true if you’re sending a connection request on LinkedIn. Always use your desktop to access the “Add Note” feature where you can attach a 300 character limit note to your connection request. (I often ignore connection requests that don’t have a note.) Depending on your LinkedIn plan, you might also have a few InMail messages available each month to send longer messages to those outside your network.

6) Make your request clear and realistic.

Coffee chats are usually short, like 20-30 minutes. They can be longer, but ask for a shorter time to start. (When the chat is happening and it’s going well, you can ask if the other person would like to speak longer then.) When reaching out, phrase your request as a Yes or No question, with a time frame, to prompt a direct response. If they say no, then you can both move on! Here’s an example: “Would you be willing to meet over a 20 minute Zoom call in the next two weeks?”

7) Make it easy for them to say yes.

Always remember that you are asking for a favor. The other person really owes you nothing. Your job is to reduce the barriers for them to say yes to a chat. For example, have a more flexible schedule to accommodate their work hours and family responsibilities. If meeting in person, offer to meet near their location so they don’t have to commute. You can add a note like, “I’d be happy to meet at a time and location that is convenient for you.”

That being said, if you have restrictions, include them to reduce the back and forth communication required to book a time. For example, “My schedule is usually flexible on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, so please let me know if there’s a time on those days that work for you for a quick chat!”

8) Be friendly and professional.

This ties in with not sounding like a robot and making it easy for the other person to say yes. When you are friendly and professional, people will want to help you. If you sound aggressive or entitled, that is the fastest route to the delete pile.

Show appreciation. Use a soft tone. (Grammarly can check your tone and provide suggestions.) Demonstrate that you are asking specifically for their help and you’re not copy/pasting a one-size-fits-all message. Before sending off your note, read it as if you had received it from a stranger. Would you respond to it? Would you wish you had been approached differently?

Hopefully with these tips, you’ll get replies very soon. When you do, keep up your professionalism by responding in a timely manner. These interactions create the first impression for the other person, so don’t waste this great opportunity to show that you’re motivated to speak with them and respect their time. They’ll get excited to meet such a put together person like you!

Still shy about reaching out?

Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom of this post. 😀 Did you notice that I never mentioned the word “networking” until this sentence? I did that on purpose because I realize “networking” freaks a lot of people out. I hope the strategies above will help alleviate some of the stress around reaching out to new people. It can be done in a very friendly and authentic way. And people are often happy to help if the ask is reasonable.

If you are still feeling hesitant, there is a way to overcome it. Join my one-to-one program, Networking Strategy (for job seekers who hate networking). I will partner with you to create a networking roadmap, complete with the who, what, and how of building meaningful professional relationships. We’ll walk through a LinkedIn outreach together, and we’ll even hone your friendly, professional communication style in a practice informational interview. Check out the details and let me know how I can support you!

Crystal Lee, MPH, CPCC is a holistic career coach who helps relocating job seekers and career changers find clarity, confidence, and community. Let her know if you have a career question! If you find her content helpful, please consider donating to her tip jar.

3 Questions to Focus Your Job Search

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Does this sound familiar?

You’ve been contemplating a career move. One rainy Thursday evening when you’ve finished binge watching the latest Netflix show, you start scrolling job openings on Indeed. You begin to imagine yourself becoming a professional dog walker, or going back to school, or moving across the country for cheaper rent and higher pay. You get excited by new opportunities, discouraged by salary ranges, hopeful about better work environments, and nervous about the need to upskill. By the time you realize it, an hour just flew by and you feel guilty about losing out on sleep.

If you’ve been there, you’re not alone.

It’s extremely common for job seekers to get lost and waste valuable time when there are too many options available. You can avoid that trap by narrowing your choices.

Focus your job search by answering 3 questions

When it comes to your next job…

  1. What are your “must haves?”
  2. What are your “like to haves?”
  3. What are your “love to haves?”

Start a spreadsheet and type out your answers. Respond on post-it notes and stick them on your bathroom mirror. The key is to document your answers so you can revisit them often.

Why setting parameters is helpful

As much as we’d like to believe we can be anything we can be, most of us have immediate responsibilities that must be taken into account when job searching. For example, how much money do you need to cover your monthly expenses? What type of work schedule will allow you to meet outside-of-work obligations? What kind of work can your physical and mental health handle?

Making a career move is also a labor intensive undertaking and most folks do it to make life better in some shape or form. So what are those aspirational elements to your job search? If you are to pinpoint it further, where is the line between “like” and “love” to have? Are there certain benefits that you are looking for? Are there specific professional development goals you want to achieve? Are there particular teams you prefer to work with?

When you create parameters to focus your job search, you can easily say no to any opportunity that doesn’t meet your “must haves.” (Dog walking won’t pay your mortgage? Let’s drop that for now and focus on other roles.) By weighing your “like to haves” and “love to haves,” you can begin to prioritize your time. If a wonderful opportunity checks off most of what’s on your list, then it may be worthwhile to give it an extra push to supplement your tailored application with a robust networking strategy.

White picture frame held in front of a scenery of cliffs next to the sea

Focus your job search to gain multiple benefits

A routine of revisiting your must/like/love list provides structure for reflection. You are constantly learning about your needs, desires, and aspirations as you job search, so refocus your list as you gain insights about yourself and the labor market. You have permission to tweak your list as you go.

Another benefit to having a clear focus is that you’ll be able to clearly tell others what you’re looking for. This makes it so much easier for others to help you! Imagine if someone told you they’re looking for a job and they’re open to anything related to numbers. At that point, you might wish them luck. Now imagine they told you they’ve been researching ABC Company because of their excellent internal training program for new accountants. Your ears perk up because your aunt works at ABC Company’s client services department. In this case, you’re much more likely to consider introducing your aunt to this enthusiastic job seeker for a coffee chat because less effort is required on your part to make the mental connection.

Don’t forget that recruiters love to ask, “What interested you about this role?” You’ll stand out as a well-prepared and thoughtful candidate when you confidently state the connection between what the role offers and what you want in the next stage of your career.

So if you haven’t already, write down your must have, like to haves, and love to haves! If you’re looking for inspiration, check out the free job search assessment. It’s a printable workbook that will guide you through different aspects to consider in your next role.

Crystal Lee, MPH, CPCC is a holistic career coach who helps relocating job seekers and career changers find clarity, confidence, and community. Let her know if you have a career question! If you find her content helpful, please consider donating to her tip jar.

5 Important Things to Do Before Looking for a New Job

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Are you daydreaming about what life would be like if you had a different job? Are you finding it harder and harder to focus at work because you just want to be out of there? Before you indulge in your fantasy of shouting, “I quit!” at your next meeting, take time to walk through the 5 steps below.

If you want a meaningful career change, start with these 5 things to do before looking for a new job.

1) Get clear on what you want

If you’re dissatisfied in your current situation, there’s likely something else you want instead. So what is it? Get clear on that now, so you can explore different paths towards it. There are multiple ways to reach any career destination, so focus less on the actions you need to take at this point (in other words, don’t get too hung up on actually quitting your job yet), and focus on clarifying your long-term vision for the life you want.

Some things you might consider are:

  • Where do you want to live?
  • Who do you want to spend time with?
  • What parts of yourself do you want to bring to work?
  • What activities do you want to pursue outside of work?
  • What level of compensation is required for the lifestyle you want?

For every thing that frustrates you about your current situation, flip it around to uncover what you DO want. You can also use the free job search assessment workbook to track your reflections.

2) Determine if a new job is necessary to give you what you want

With a clearer picture of what you ultimately want, it’s time to answer the big question, “Do you need a new job to get there?” Both yes and no are equally valid answers!

Example: Let’s say your current commute to work makes you want to pull your hair out. The unpredictable traffic erases hours from your week, is burning a hole in your wallet, and causes you to miss out on your children’s activities which has led to conflict between you and your partner. You know that you want a job with greater flexibility around working from home. One option is to find a new a new, fully remote job. Another option is to discuss remote work options with your manager. If you haven’t done that yet, why not? What would help you advocate for your needs in your current workplace? Are there conversations at home that can also help alleviate stress? What’s holding you back from having those conversations?

Investigate different paths to what you want and look closely at your role in making them reality. Whatever you decide at the end of the day is not a right/wrong decision. Aim to be empowered in the decision making process and that will lead to a decision that you can feel confident about.

3) Capture your career highlights

Start a log of all the amazing things you’ve done! This step can happen at anytime, and is helpful even if you’re not thinking of job hopping. It’s an effective exercise for prepping performance reviews and updating your LinkedIn.

You can capture your accomplishments in physical writing (say in a dedicated notebook) or you can keep electronic notes (say in a Google doc). Here are some ideas for what to document:

A Black woman wearing a green sweater and green pants smiling and talking to a woman with red hair holding a laptop
  • Projects you’ve worked on and the results achieved (with numbers to back it up!)
  • Teams you’ve collaborated with and your role in those interactions
  • Examples of meeting or exceeding expectations
  • Situations where you took initiative
  • Topics you’re learning and mastering
  • Praise from your manager
  • Thank you notes from coworkers
  • Testimonials from clients
  • Anything you’re personally proud of

Capturing these details will do two things:

  1. This information will continue to hone the vision for what you want and how you can shine in the future.
  2. These stories will become content for your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, networking introduction, and interview answers to support your job search.

Note: Be mindful of what details can be shared publicly and what needs to be kept confidential based on your past work agreements.

4) Network and rally your community

One of the most impactful things to do before looking for a new job is to let other know about your intentions. You can do this with those you already know in your existing community or with new contacts through networking.

Inner Circle: If you’re feeling too nervous to tell others about your potential job hop because you haven’t made up your mind yet, start by confiding in your closest circle. The process of sharing how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking can help you work through some of your own anxieties and confusions. Those who care for you will be a source of support and accountability as you move forward. You can even ask them if they could introduce you to folks they know to discuss the career options you’re considering.

Outer Circle: Once you’re feeling more confident, reach out to acquaintances that have experience with the career changes you’re exploring. A message over social media could be enough to spark a conversation and to initiate a casual coffee chat. You could also chat up colleagues within your current organization to explore possible internal career moves.

New Connections: Finally, gather courage to reach out to new contacts. You might do this over LinkedIn or you might attend events to meet new people engaged in your interest areas. Hopefully after speaking with your inner circle and acquaintances, you’ll realize people are generally very eager to help and love to talk about their experiences. As long as you’re being genuine and respectful, there’s nothing to fear about asking for support!

Silhouette of two people sitting in a coffee shop next to large windows

5) Clear a path for job search activities

Researching career options, networking, applying for jobs, and preparing for interviews all take time. To see results, you must dedicate time and energy to job search activities. This means you’ll need to shuffle your priority list.

To maintain healthy relationships in your life while you shift around priorities, it’s a good idea to clearly communicate with others about what you’re working on and what you need. It could be as simple as saying to your partner, “I’ll be in this room with the door closed for 1 hour tonight. Please do not disturb me during that time so I can submit this job application before the deadline tomorrow.”

Besides communicating with others, communicate with yourself honestly as well. What are realistic expectations around how much time and energy you can spend on job search activities? Based on that, what is a realistic timeline to see results? Is that okay for you? If not, you may want to look at alternate ways to carve out space for your job search.

When you’ve completed the 5 steps above, you’ll be ready to launch into action. And with the prep work you’ve put in, your journey will be much more smooth, efficient, and aligned with your life and career goals!

Crystal Lee, MPH, CPCC is a holistic career coach who helps relocating job seekers and career changers find clarity, confidence, and community. Let her know if you have a career question! If you find her content helpful, please consider donating to her tip jar.