Tool 28 · Networking & Follow-up
Coffee Chat Talking Points
Build a 30-minute agenda for an informational chat. Includes what NOT to ask — the one networking mistake that ends more relationships than it builds.
Tell me about the chat
What NOT to ask
Closing well
- "Is there anyone else you'd suggest I talk to?"
- "Would it be okay if I followed up with one more question by email?"
- Send a thank-you within 24 hours. Reference something specific.
- Stay in touch quarterly with a useful link or update.
The networking mistake nobody warns you about
Asking for a job in a coffee chat is the #1 way to end a useful relationship. People who give their time for an "informational" chat are usually happy to share context — but they bristle at being used as a hiring pipeline. The chat is for learning, not asking. The ask (referral, intro) comes later, by email, with a clear context.