Hey! I’m excited you have an upcoming call with someone from your target company! This guide is all about helping you approach these conversations with confidence, whether you're a networking pro or just starting out.

Example Tracker — Coffee Chats

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WYvcMDFP264zurIVf3JQUv50IdMPSonoDD5eySS90t0/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WYvcMDFP264zurIVf3JQUv50IdMPSonoDD5eySS90t0/preview?usp=sharing)

Reaching out to Students and Alumni

Here are templates you can use to reach out to upperclassmen at your university and alumni.

LinkedIn Message (<300 Words) to Students

<aside> Hi [AlumFirstName]! I’m [Name], a [1st/2nd/3rd/4th year] at [UniversityName] studying [degree], and I’ve been impressed with what you’ve done in [finance/consulting/]. I'd love to learn more about your journey. Would you be open to chatting? It would be a big help for me!

</aside>

LinkedIn Message (<300 Characters) to Alum

<aside> Hi [AlumFirstName]! I’m [Name], a [1st/2nd/3rd/4th year] at [UniversityName] studying [degree], and I’ve been really impressed with what you’ve done in [finance/consulting/]. I'd love to learn more about your journey. Would you be open to chatting? It would be truly helpful!

</aside>

Replying to a New Connection

<aside>

Hi [Name]! Thanks so much for connecting! Would you be open to having a virtual coffee chat to chat more about your journey from [their university] to [their current company]? I’m really impressed by everything you’ve done and would love to learn about your journey and any advice you have for an aspiring [freshman/sophomore/junior/senior] looking to break into [industry].

If it helps, I’m free at these times:

• Monday: x-y pm
• Tuesday: x-y pm
• Wednesday: : y pm
• Thursday: x-y pm
• Friday: x-y pm

I’m also super flexible, so if there’s a more convenient time for you, please let me know, and I’ll do what I can to make it work!

Hope we can chat! [your name]

</aside>

Having the Conversations

We’ll break it down into two categories: conversations with newer professionals (5 years or less of experience) and conversations with more seasoned pros (20+ years). The way you approach these calls will depend on the person you're talking to, so let’s dive in!

<aside> 🪐

Important (Moving this to a different section later, but leaving on top so all students read this sooner): Remove the transactional element.

• Try to take your conversations off LinkedIn. This can be email as a first step, but text/sWhatsApp/etc. in the future. You want people to think not of you as just a student who met for a networking call, but a cool person in a less transactional setting.
  • Weird analogy: It’s kind of like dating apps, where moving from Bumble to Instagram opens the budding relationship to a higher chance of going on a date </aside>