Coffee meetings, also known as informational interviews, are brief 20-40 minute informal meetings that allow professionals to get to know people in their industry and learn about their experiences. They involve meeting at a convenient location, asking questions about the person's career and skills needed for their work, and maintaining a future relationship through follow up and referrals. To get coffee meetings, one should prepare an elevator pitch, identify their network through various activities and organizations, and politely ask contacts and referrals for a brief meeting while clearly communicating their goals and interest in learning from the contact. Proper preparation, follow up, and maintaining professionalism are keys to making the most of coffee meetings.

1. How to get and utilize
COFFEE MEETINGSfor networking and learning

2. AGENDA
• What are Coffee Meetings
• How they work
• Benefits
• How to get Coffee Meetings
• Considerations for your meeting
• The end of your meeting

3. COFFEE MEETINGS
• AKA Informational Interviews
• Get to know professionals in a specific
• Industry
• Occupation
• Profession
• Company

4. HOW COFFEE MEETINGS WORK
• Meet at a convenient location
• Agree on a time limit between 20-40 minutes
• Let them talk
• Ask specific questions:
– What skills do they need for their current work
– What is great about their job
– What do they struggle with in the position ?
• Commonality – CPA

5. BENEFITS
• Future relationship and collaboration
• Understand practical needs of company,
position or career
• Overcome preconceived ideas of who you are

6. HOW TO GET COFFEE MEETINGS
• Know your elevator pitch
• Past + Present+ Value Proposition + Future
• Self identify your
– Skills – pg. 2-7
– Accomplishments – pg. 9-16
– Values & Work Preferences – pg. 17-23
– Goals
– Who you would like to meet
– Network

7. HOW TO GET COFFEE MEETINGS
• Identifying your Network
– Take a piece of paper out
– Create a table with five columns
– Write down, in the first column, anytime that you
interact with more than one person
• Examples :
– Recreational
– Religious
– Volunteer
– Weekend meet-up

8. – In the SECOND COLUMN list the people you
interact with
– In the THIRD COLUMN identify where those
people work
– In the FORTH COLUMN identify what they do
– In the FIFTH COLUMN identify where they have
worked in the past and what else they are
involved in

9. • Get involved – attend events, training
• Be Vocal
• Ask
– The people you already have in your network
• Flatter people
• Be sincere – know and share WHY you want to talk to
them
– For referrals
HOW TO GET COFFEE MEETINGS

10. • How to contact a referral
• Phone – prepare a script
• Email
• Linked-In
– Know your audience
– Identify immediately who referred you
– Know and share with them why you want to meet
them
– Be prepared to hear Yes or No

11. • Part of the National Connector Program
• Halifax 2009
• Launched in Alberta originally in 2013
• Partner Organizations
• ERIEC (Edmonton)
• CRIEC (Calgary)
• Open to any CPA member or Student

12. CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR MEETING
• Preparation
– Research
– LinkedIn Creep
– Create a list of questions
• Dress Professionally
• Be on Time
• Turn off distractions
• Be appreciative

13. THE END OF YOUR MEETING
• Ask for a referral
• Write a THANK YOU within 24hrs
• Follow up with them
– Outcomes of referral meetings
– Advise they gave that you have taken
• Add them on LinkedIn
• Keep them in mind moving forward
– Who or what could you connect them to

14. SUMMARY
• Informational Interviews
• Informal 20-40 minutes
• Gleam Information
• Referrals
• Professionalism
• Starting point for future contact