Students will discuss their backgrounds, academics, club and extracurricular involvement, life in Philadelphia, and will answer your questions. Appearing low energy and lacking confidenceA good team player is not an arrogant attention seeker, but at the same time they are enthusiastic, interesting to talk to and very assertive. The key to a successful coffee chat is preparation. RudenessBeing late, checking your phone, yawning, swearing and so on are all obviously going to make a terrible impression. "- Well posed, insightful question, useful for you and impressive for the consultant. For those unfamiliar with the reference, we have called this article our “Galateo” after the historical guide polite behaviour written by Giovanni Della Casa. Networking events make it easy to meet a variety of like-minded industry employees in one setting. An important part of establishing your financial life in Canada is finding the right partner to invest in your financial success. HAVE A PLAN. Please reach out to Olivia Turgeon at [email protected] if you have any questions. You’ll also find some key questions to ask during your meetings to ensure you develop a meaningful connection. Notice that consulting is a communication business. Three things I wish I knew before my final round at McKinsey, Why you shouldn't use Case in Point to prep for consulting interviews, Do some research on the company's recent projects, Prepare some insightful questions about both the company and your interaction with the selection process. ready – this will help you confidently answer the “tell me about yourself” question. The individual you meet with will want to get to know you as well. Tip: If you’re meeting your guest at a coffee shop, offer to buy them a drink of their choice. How? It’s a good opportunity to get insight into how they manage their time and the key responsibilities they cater to. Now coming full circle and working in the recruitment world, she often has phone and coffee chats with students when they ask as a way of giving back. Listen carefully to the response and ask follow-up questions. We believe in fostering talent, that’s why all of the above is free. Now, the temptation might be just to rock up straight from your lecture unprepared - it's just coffee, right? Coffee chats Invite-only lunches or dinners Information sessions Coffee Chats Consulting firms may host coffee chats to give students an opportunity to ask questions in a smaller and less formal setting. Published on May 12, 2017 May 12, 2017 • 588 Likes • 18 Comments In collaboration with RBC, Arrive is dedicated to helping newcomers achieve their life, career, and financial goals in Canada. It will help you get an idea of where you’ll need to start if you’re new to the field, how you could progress, and what to expect in a certain role. An important part of establishing your financial life in Canada is finding the right partner to invest in your financial success. Coffee Chats are open to everyone, regardless of background or application status. Questions: When you go to meet your coffee chat “date,” come prepared with questions to ask. Less formal interviews and coffee meetings allow the candidate the opportunity to ask many questions about potential job openings, information about the company, and even career advice. Plus, professionals love it when you reach out to them for advice because it shows “initiative” — sounds like a win-win! Networking is a way of life in Canada and is crucial to finding a role in your field of work. So, for instance, if you are an undergraduate who did an internship in the energy sector your questions be: Bad question: "I am an undergraduate who did an internship in the energy sector. The best way to find out about a someone is a face-to-face conversation. That’s why we start by asking ourselves: For most applicants, this will likely be: Never forget that one of the most important parts of a consultant's work is dealing with clients, so a good first impression is very important. What is the purpose of this coffee chat? Just as importantly, they will give you the confidence to know for sure you can succeed against such a formidable challenge! Stay away from sensitive topics such as politics, religion, physical appearance, or age. More importantly, though, it shows that you are either not very interested or not capable of gathering information - which is a fundamental skill for consultants (and any worthwhile employees generally). The key to a successful coffee chat is preparation.Research the person you’re meeting – look at their company website and go over their career path by visiting their LinkedIn profile, jot down some key questions you would like to ask, and bring a notepad and a pen to take notes. All the advice you need on resume, cover letter and networking. However, many other aspects of the recruiting process are covered in great detail elsewhere, but for some reason coffee chats don’t get the same level of attention. If you are going to make it into consulting, you have much bigger hurdles to clear and soon all the usual suspects will occupy your mind: the fit interview, the case studies, consulting math... Where to find everything you need? You have a look at your calendar and you see a meeting at 2pm, a lecture at 3pm and a consulting coffee chat at 4pm, which you had totally forgotten about. You should avoid at all costs questions which Google already knows the answer to. So pick and choose the questions that are most important to you (estimate five to seven minutes per question), and keep an eye on the time. If it’s a virtual meeting, the pandemic and related topics can be a good ice-breaker. RBC supports Arrive, and with a 150-year commitment to newcomer success in Canada, RBC goes the extra mile in support and funding to ensure that the Arrive newcomer platform is FREE to all. If you manage to establish a good relationship, keep them updated every month with a short email on how you are doing. A coffee chat, also known as an informational interview or coffee interview, is an informal, in-person or virtual meeting with an experienced professional to learn more about a specific company, an industry, or that individual’s career path and role. Managers and partners of a consulting firm would constantly email and update potential clients before, during and after each project, and send clients follow up emails as leads to sell more projects. However, our approach is actually in stark contrast to the old-fashioned case interview systems you have probably have run into already. Donna met for coffee with a variety of managers, directors, and senior leaders when she was a student and a new grad. If you’re meeting your guest at a coffee shop, offer to buy them a drink of their choice. Asking well-thought-out questions can help you get valuable information during the event. In this article, we’ll elaborate on what a coffee chat entails and how you can prepare for it. So, as a newcomer looking to build connections, whether you’re in your home country or Canada, it’s easy and convenient to set up, or informational interviews with industry professionals. Based on the responses, you can decide if the organization would be a good fit for you. Start your career in Canada with confidence! That book instructed young Italian noblemen how to impress in society and be accepted at the court of a Prince. During coffee chats, you’ll meet with a BCG consultant for 25-30 minutes to learn more about management consulting. The means by which employees are being measured is a hotly-debated topic today. Research the person you’re meeting – look at their company website and go over their career path by visiting their LinkedIn profile, jot down some key questions you would like to ask, and bring a notepad and a pen to take notes. Because if they hire you, pretty soon you are going to find yourself leading analysis, work streams, meetings, teams and so on. As well as helping you master case studies, a coach will give you a new self-awareness of your profile and how best to position yourself for an MBB offer. © 2021 All Rights Reserved by MyConsultingCoach, Increase 3 times your chances of landing an offer, Tags: Consulting, Soft Skills, Networking, Coffee Chat, CV, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Send a follow-up e-mail after the meeting thanking the consultant for their timed. Get information on topics like personal brand building, interview preparation, and accepting job offers that will help you make the most of opportunities. Displaying your ignoranceAgain, for every question you have in mind, just ask yourself if Google can tell you the answer.