Guide 3 of 9
Introduce Yourself
How to open a coffee chat with a concise introduction that gives the professional enough context to help you.
A strong coffee chat starts with context. Before a professional can give useful advice, they need to understand who you are, what you are exploring, and why you wanted to speak with them. A good introduction should answer three questions quickly: Who are you? What are you exploring? Why did you want to speak with this person?
Your Introduction Is Not an Elevator Pitch
You are not trying to sell yourself in the first thirty seconds. A coffee chat introduction should feel natural. It should communicate seriousness without sounding like a performance. You are not saying: “Here is why I am the perfect candidate.” You are saying: “Here is where I am in my thinking, and here is why I thought your perspective would be useful.”
What Your Introduction Should Include
- Your name and current program or year of study
- What you are exploring — a role, industry, transition, or decision
- Why you wanted to speak with this professional specifically
- What you are hoping to understand or learn
It Is Fine to Be Exploring
You do not need to sound like you have everything figured out. A coffee chat is most productive when the professional understands both what you already know and what you are still trying to figure out.
Examples of Strong Student Introductions
“I’m a second-year economics student exploring roles that combine analytical work with client-facing problem-solving. I saw that you started in consulting and later moved into corporate strategy, and I’m interested in understanding how those roles compare in practice. I’m still clarifying my direction, so I’d be grateful to learn how you thought about those choices.”
“I’m studying computer science, but I’m increasingly interested in roles that connect technology with business decisions. Your background in engineering and product strategy stood out to me because I’m trying to understand what that transition looks like.”
How to Avoid Sounding Over-Rehearsed
Prepare your introduction, but do not memorize it word for word. The goal is clarity, not polish. After your introduction, you might say: “I prepared a few questions, but I’m also happy to let the conversation go wherever you think would be most useful.” This signals that you are prepared but flexible.
Key takeaway
Your introduction should give the professional enough context to help you. It should be brief, specific, and connected to the person’s experience. The strongest introductions are effective because they are clear, not because they are polished.