Guide 9 of 9
Checklist & Templates
Everything you need in one place: preparation checklist, question bank, introduction template, and thank-you note templates.
Before the Chat: Preparation Checklist
Understand the professional
- Have I reviewed their profile?
- Do I know their current role and organization?
- Have I looked at their past roles or career path?
- Have I identified what they can speak about that I cannot easily learn online?
Clarify your learning objective
- What do I want to understand by the end of the conversation?
- Am I exploring a role, industry, company, skill set, career transition, or decision?
- What assumptions do I want to test?
Prepare your questions
- Have I prepared five to seven thoughtful questions?
- Are my questions specific to this professional’s experience?
- Are my questions open-ended?
- Am I avoiding questions that could be answered by a basic online search?
Prepare for the virtual format
- Do I have the meeting link?
- Is my camera and microphone working?
- Do I have a quiet place to join from?
- Do I have a notebook or document ready for light notes?
During the Chat: Conversation Checklist
- Join on time
- Thank the professional for meeting with you
- Give a concise introduction (who you are, what you’re exploring, why you wanted to speak with them)
- Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions
- Listen actively and ask follow-up questions
- Avoid dominating the conversation
- Take light notes
- Respect the agreed time
- End with: “I want to be respectful of your time, so I’ll ask one final question.”
After the Chat: Follow-Up Checklist
- Send a thank-you note within 24 hours
- Mention something specific from the conversation
- Capture your notes while the conversation is fresh
- Identify one or two actions to take
- Decide whether there is another type of professional you should speak with
- Follow up later only if you have a meaningful update or reason
Student Introduction Template
“Hi, I’m [name], and I’m currently studying [program/field] at [university]. I’m exploring [roles, industries, or questions], and your background stood out to me because [specific reason]. I’m hoping to learn more about [learning objective]. Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me.”
Booking Request Note Template
When you submit a request through a mentor’s profile, the platform asks: “Why do you want to chat with [Mentor]? What’s one specific thing you’re hoping to learn?” Your answer is what the professional sees when deciding whether to respond. Keep it short and specific.
“I noticed that you moved from investment banking into a strategy role at a growth-stage company. I’m currently trying to understand how those paths compare, and I’m hoping to learn what skills carried over and what you had to learn from scratch.”
Thank-You Note Template
“Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me today. I especially appreciated [specific thing you learned]. It gave me a clearer sense of [how it changes your thinking or what you plan to do next].”
Reflection Prompts
- What did I learn that I did not know before?
- What surprised me?
- What should I do differently because of this conversation?
- Who should I speak with next?
Final takeaway
A coffee chat does not need to be complicated. But it does require intention. Use this checklist as a repeatable process — the more consistently you prepare, the more useful your conversations will be.