Make it a good coffee.
The time is booked. Here's how to make the 30 minutes count: a few better questions, a little prep, and the follow-up most people forget.
Draw a card
Stuck after "so, how's work?" Draw one and ask it.
☕ Tap shuffle
Your question will show up here.
Drawing from: Networking
Conversation starters
Skip the elevator pitch. Get them talking about the work they actually care about.
- What's a problem at work you can't stop thinking about, even on weekends?
- What does a really good week look like in your job, and how often do you get one?
- Who's someone you've learned a lot from that most people in your field have never heard of?
- What do people outside your role usually get wrong about it?
- What's a career bet you made that paid off, and one that didn't?
- If you had one extra hour a day just for work, what would you spend it on?
- What are you trying to get better at this year?
- What's one thing I could keep an eye out for that would actually help you?
- Who's the next person I should have coffee with, and why them?
Bring one real situation. Specific questions get specific advice.
- What's a decision from early in your career you'd make differently now?
- How do you decide what to say no to?
- When did you first feel like you actually knew what you were doing, and what changed?
- What's a skill that's underrated for someone at my stage?
- If you were in my seat right now, what would you be worried about?
- How did you handle the first time you failed in front of a lot of people?
- What do you wish someone had told you before your first big promotion?
- Who else should I be learning from?
- What's one thing I could do in the next 30 days that you'd want to hear about next time?
Ask more than you advise. The best mentoring coffees are mostly listening.
- What would make this time most useful for you today?
- What's taking up most of your headspace this month?
- Which part of your work gives you energy, and which part drains it?
- What have you gotten better at since we last talked?
- Where do you feel like you're guessing right now?
- What's a conversation you've been putting off?
- If you could change one thing about your role tomorrow, what would it be?
- What do you want people to come to you for?
- Who's in your corner besides me?
Go past "busy, good, you?" These invite a real answer.
- What's on your calendar that you're actually looking forward to?
- What's surprised you since the last time we talked?
- What's been filling your weekends lately?
- What are you reading, watching or listening to that I should try?
- What's something you've changed your mind about this year?
- What's a small win you haven't told many people about?
- What's the hardest part of this season for you?
- Is there anything I can help with, even something small?
Before you go
- One thing you want out of it. A piece of advice, an introduction, a different point of view. Know it before you sit down.
- One way you could help them. An intro, an article, a job lead, an idea. Coffee goes better when both people leave with something.
- Two questions, not a script. Pick two starters above and let the rest happen.
- A quick look, not a deep dive. Find one recent thing they did or posted.
- If you asked, you buy. And show up five minutes early.
After coffee
Most people skip this part, and it's what people remember. (These checkboxes are just for you. Nothing is saved.)
Swap contact cards in a few seconds
Make a contact card once. At the table, they scan a QR code with their phone camera and save you to their contacts. No app needed.