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How to Ask for a Coffee Chat or Informational Interview with a Cold Message

Tap through each step to write a cold outreach message that actually gets a reply.

  1. Pick a person that fits your actual purpose

    Reaching out to the most senior or well-known person is not the best strategy. Someone who actually works in the role or company you are curious about, or who made a similar career switch, tends to get a much higher response rate.

  2. Write an opening line that is clearly personalized

    A message that reads like copy-and-paste gets ignored. Referencing something specific from the person's posts, background, or work right at the start dramatically increases your odds of getting read and answered.

  3. State your purpose briefly and clearly

    Something like "I am considering a switch into X and would love 15 minutes to hear about what the work is really like" tells the person exactly what you want and how much time it takes, so they can decide easily.

  4. Make it easy to say yes

    Offer a few formats -- video call, a few written questions, or an in-person coffee -- so they can pick whatever is most convenient. Suggesting a couple of possible time slots up front also removes the friction of scheduling back and forth.

  5. Prepare specific questions before the conversation

    Skip vague questions like "how do I succeed?" Specific ones -- what a typical day actually looks like, or what was hardest about their own career transition -- get you far more out of a short conversation.

  6. Respect the time you asked for

    If you asked for 15 minutes, aim to wrap up within 15 minutes. It is fine to keep going if the other person wants to, but running long on your own is a good way to leave a bad impression.

  7. Send a thank-you message afterward

    A short note after the conversation, mentioning something specific you found useful, leaves a good impression and keeps the door open for reaching out again in the future.

This is about the outreach itself, not any one platform

Some job platforms have a built-in "coffee chat" feature for connecting with people at a company. This guide is different: it is about the underlying principles for reaching out directly by LinkedIn message, email, or any other channel, regardless of which platform or feature you are using.

Keep track of the contacts you make

A new connection from a coffee chat fades fast if you do not do anything with it. Logging who you spoke with, what you talked about, and when to check back in helps turn a one-off conversation into a lasting professional relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to follow up if I do not get a reply?

A single polite reminder about a week later is generally fine. If there is still no response after that, it is best to stop reaching out so you do not come across as pushy.

Can I ask for a job referral directly during the chat?

Asking for a referral in your very first interaction can come across as presumptuous. It usually works better to build some rapport first and raise it naturally once there is a bit of trust.