How I Got Into McKinsey With Zero Connections and Zero Internships (Copy) (Copy)
How to Run a Coffee Chat That Actually Leads to Something
- Back when I was interviewing for McKinsey, I did 20-25 coffee chats in under 2 months. Half on Zoom, half in person. All of them with complete strangers.
- The first few were awkward. I had no clue what to say. By the fifth one, they were fluid and fun.
- There is almost no downside. At worst, it is 30 minutes that go nowhere. At best, it changes your career.
- One coffee chat became one of my closest friendships. We worked together at the firm and still hang out today.
- The offering: The exact structure I used for every coffee chat — step by step.
Coffee chats sound intimidating until you realize they are just conversations. That is literally all they are. Two people talking for 30 minutes. One of them wants to learn something. The other is willing to share. It is one of the oldest traditions in the corporate and finance world — it is how people meet, catch up, and build relationships.
When I decided to explore the corporate world after that eventful Korean BBQ dinner, I had to get smart on what this world even looked like. So I started reaching out to people. Not just at McKinsey — at private equity firms, investment banks, corporate strategy teams, other consulting firms. Over the span of about two months, I did somewhere between 20 and 25 coffee chats. Half on Zoom, half in person. All of them with complete strangers.
I am going to be honest. The first few were awkward. I did not know what to talk about. I did not know the norms. I did not know how long to speak, when to ask questions, or how to end the call without it feeling weird. But with time they became fluid, fun, and genuinely interesting.
One of those early coffee chats turned into one of the best friendships I have today. This person helped me throughout the interview process, we ended up working together at the firm, and we still hang out now that we have both moved on from the firm. A real friendship that started because I sent a cold message and asked for 30 minutes.
Sometimes they do not click. The person does not jive with you, the conversation feels flat, and it leads to nothing. That is part of the game. But it is never actually bad. It is just 30 minutes that did not go anywhere. Nobody is running around bashing your name after a coffee chat that did not land.
Here are a few things that helped me get comfortable with the whole thing.
- Everyone is a human. They might work at the place of your dreams. They might be someone you really admire. But they are still a person with insecurities, fears, and passions just like you. Even if they are at the peak of a specific domain, they are most likely very average at a bunch of other things. Grounding yourself in that reality makes people more approachable and reduces the nerves.
- This is not the end all be all. What is the absolute worst case? It is awkward. You both waste 30 minutes. Then what? They will not go post about it online. It will just be something that happened in passing. There is truly almost no downside and only disproportionate upside.
- You are more interesting than you think. Chances are you are at least 18 years old if you are doing coffee chats. That is 18 years of lived experience. I promise you that you did at least 5-10 things that are genuinely unique and interesting to share. Do not feel corny or boring. You have something. The person on the other side of the call would love to hear it.
- They know what they signed up for. If someone agrees to a coffee chat with a student looking for a job, they know what is coming. They are mentally prepared to help. The setting ordains some level of norms to these conversations. You can ask the awkward questions. You can make the big ask. They are ready for it.
Most of the time you are just going to flow with someone and hit it off naturally. But in the event that does not happen, here is how I generally structured my coffee chats.
- Appreciation. Start by thanking them for their time. Something like: "Thank you so much for taking the time, I really appreciate it — I know things are busy so this 30-minute slot is gratefully appreciated." Simple. Sets the tone.
- Context. Tell them why you are here. "My name is Ismail, I am a finance undergrad wanting to learn more about consulting and hopefully apply to McKinsey. This conversation is geared toward that — I would love to ask you questions about X and Y." You can even outline the agenda. People appreciate knowing where the conversation is headed.
- Introduction. Give them the full run-down of who you are. This can take 90-120 seconds. This is the first time this person is meeting you so give them everything — who you are, why you are here, what makes you different. It should feel slightly uncomfortable because you are basically pitching yourself. That is normal. They might interject with questions along the way and that is a great sign. After this, they will likely introduce themselves too.
- Questions. This is the core of the conversation. Ask things that are genuinely valuable to you. What do you love about the job? How did you get into it? What skills from university actually translated? Do you have mentors and how has that helped? What are the trade-offs? How does your day and week usually look? What do you think makes someone well-suited for this role? If you had one piece of advice for your past self, what would it be?
- The ask. Be straightforward. At the end, say something like: "I would really appreciate if you could help me with one of three things — introduce me to people who could help me learn more or prepare, circulate my CV to folks who could facilitate an opportunity, or simply stay in touch so we can help each other in the future." Clear. Direct. No ambiguity.
Here is the exact coffee chat structure I used for every single one of my 20+ conversations. Copy it, adapt it, make it yours.
One last thing. Follow up. Always. Within 24 hours, send a short message thanking them again and referencing something specific from the conversation. That is what separates someone who is serious from someone who is just going through the motions. The follow-up is where relationships actually start.
