3 Ways to Add Value When You’re Asking for a Coffee Chat☕✨

Coffee chats get a bad rep sometimes.

They can feel awkward. Transactional. Like one person is asking for help while the other person politely nods and hopes it doesn’t run over 30 minutes.

But here’s the thing: the best coffee chats don’t feel like that at all. They feel like conversations between two people who are both bringing something to the table.

You don’t need years of experience to add value. You just need to be thoughtful, curious, and a little intentional.

Here are three super underrated ways to stand out (in a good, non-cringey way).

1. Send Them Something Relevant (That Shows You Actually Listened)

Nothing hits harder than when someone references something you said and follows up with it later.

If they mention:

  • A project they’re working on
  • A hiring challenge
  • A trend they’re watching
  • Something they’re excited (or stressed) about

And then you send them an article, podcast, report, or even a TikTok or LinkedIn post related to it… you instantly stand out.

It shows you weren’t just waiting for your turn to talk — you were actually paying attention.

You don’t need to send a novel. Just keep it simple and human.

2. Offer Thoughtful Feedback on Their Work or Campaigns

Fresh perspectives are incredibly valuable — especially from someone who represents their target audience, talent pool, or future customer base.

If the professional works in marketing, recruitment, brand, product, or community building, you likely have insights they rarely get.

You could share:

  • What initially drew your attention to their company
  • How their messaging lands with students or early-career professionals
  • Suggestions that could improve clarity or accessibility
  • Positive observations about what they’re doing well

The key is to be respectful, specific, and constructive. Professionals appreciate honest feedback when it’s clear you’re offering it to be helpful, not critical.

💡 Pro Tip:
Framing matters. Try:

“As someone who would be in your target audience, one thing that really stood out to me was… One small idea that might make it even stronger could be…”

Example:

“You mentioned your team is trying to connect with early career talent more — I saw this post about how companies are rethinking internship pipelines and it made me think of our convo!”

That kind of follow-up sticks.

3. Tell Them What Happened After the Chat

This one is honestly elite networking behavior.

Most people give advice during coffee chats and never hear what happened next. Ever.

Following up and saying:

  • You used their advice
  • You changed something based on what they said
  • You hit a milestone
  • You just appreciated their insight

…is one of the easiest ways to build a real relationship instead of a one-off conversation.

And it doesn’t have to be huge news either.

Example:

“I took your advice about highlighting measurable results on my resume and I’ve already noticed more responses from recruiters. Just wanted to say thanks again!”

People LOVE knowing they made an impact. It makes them way more likely to stay connected and support you long term.

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