Using Coffee as a Networking Tool

Coffee may fuel Seattle, but in my opinion it also fuels business and the PR industry as a whole.

Now, I?m not referring to the fact that everyone you know drinks more lattes than water (though that?s probably true). I?m referring to the coffee meeting.

As an intern, I?ve embraced the coffee meeting as my own and from what I?ve seen, I?ll be embracing it for the rest of my professional career. It?s a great opportunity to build relationships, ask questions and learn.

The Informational Coffee Meeting

At the start of your career, the informational coffee meeting can be used to find out about open positions at a company or perhaps a little bit about their culture. It can also be a great opportunity to get advice ? how to get your foot in the door, improve your skills set or even branch out into different practice areas.

Meeting for coffee can alleviate some of the stress that often accompanies these Q&A sessions because it?s neutral ground. Both parties usually feel more at ease and ready to talk than they would be in an office setting.

The Check-In

This coffee meeting is more about managing relationships. A good example is reconnecting with old colleagues or classmates with the intent of catching up and receiving updates on their careers. Even if they are not in PR, managing these relationships can lead to new opportunities. You never know when they will be looking for someone to help on the PR or marketing front.

Maintaining relationships with journalists that you frequently reach out to is important. If possible, meet over coffee and have a chat. Buy them a shot of espresso or a mocha and let them know that you?ve read and enjoyed their piece on America?s increasing addiction to caffeine. As always, authenticity is key here.

It?s also a good idea to have coffee meetings with clients. The less formal setting may help to facilitate communication and create a better dialogue about their needs and your ability to meet them.

Come for the caffeine, stay for the networking. Whether it?s scouting out candidates for a new position, testing the waters of a potential employer or maintaining a business relationship, the coffee meeting is truly a useful and versatile activity. The next time you find yourself looking at a LinkedIn profile and wishing you knew more about the person or the position, ask yourself ? could this be a good opportunity for a coffee meeting?

For information on how to have a successful coffee meeting check out this Daily Journal of Commerce article.

Author? You can find out more about Caitlin Joyce on her LinkedIn profile.

Image courtesy of?nomilknocry~oH!

Source: http://www.webershandwickseattle.com/2012/08/a-double-shot-non-fat-networking-opportunity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-double-shot-non-fat-networking-opportunity

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