[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-coffee-chats-and-informational-interviews-for-students":3,"blog-index":16,"mdc-hfgadh-key":428,"live-hubs":996},{"slug":4,"title":5,"description":6,"date":7,"tags":8,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14,"body":15},"coffee-chats-and-informational-interviews-for-students","Coffee Chats for Students: How to Ask & Get a Referral","How to ask for a coffee chat, the questions that aren't generic, and the referral close most guides skip, with copyable templates for every step.","2026-06-25",[9,10,11],"internships","applications","career-advice","Student Internships Team",false,12,"It's networking-list season for fall recruiting, and a coffee chat is the single highest-leverage move that isn't just another application. Done right, a 20-minute conversation in July or August becomes a referral in October, when the person you talked to forwards your resume to the team you'd otherwise be cold-applying to. This guide shows you exactly how to ask, what to say, the questions that make you memorable instead of forgettable, and the referral close that most guides skip entirely. Every stage comes with a copyable template.\n\n## Coffee chat vs. informational interview: same thing, different tone\n\nThese are the same conversation. A coffee chat and an informational interview are both a short, low-stakes talk where you ask someone about their work and their path, not for a job. The only real difference is register. \"Coffee chat\" is the casual framing you'd use with a recent grad or someone two years ahead of you. \"Informational interview\" is the more formal phrasing for senior people, professors, or formal industries like law and finance, where \"can I grab a coffee\" might read as too loose. Pick the label that matches who you're emailing. The structure, the questions, and the close are identical.\n\n## Who to reach out to (and where to find them)\n\nStart with people one to three years ahead of you, not VPs. A second-year analyst remembers exactly how they broke in, has time to reply, and isn't being asked for chats every week. A VP forgot the entry-level game a decade ago and gets ten requests a day. For your first chat, recent is more useful than senior.\n\nThree places to find names:\n\n- **Your school's alumni network on LinkedIn.** Go to [linkedin.com\u002Falumni](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Falumni), and LinkedIn detects your school automatically. You can filter graduates by where they work, where they live, and what they do. This is the warmest cold outreach there is: shared school plus a specific job gives you a real reason to reach out.\n- **Your university's alumni database or career platform.** Many schools run a mentorship directory where alumni have already opted in to hearing from students. People in that database said yes before you even wrote.\n- **People at companies you'd actually apply to.** Pick the targets first, then find the people. Browse internships to build your target list, then look up who works there.\n\nBuild this list now. Fall recruiting for summer 2027 opens in waves, and the [early ones run from July into October](\u002Fblog\u002Fwhen-to-apply-for-internships). A conversation you have in the quiet of July is a warm contact by the time applications open, while everyone else is reaching out cold in the same week they apply.\n\n## How to ask: the outreach message\n\nA request that gets a yes does four things: it names a specific reason you picked this person, it asks for advice rather than a job, it requests a small amount of time (15 to 20 minutes), and it hands them flexibility on scheduling. The specific reason is what separates you from the generic blasts. \"I saw you went from [school] to [role]\" proves you read their profile. \"I'm interested in your field\" proves nothing.\n\nOne honest note on what to expect: most people won't reply, and that's normal. Warm asks do far better than cold ones, so an alum or a name you got from a mutual contact will beat a stranger every time. Send a batch, expect a handful of yeses, and don't read silence as a verdict on you. This is the same reality as [cold emailing for an internship](\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-cold-email-for-an-internship), with one key difference: a coffee chat asks for a conversation, not a role, so the bar for saying yes is much lower.\n\n### Template: the alum ask\n\n```text\nHi [Name],\n\nI'm a [year] at [school] studying [major], hoping to break into\n[field]. I saw you went from [school] to [role] at [company], and I'd\nlove to hear how you made that jump. Could I borrow 15 minutes\nsometime in the next couple of weeks? Totally flexible to your\nschedule. I'm just looking for advice, not asking you to find me a job.\n\nThanks,\n[Your name]\n```\n\n### Template: the cold LinkedIn or email ask\n\nWhen there's no shared school, the specific hook has to carry the message. Open with the actual thing they did or built.\n\n```text\nHi [Name],\n\nI came across [the specific thing: a talk they gave, a product they\nbuilt, a post they wrote], and it's exactly the kind of work I want to\ndo. I'm a [year] at [school] studying [major], trying to figure out\nhow people actually get into [field]. Would you be open to a 15-minute\ncall in the next couple of weeks? Happy to work around your schedule.\nJust after advice, not asking you to find me a role.\n\nThanks,\n[Your name]\n```\n\nThey will look you up before deciding whether to reply, so make sure your [LinkedIn profile](\u002Fblog\u002Flinkedin-profile-for-students-with-no-experience) is in shape before you send anything.\n\n## What to ask: questions that aren't generic\n\nThis is where most students waste the chat. They ask things they could have Googled, get a generic answer, and end up forgettable. Strong questions surface real intel and make the other person remember you. Group them loosely into three buckets.\n\n**Their path and what they'd do now:**\n\n- If you were breaking in today, what would you do differently?\n- What's something you believed about this field before you started that turned out to be wrong?\n- What's the part of your job nobody warned you about?\n\n**The actual work:**\n\n- What is your team actually working on right now?\n- What does a strong first month look like for someone in your role?\n- What's the difference between people who are good at this and people who are great at it?\n\n**How you break in:**\n\n- What separates the interns who got return offers from the ones who didn't?\n- If you were hiring an intern for your team, what would make a resume stand out to you?\n- Who else would you recommend I talk to?\n\nCut these generic questions. They make you blend in:\n\n- \"What does a typical day look like?\" Ask instead: \"What is your team working on right now?\" You get specifics you can use, not a job description.\n- \"What skills do I need?\" Ask instead: \"What separates the interns who got return offers?\" Same intel, sharper, and it signals you're aiming at outcomes.\n- \"How did you get your job?\" off a profile you didn't read. Ask instead about the specific jump you saw on their LinkedIn. It proves you did the homework.\n\n## How to run the 20 minutes\n\nKeep it tight, and respect the clock you asked for. A simple agenda:\n\n1. **Warm open (1 minute).** Thank them, confirm you have 20 minutes, and let them know you came with a few questions.\n2. **Your 30-second intro.** Who you are, what you're studying, and the field you're aiming at. Short. They didn't take this call to hear your life story.\n3. **Their story (a few minutes).** Lead with one path question and let them talk. People enjoy this part, and it warms up the conversation.\n4. **Your sharp questions.** Move into the work and the \"how you break in\" buckets. This is the meat.\n5. **The close (last 2 minutes).** Leave room for the setup question below. Don't let the clock run out mid-answer with no time to close.\n\nIf they offered 20 minutes, wrap at 18 and offer to give time back. Ending early is a flex, not a failure. It's the surest way to get a second conversation.\n\n## The close that turns a chat into a referral\n\nHere's the part the other guides skip. They stop at \"who else should I talk to?\" and call it networking. That question is a setup, not the finish. The referral is a separate, later move, and treating it that way is what makes it work.\n\n### Stage one: the soft setup at the end of chat #1\n\nIn your last two minutes, ask:\n\n> \"This was really helpful. Who else would you recommend I talk to, and would it be okay to use your name when I reach out?\"\n\nThis does two things. It expands your network through a warm introduction, and it plants the seed that you're a serious person worth vouching for. What you do not do in chat #1 is ask them to refer you for a job. They just met you. A referral request now feels like the whole chat was a setup, which sours the relationship you spent 20 minutes building.\n\n### Stage two: the actual referral ask, later\n\nOnce a posting is live and you've built a little rapport (you followed up, maybe you talked twice, you acted on their advice), you can make the direct ask. The key is to make it effortless. A busy person won't write a referral from scratch. Hand them everything they need to act in one click: name the specific role, ask plainly whether they'd be comfortable referring you, and attach a short forwardable blurb plus your resume so the referral writes itself.\n\n```text\nHi [Name],\n\nThanks again for the chat back in [month], your point about [specific\nthing they said] stuck with me. I'm applying to the [exact role title]\non [company]'s team ([link to posting]). Would you be comfortable\nreferring me, or passing my resume to whoever owns that role?\n\nTo make it easy, here's a blurb you can forward as-is:\n\n  \"[Your name] is a [year] at [school] studying [major]. We spoke\n  about [field] and I was impressed by [one concrete thing: a project,\n  how they think]. They're applying to the [role] and I think they'd\n  be a strong fit. Resume attached.\"\n\nResume is attached either way. No worries at all if it's not something\nyou're comfortable doing.\n\nThanks,\n[Your name]\n```\n\nThe honest truth: most people won't refer a stranger after one conversation. That's exactly why the relationship and the follow-up matter. A referral is a favor that puts the referrer's name on the line, and people only do that for someone they've decided is worth it. The chat earns the right to ask. The follow-up earns the yes.\n\n## Follow-up: the thank-you and staying on their radar\n\nSend a thank-you within 24 hours. Keep it short, and name one specific thing you took from the chat so it's clearly not a template.\n\n```text\nHi [Name],\n\nThanks so much for the time today. Your point about [specific thing]\ngenuinely changed how I'm thinking about [topic], and I'm going to\n[concrete next step based on their advice]. [If they gave you a name:]\nI'll reach out to [person] this week and use your name, as you offered.\n\nReally appreciate it,\n[Your name]\n```\n\nThen do the thing almost nobody does: close the loop. When their advice or referral leads somewhere, report back. A two-line update keeps you on their radar without pestering, and it's the move that turns a one-time chat into someone who'll vouch for you again.\n\n```text\nHi [Name],\n\nQuick update: I [acted on their advice \u002F got an interview with the\nteam you referred me to]. Wanted to say thanks, your [advice \u002F intro]\nmade a real difference. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.\n\n[Your name]\n```\n\nOne light touch later (a relevant article, a congratulations when they post a work win) keeps the door open. More than that starts to feel like you only want something, so keep it genuine and rare.\n\n## Frequently asked questions\n\n### What's the difference between a coffee chat and an informational interview?\n\nThere's no real difference in substance. Both are short, low-pressure conversations where you ask about someone's work and career, not for a job. \"Coffee chat\" is the casual label for peers and recent grads. \"Informational interview\" is the formal framing for senior contacts or formal industries. Match the term to who you're emailing.\n\n### How long should a coffee chat be?\n\nAsk for 15 to 20 minutes. In practice 20 to 30 is normal, but asking for less makes it easier to say yes, and respecting the clock you named makes you the kind of person they'll talk to again. If they're enjoying it and keep going, let them, but you should never be the one running over.\n\n### What do you say in a coffee chat request?\n\nName a specific reason you picked this person, ask for advice rather than a job, request 15 to 20 minutes, and offer to work around their schedule. Use the alum or cold templates above and swap in the bracketed details. The specific reason is the part that gets a yes.\n\n### Is it okay to ask for a referral in a coffee chat?\n\nUsually not in the first chat. Asking someone who just met you to put their name on the line tends to backfire. Instead, end chat #1 with \"who else would you recommend I talk to?\" and make the direct referral ask later, once there's a real posting and some rapport. When you do ask, make it effortless with a forwardable blurb and your resume attached.\n\n### What questions should you not ask in an informational interview?\n\nSkip anything Googleable (what the company does, basic role definitions), don't open with salary, and never ask \"can you get me a job?\" The last one is the fastest way to end the relationship. If applications alone aren't working and you're [not getting responses](\u002Fblog\u002Fwhy-am-i-not-getting-internship-responses), conversations are the fix, but only when you ask for advice first and let the referral follow.\n\n---\n\nDo this today: open [linkedin.com\u002Falumni](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Falumni), pull five names from your school who work where you'd want to, and [browse internships](\u002Ffeed) to confirm those companies are on your target list. Then send the first ask using the alum template. Don't draft all five and polish for an hour. Send one, and you're already ahead of the students who'll be reaching out cold the same week applications open.",[17,25,32,38,45,51,57,63,70,76,82,88,95,101,107,114,120,126,132,138,144,150,156,162,168,174,180,186,192,198,204,210,216,222,228,234,240,246,252,258,264,270,272,277,282,287,292,297,302,307,312,317,322,327,332,337,342,347,352,357,362,367,373,379,385,391,397,403,410,416,421],{"slug":18,"title":19,"description":20,"date":21,"tags":22,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-explain-a-low-gpa-or-gap","How to Explain a Low GPA or Gap on Your Resume","Own a low GPA, failed class, gap year, or extra time to graduate in one honest line, then redirect. The exact script, plus when to raise it vs wait.","2026-08-28",[9,23,11],"interviews",9,{"slug":26,"title":27,"description":28,"date":29,"tags":30,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"how-to-use-your-college-career-center","How to Use Your College Career Center for Internships","What career services offers beyond Handshake, how to run an advising appointment that's worth it, and how to tell if your career center is weak.","2026-08-27",[9,10,11],8,{"slug":33,"title":34,"description":35,"date":36,"tags":37,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-influenced-someone-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Influenced Someone","No workplace story? Answer \\\"tell me about a time you influenced someone\\\" with a club or class example: the pick-the-moment rule, a worked answer, and traps.","2026-08-25",[9,23,11],{"slug":39,"title":40,"description":41,"date":42,"tags":43,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-managed-competing-priorities-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Managed Competing Priorities","Answer \\\"tell me about a time you managed competing priorities\\\" with a rank-by-deadline-and-impact system, the heads-up interviewers grade, and an example.","2026-08-24",[9,23,11],11,{"slug":46,"title":47,"description":48,"date":49,"tags":50,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"why-this-industry-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Why This Industry?\" in an Interview","A research method and 3-part formula for \"why investment banking \u002F consulting \u002F tech,\" with worked examples and the salary and prestige tells to avoid.","2026-08-21",[9,23,11],{"slug":52,"title":53,"description":54,"date":55,"tags":56,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"company-info-session-tips","Company Info Session Tips: Get Noticed by Recruiters","How to make the most of a company info session: 10-minute prep, the one question that gets you remembered, and a same-day follow-up that lands.","2026-08-20",[9,10,11],{"slug":58,"title":59,"description":60,"date":61,"tags":62,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"walk-me-through-your-resume-interview","How to Answer \\\"Walk Me Through Your Resume\\\" (Finance)","The finance and consulting opener, done as a chronological story: which 2-3 experiences to pick, a full student example, and how to hit 2 minutes.","2026-08-19",[9,23,11],{"slug":64,"title":65,"description":66,"date":67,"tags":68,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":69},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-adapted-to-change-internship-interview","Adapt to Change? Internship Interview Answer","Answer \\\"tell me about a time you had to adapt to change\\\" for an internship: pick a change you didn't choose, then show how you re-planned and stayed calm.","2026-08-14",[9,23,11],7,{"slug":71,"title":72,"description":73,"date":74,"tags":75,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"what-motivates-you-internship-interview","How to Answer \"What Motivates You?\" (Internship)","A driver-plus-story-plus-role-fit formula for the \"what motivates you \u002F what are you passionate about\" internship question, with a worked student example.","2026-08-13",[9,23,11],{"slug":77,"title":78,"description":79,"date":80,"tags":81,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"greatest-accomplishment-internship-interview","How to Answer \"What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?\"","A rule for picking a greatest accomplishment you can actually own, a STAR shape weighted on what you did, a student example, and the traps to dodge.","2026-08-12",[9,23,11],{"slug":83,"title":84,"description":85,"date":86,"tags":87,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-do-you-handle-criticism-internship-interview","How Do You Handle Criticism? Internship Answer","Answer \\\"how do you handle criticism\\\" for an internship: pick real feedback you acted on, name it plainly, skip the defensiveness, and weight the fix.","2026-08-11",[9,23,11],{"slug":89,"title":90,"description":91,"date":92,"tags":93,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-worked-under-pressure-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Worked Under Pressure","Answer 'tell me about a time you worked under pressure' without the all-nighter story: a rule for picking the right crunch, a STAR shape on triage, plus traps.","2026-08-10",[9,23,11],10,{"slug":96,"title":97,"description":98,"date":99,"tags":100,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-showed-leadership-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Showed Leadership (Intern)","No title? You can still nail \\\"tell me about a time you showed leadership.\\\" A rule for finding the moment, a STAR-shaped student example, and the traps.","2026-08-06",[9,23,11],{"slug":102,"title":103,"description":104,"date":105,"tags":106,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-get-a-second-internship","How to Get a Second, Better Internship","You've done one internship. Here's how to reframe it into a sharper resume and story, use your new network, and target more competitive roles this fall.","2026-08-05",[9,10,11],{"slug":108,"title":109,"description":110,"date":111,"tags":112,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"intern-exit-interview","The Intern Exit Interview: What to Say (and Not Say)","What an intern exit interview really is, who runs it, the questions it asks with short answers, and how to give honest feedback without burning the bridge.","2026-08-04",[9,11,113],"internship-tips",{"slug":115,"title":116,"description":117,"date":118,"tags":119,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-had-a-conflict-with-a-teammate-internship-interview","Conflict With a Teammate: Interview Answer for Students","Never had a \\\"workplace\\\" conflict? Use a group-project disagreement. A no-blame framing rule, a worked student example, and the traps to dodge.","2026-08-03",[9,23,11],{"slug":121,"title":122,"description":123,"date":124,"tags":125,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-worked-on-a-team-internship-interview","Tell Me About a Time You Worked on a Team","A rule for picking the right team story, a STAR shape that keeps your role visible without erasing the team, plus a student example and the traps to avoid.","2026-07-31",[9,23,11],{"slug":127,"title":128,"description":129,"date":130,"tags":131,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"portfolio-for-internship-applications","Portfolio for Internship Applications: Do You Need One?","Do you need a portfolio for internship applications? A field-by-field guide to what to include, how many pieces, where to host it, and how to link it.","2026-07-30",[9,10,11],{"slug":133,"title":134,"description":135,"date":136,"tags":137,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"end-of-internship-presentation","How to Nail Your End-of-Internship Presentation","Your final intern presentation, decoded: a slide arc that leads with the problem and your result, how to scope it, the dry-run rule, and handling tough Q&A.","2026-07-29",[9,11,113],{"slug":139,"title":140,"description":141,"date":142,"tags":143,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"stay-in-touch-after-internship","How to Stay in Touch After Your Internship Ends","The last-weeks playbook: a goodbye message that isn't generic, LinkedIn before your access is cut, and a light check-in cadence that keeps the door open.","2026-07-28",[9,11,113],{"slug":145,"title":146,"description":147,"date":148,"tags":149,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"nothing-to-do-at-your-internship","What to Do When You Have Nothing to Do at Your Internship","Underused at a slow or disorganized internship? The exact words to ask for work, how to turn downtime into a visible win, and how to still earn a return offer.","2026-07-27",[9,11,113],{"slug":151,"title":152,"description":153,"date":154,"tags":155,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"made-a-mistake-at-my-internship","I Made a Mistake at My Internship: How to Recover","Just messed up at your internship? How to size the mistake, tell your manager with a simple script, reset after a bad week, and protect your return offer.","2026-07-24",[9,11,113],{"slug":157,"title":158,"description":159,"date":160,"tags":161,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"tell-me-about-a-time-you-failed-internship-interview","How to Answer \\\"Tell Me About a Time You Failed\\\"","A 4-part rule for picking a real, fixable failure, an answer shape that spends its words on what you changed, and two student examples from clubs.","2026-07-23",[9,23,11],{"slug":163,"title":164,"description":165,"date":166,"tags":167,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"how-to-practice-for-an-internship-interview","How to Practice for an Internship Interview","How to practice for an internship interview: a record-and-review loop, a 1 to 2 week rep schedule, role-based question bank, and rehearsing beats not scripts.","2026-07-22",[9,23,11],{"slug":169,"title":170,"description":171,"date":172,"tags":173,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"thank-you-email-after-internship-interview","Thank-You Email After an Internship Interview (+ Follow-Up)","A 24–48h thank-you template, the one polite follow-up email, and how long to wait before silence honestly means no after an internship interview.","2026-07-21",[9,23,11],{"slug":175,"title":176,"description":177,"date":178,"tags":179,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"why-should-we-hire-you-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Why Should We Hire You?\" (Internship)","A selection rule for the \\\"why should we hire you\\\" internship answer: pick two role-matched strengths, back each with proof, close on fit, plus student examples.","2026-07-20",[9,23,11],{"slug":181,"title":182,"description":183,"date":184,"tags":185,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"should-i-apply-if-i-dont-meet-all-requirements","Should You Apply If You Don't Meet Every Requirement?","Not sure you're qualified for that internship? How to tell a real requirement from a wish-list one, the honest match rule, and how to close the gap.","2026-07-17",[9,10,11],{"slug":187,"title":188,"description":189,"date":190,"tags":191,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"live-video-interview-tips-internship","Live Video Interview Tips for Internships (Zoom\u002FTeams)","Live Zoom or Teams internship interview coming up? Where to look for eye contact, a tech and backup-device checklist, and how to recover when you freeze.","2026-07-16",[9,23,11],{"slug":193,"title":194,"description":195,"date":196,"tags":197,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"should-you-negotiate-an-internship-offer","Should You Negotiate an Internship Offer?","Should you negotiate an internship offer? When it helps, when to skip it, what's actually negotiable (start date, housing, pay), and a polite script to use.","2026-07-15",[9,11,10],{"slug":199,"title":200,"description":201,"date":202,"tags":203,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"virtual-experience-programs-worth-it","Are Virtual Experience Programs Worth It? (Forage)","Are Forage virtual experience programs worth it? An honest verdict on who they help, what they can't do, and exactly how to put one on your resume.","2026-07-14",[9,10,11],{"slug":205,"title":206,"description":207,"date":208,"tags":209,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"how-to-write-a-cover-letter-for-an-internship","How to Write a Cover Letter for an Internship","When an internship cover letter is actually required, a simple 3-4 paragraph structure that complements your resume, and a worked student example.","2026-07-13",[9,10,11],{"slug":211,"title":212,"description":213,"date":214,"tags":215,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"fall-internship-during-the-school-year","Fall Internships: Find One & Balance It With Classes","How to find a fall or part-time internship during the school year: where term-time roles hide, a 15-20 hour weekly schedule, and when to lighten your load.","2026-07-10",[9,10,11],{"slug":217,"title":218,"description":219,"date":220,"tags":221,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"where-do-you-see-yourself-in-5-years-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?\"","A fill-in formula for the 5-year goals question in an internship interview: specific near-term skills, a loose long-term direction, plus two student examples.","2026-07-08",[9,23,11],{"slug":223,"title":224,"description":225,"date":226,"tags":227,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"internship-take-home-assignment","How to Approach an Internship Take-Home Assignment","Facing a technical take-home assignment for an internship? How to scope to the core problem, how long to spend, and the README that sells your trade-offs.","2026-07-07",[9,23,11],{"slug":229,"title":230,"description":231,"date":232,"tags":233,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"assessment-center-superday-final-round-interview","Assessment Center & Superday: How to Prepare","What an assessment center or superday really is, a day-of game plan to stay sharp across 3 to 6 back-to-back rounds, and how to own the group exercise.","2026-07-06",[9,23,11],{"slug":235,"title":236,"description":237,"date":238,"tags":239,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"strengths-and-weaknesses-interview-answer","Strengths and Weaknesses: Internship Interview Answers","A rule for picking a strength you can prove and a real weakness that won't sink you, plus the humble-brag answers to avoid, with student examples.","2026-07-03",[9,23,11],{"slug":241,"title":242,"description":243,"date":238,"tags":244,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"tailor-your-resume-for-an-internship","How to Tailor Your Resume to Each Internship","How to tailor your resume to each internship's job description in about 10 minutes: the signals to pull, the keyword rule, and what an ATS really does.",[9,245,10],"resume",{"slug":247,"title":248,"description":249,"date":250,"tags":251,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"how-to-prepare-for-a-case-interview","How to Prepare for a Case Interview (Internship)","New to case interviews? A structure-first loop (clarify, structure, math aloud, recommend), the reasoning habit assessors grade, and a prep plan by time left.","2026-07-02",[9,23,11],{"slug":253,"title":254,"description":255,"date":256,"tags":257,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"why-this-company-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Why This Company?\" in an Internship Interview","A 20-minute research method and a 3-part answer formula for \"why this company \u002F why this internship,\" with two worked examples for thin resumes.","2026-07-01",[9,23,11],{"slug":259,"title":260,"description":261,"date":262,"tags":263,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"how-to-ask-for-a-letter-of-recommendation-for-an-internship","How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (Internship)","How to ask a manager or professor for an internship recommendation: who to pick, the in-person-then-email ask, lead time, and a brag-sheet packet template.","2026-06-30",[9,10,11],{"slug":265,"title":266,"description":267,"date":268,"tags":269,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"how-to-keep-track-of-internship-applications","How to Keep Track of Internship Applications","How to keep track of internship applications without it rotting: the exact columns that matter, a 15-minute weekly review, and how to tier your list.","2026-06-26",[9,10,11],{"slug":4,"title":5,"description":6,"date":7,"tags":271,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},[9,10,11],{"slug":273,"title":274,"description":275,"date":7,"tags":276,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"does-gpa-matter-for-internships","Does GPA Matter for Internships? An Honest Read","Does GPA matter for internships? Where it's a real filter vs a soft signal by field, when to put it on your resume, and what outweighs a low GPA.",[9,10,11],{"slug":278,"title":279,"description":280,"date":7,"tags":281,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"how-to-ask-for-a-referral-for-an-internship","How to Ask for an Internship Referral (Template)","How to ask for a referral for an internship: when to ask once the role is live, who can actually refer you, and a copy-paste message that makes it easy.",[9,10,11],{"slug":283,"title":284,"description":285,"date":7,"tags":286,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"how-to-convert-an-internship-into-a-full-time-offer","How to Convert an Internship into a Full-Time Offer","What managers really weigh when deciding return offers, the exact end-of-summer conversation script, and an honest plan for if you don't get one.",[9,11,113],{"slug":288,"title":289,"description":290,"date":7,"tags":291,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-get-an-internship-as-a-freshman-or-sophomore","How to Get an Internship as a Freshman or Sophomore","You're not behind. What freshman and sophomore year are really for, the program types actually open to underclassmen, and your move this year by year.",[9,10,11],{"slug":293,"title":294,"description":295,"date":7,"tags":296,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-handle-multiple-internship-offers","Multiple Internship Offers? How to Choose & Buy Time","Multiple internship offers or an exploding deadline? A weighted scorecard to compare offers, a script to ask for more time, and the truth on backing out.",[9,11,10],{"slug":298,"title":299,"description":300,"date":7,"tags":301,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"how-to-prepare-for-a-career-fair","How to Prepare for a Career Fair (+ Elevator Pitch)","How to prepare for a career fair: build a prioritized target list, a fill-in 30-second elevator pitch, and a same-day follow-up that gets callbacks.",[9,10,11],{"slug":303,"title":304,"description":305,"date":7,"tags":306,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"how-to-prepare-for-a-coding-interview-internship","How to Prepare for a Coding Interview (Internship)","Prep for an internship coding interview by time left: a 6-week, 2-week, and night-before plan, the 8 patterns that cover most questions, and how to think out loud.",[9,23,11],{"slug":308,"title":309,"description":310,"date":7,"tags":311,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-use-ai-for-internship-applications","How to Use ChatGPT for Internship Applications","Use AI for internship applications without it backfiring: what ChatGPT is genuinely good for, where it sinks you, and a make-it-yours edit checklist.",[9,10,11],{"slug":313,"title":314,"description":315,"date":7,"tags":316,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"internship-scams-to-avoid","Internship Scams to Avoid: Spot Them in 15 Minutes","The internship scams students actually report, how each one plays out, a 15-minute check to verify any offer, and exactly where to report a scam.",[9,11,10],{"slug":318,"title":319,"description":320,"date":7,"tags":321,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":14},"no-summer-internship","No Summer Internship? A Plan-B Playbook That Counts","No summer internship? Here's an honest reset, a ranked menu of substitutes by goal, and the exact resume line for each so the summer still counts.",[9,10,11],{"slug":323,"title":324,"description":325,"date":7,"tags":326,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"one-way-video-interview-and-online-assessment-tips","One-Way Video Interview & Online Assessment Tips","Got an online assessment or one-way video interview for an internship? How each automated screen works, the 30-second prep trick, and when to retake.",[9,23,11],{"slug":328,"title":329,"description":330,"date":7,"tags":331,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"projects-to-get-an-internship","Projects to Get an Internship: What to Build (No Experience)","What projects to build to get an internship with no experience: a field-by-field picker for weekend projects, plus a copy-paste resume and portfolio write-up.",[9,10,11],{"slug":333,"title":334,"description":335,"date":7,"tags":336,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"questions-to-ask-at-the-end-of-an-internship-interview","Questions to Ask at the End of an Internship Interview","The 5 questions to ask at the end of an internship interview, grouped by what you want to learn, plus the ones that quietly hurt you and what to ask instead.",[9,23,11],{"slug":338,"title":339,"description":340,"date":7,"tags":341,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"recruiter-phone-screen-internship","Recruiter Phone Screen for an Internship: What to Expect","The recruiter phone screen is the first human gate after the OA. What it really tests, the 5 questions it always asks, and the logistics traps to dodge.",[9,23,11],{"slug":343,"title":344,"description":345,"date":7,"tags":346,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"star-method-behavioral-interview-questions","STAR Method for Behavioral Interview Questions","The STAR method for internship behavioral questions: build a reusable 6-story bank from classes and clubs, with two worked examples and no work history.",[9,23,11],{"slug":348,"title":349,"description":350,"date":7,"tags":351,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"tell-me-about-yourself-internship-interview","How to Answer \"Tell Me About Yourself\" (Internship)","The 3-part formula, present, past, why this role, for answering the tell me about yourself opener in an internship interview, with two student examples.",[9,23,11],{"slug":353,"title":354,"description":355,"date":7,"tags":356,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"what-to-do-after-an-internship-rejection","What to Do After an Internship Rejection: A 7-Day Plan","Rejected from an internship? A 48-hour reset, then 5 redirect moves, plus the honest truth about asking for feedback and what one no really means.",[9,10,11],{"slug":358,"title":359,"description":360,"date":7,"tags":361,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"what-to-wear-to-an-internship-interview","What to Wear to an Internship Interview","What to wear to an internship interview, in person and on video: business casual vs professional decoded, an industry-by-industry call, and a no-suit budget take.",[9,23,11],{"slug":363,"title":364,"description":365,"date":7,"tags":366,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"where-to-find-internships","Where to Find Internships: A Weekly Sourcing System","Where to find internships in 2026: build a 4-channel mix, run a 30-minute weekly routine, and vet listings so you skip dead and ghost posts.",[9,10,11],{"slug":368,"title":369,"description":370,"date":371,"tags":372,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":44},"linkedin-profile-for-students-with-no-experience","LinkedIn Profile for Students With No Experience","Build a student LinkedIn profile with no experience: a headline formula, a fill-in About template, and exactly where your projects and clubs go.","2026-06-24",[9,10,11],{"slug":374,"title":375,"description":376,"date":377,"tags":378,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"make-the-most-of-your-summer-internship","How to Make the Most of Your Summer Internship","A week-by-week playbook for your summer internship: set three goals, keep a wins doc, run a mid-summer check-in, and lock in your reference early.","2026-06-22",[9,11,113],{"slug":380,"title":381,"description":382,"date":383,"tags":384,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"why-am-i-not-getting-internship-responses","Not Getting Internship Responses? Find Your Leak","Applying everywhere and hearing nothing? Diagnose your internship funnel, find the exact stage that's leaking, and fix that instead of just applying more.","2026-06-19",[9,10,11],{"slug":386,"title":387,"description":388,"date":389,"tags":390,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"when-to-apply-for-internships","When to Apply for Internships: Summer 2027 Timeline","When internship applications open by industry for summer 2027, a three-wave timeline, and exactly what to do this month so you don't miss your window.","2026-06-18",[9,10,11],{"slug":392,"title":393,"description":394,"date":395,"tags":396,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":94},"paid-vs-unpaid-internships","Paid vs Unpaid Internships: How to Decide (and Avoid Scams)","A clear framework to decide if an internship is worth it, paid or unpaid, plus the fee-scam red flags every student should check before saying yes.","2026-06-16",[9,11,10],{"slug":398,"title":399,"description":400,"date":401,"tags":402,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":24},"how-to-ask-a-professor-for-a-research-internship","How to Ask a Professor for a Research Internship","What to write, when to send it, and what professors ignore: a line-by-line email guide for undergrads asking a professor for a research internship.","2026-06-15",[9,10,11],{"slug":404,"title":405,"description":406,"date":407,"updated":7,"tags":408,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":409},"internship-interview-questions","Internship Interview Questions Students Actually Get","The questions internship interviews actually ask, grouped into five types, with a prep move and example answer for each, even with no work history.","2026-06-12",[9,23,11],6,{"slug":411,"title":412,"description":413,"date":414,"tags":415,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"how-to-cold-email-for-an-internship","How to Cold Email for an Internship: 3 Real Templates","An honest playbook for cold emailing your way into an internship: who to contact at startups, what to write, 3 real templates, and when to follow up.","2026-06-11",[9,10,11],{"slug":417,"title":418,"description":419,"date":414,"tags":420,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":31},"internship-resume-with-no-experience","Internship Resume With No Experience: A One-Page Guide","What to put on an internship resume when you have no work history: an exact one-page structure plus before and after bullet examples you can copy.",[9,245,10],{"slug":422,"title":423,"description":424,"date":425,"tags":426,"author":12,"draft":13,"readingMinutes":427},"how-to-get-an-internship-with-no-experience","How to Get an Internship With No Experience (Step-by-Step Guide)","No experience yet? A practical step-by-step plan to land your first internship: build proof of skills, find the right openings, and apply well.","2026-06-10",[9,10,11],5,{"data":429,"body":430},{},{"type":431,"children":432},"root",[433,441,448,453,459,464,469,516,529,535,555,568,575,588,594,599,608,621,627,632,640,658,666,684,692,710,715,733,739,744,798,803,809,814,820,825,834,839,845,850,859,864,870,875,884,889,898,903,909,915,920,926,931,937,942,948,953,959,972,976],{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":436,"children":437},"element","p",{},[438],{"type":439,"value":440},"text","It's networking-list season for fall recruiting, and a coffee chat is the single highest-leverage move that isn't just another application. Done right, a 20-minute conversation in July or August becomes a referral in October, when the person you talked to forwards your resume to the team you'd otherwise be cold-applying to. This guide shows you exactly how to ask, what to say, the questions that make you memorable instead of forgettable, and the referral close that most guides skip entirely. Every stage comes with a copyable template.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":443,"children":445},"h2",{"id":444},"coffee-chat-vs-informational-interview-same-thing-different-tone",[446],{"type":439,"value":447},"Coffee chat vs. informational interview: same thing, different tone",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":449,"children":450},{},[451],{"type":439,"value":452},"These are the same conversation. A coffee chat and an informational interview are both a short, low-stakes talk where you ask someone about their work and their path, not for a job. The only real difference is register. \"Coffee chat\" is the casual framing you'd use with a recent grad or someone two years ahead of you. \"Informational interview\" is the more formal phrasing for senior people, professors, or formal industries like law and finance, where \"can I grab a coffee\" might read as too loose. Pick the label that matches who you're emailing. The structure, the questions, and the close are identical.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":454,"children":456},{"id":455},"who-to-reach-out-to-and-where-to-find-them",[457],{"type":439,"value":458},"Who to reach out to (and where to find them)",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":460,"children":461},{},[462],{"type":439,"value":463},"Start with people one to three years ahead of you, not VPs. A second-year analyst remembers exactly how they broke in, has time to reply, and isn't being asked for chats every week. A VP forgot the entry-level game a decade ago and gets ten requests a day. For your first chat, recent is more useful than senior.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":465,"children":466},{},[467],{"type":439,"value":468},"Three places to find names:",{"type":434,"tag":470,"props":471,"children":472},"ul",{},[473,496,506],{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":475,"children":476},"li",{},[477,483,485,494],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":479,"children":480},"strong",{},[481],{"type":439,"value":482},"Your school's alumni network on LinkedIn.",{"type":439,"value":484}," Go to ",{"type":434,"tag":486,"props":487,"children":491},"a",{"href":488,"rel":489},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Falumni",[490],"nofollow",[492],{"type":439,"value":493},"linkedin.com\u002Falumni",{"type":439,"value":495},", and LinkedIn detects your school automatically. You can filter graduates by where they work, where they live, and what they do. This is the warmest cold outreach there is: shared school plus a specific job gives you a real reason to reach out.",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":497,"children":498},{},[499,504],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":500,"children":501},{},[502],{"type":439,"value":503},"Your university's alumni database or career platform.",{"type":439,"value":505}," Many schools run a mentorship directory where alumni have already opted in to hearing from students. People in that database said yes before you even wrote.",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":507,"children":508},{},[509,514],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":510,"children":511},{},[512],{"type":439,"value":513},"People at companies you'd actually apply to.",{"type":439,"value":515}," Pick the targets first, then find the people. Browse internships to build your target list, then look up who works there.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":517,"children":518},{},[519,521,527],{"type":439,"value":520},"Build this list now. Fall recruiting for summer 2027 opens in waves, and the ",{"type":434,"tag":486,"props":522,"children":524},{"href":523},"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhen-to-apply-for-internships",[525],{"type":439,"value":526},"early ones run from July into October",{"type":439,"value":528},". A conversation you have in the quiet of July is a warm contact by the time applications open, while everyone else is reaching out cold in the same week they apply.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":530,"children":532},{"id":531},"how-to-ask-the-outreach-message",[533],{"type":439,"value":534},"How to ask: the outreach message",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":536,"children":537},{},[538,540,546,548,553],{"type":439,"value":539},"A request that gets a yes does four things: it names a specific reason you picked this person, it asks for advice rather than a job, it requests a small amount of time (15 to 20 minutes), and it hands them flexibility on scheduling. The specific reason is what separates you from the generic blasts. \"I saw you went from ",{"type":434,"tag":541,"props":542,"children":543},"span",{},[544],{"type":439,"value":545},"school",{"type":439,"value":547}," to ",{"type":434,"tag":541,"props":549,"children":550},{},[551],{"type":439,"value":552},"role",{"type":439,"value":554},"\" proves you read their profile. \"I'm interested in your field\" proves nothing.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":556,"children":557},{},[558,560,566],{"type":439,"value":559},"One honest note on what to expect: most people won't reply, and that's normal. Warm asks do far better than cold ones, so an alum or a name you got from a mutual contact will beat a stranger every time. Send a batch, expect a handful of yeses, and don't read silence as a verdict on you. This is the same reality as ",{"type":434,"tag":486,"props":561,"children":563},{"href":562},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-cold-email-for-an-internship",[564],{"type":439,"value":565},"cold emailing for an internship",{"type":439,"value":567},", with one key difference: a coffee chat asks for a conversation, not a role, so the bar for saying yes is much lower.",{"type":434,"tag":569,"props":570,"children":572},"h3",{"id":571},"template-the-alum-ask",[573],{"type":439,"value":574},"Template: the alum ask",{"type":434,"tag":576,"props":577,"children":582},"pre",{"className":578,"code":580,"language":439,"meta":581},[579],"language-text","Hi [Name],\n\nI'm a [year] at [school] studying [major], hoping to break into\n[field]. I saw you went from [school] to [role] at [company], and I'd\nlove to hear how you made that jump. Could I borrow 15 minutes\nsometime in the next couple of weeks? Totally flexible to your\nschedule. I'm just looking for advice, not asking you to find me a job.\n\nThanks,\n[Your name]\n","",[583],{"type":434,"tag":584,"props":585,"children":586},"code",{"__ignoreMap":581},[587],{"type":439,"value":580},{"type":434,"tag":569,"props":589,"children":591},{"id":590},"template-the-cold-linkedin-or-email-ask",[592],{"type":439,"value":593},"Template: the cold LinkedIn or email ask",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":595,"children":596},{},[597],{"type":439,"value":598},"When there's no shared school, the specific hook has to carry the message. Open with the actual thing they did or built.",{"type":434,"tag":576,"props":600,"children":603},{"className":601,"code":602,"language":439,"meta":581},[579],"Hi [Name],\n\nI came across [the specific thing: a talk they gave, a product they\nbuilt, a post they wrote], and it's exactly the kind of work I want to\ndo. I'm a [year] at [school] studying [major], trying to figure out\nhow people actually get into [field]. Would you be open to a 15-minute\ncall in the next couple of weeks? Happy to work around your schedule.\nJust after advice, not asking you to find me a role.\n\nThanks,\n[Your name]\n",[604],{"type":434,"tag":584,"props":605,"children":606},{"__ignoreMap":581},[607],{"type":439,"value":602},{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":609,"children":610},{},[611,613,619],{"type":439,"value":612},"They will look you up before deciding whether to reply, so make sure your ",{"type":434,"tag":486,"props":614,"children":616},{"href":615},"\u002Fblog\u002Flinkedin-profile-for-students-with-no-experience",[617],{"type":439,"value":618},"LinkedIn profile",{"type":439,"value":620}," is in shape before you send anything.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":622,"children":624},{"id":623},"what-to-ask-questions-that-arent-generic",[625],{"type":439,"value":626},"What to ask: questions that aren't generic",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":628,"children":629},{},[630],{"type":439,"value":631},"This is where most students waste the chat. They ask things they could have Googled, get a generic answer, and end up forgettable. Strong questions surface real intel and make the other person remember you. Group them loosely into three buckets.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":633,"children":634},{},[635],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":636,"children":637},{},[638],{"type":439,"value":639},"Their path and what they'd do now:",{"type":434,"tag":470,"props":641,"children":642},{},[643,648,653],{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":644,"children":645},{},[646],{"type":439,"value":647},"If you were breaking in today, what would you do differently?",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":649,"children":650},{},[651],{"type":439,"value":652},"What's something you believed about this field before you started that turned out to be wrong?",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":654,"children":655},{},[656],{"type":439,"value":657},"What's the part of your job nobody warned you about?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":659,"children":660},{},[661],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":662,"children":663},{},[664],{"type":439,"value":665},"The actual work:",{"type":434,"tag":470,"props":667,"children":668},{},[669,674,679],{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":670,"children":671},{},[672],{"type":439,"value":673},"What is your team actually working on right now?",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":675,"children":676},{},[677],{"type":439,"value":678},"What does a strong first month look like for someone in your role?",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":680,"children":681},{},[682],{"type":439,"value":683},"What's the difference between people who are good at this and people who are great at it?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":685,"children":686},{},[687],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":688,"children":689},{},[690],{"type":439,"value":691},"How you break in:",{"type":434,"tag":470,"props":693,"children":694},{},[695,700,705],{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":696,"children":697},{},[698],{"type":439,"value":699},"What separates the interns who got return offers from the ones who didn't?",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":701,"children":702},{},[703],{"type":439,"value":704},"If you were hiring an intern for your team, what would make a resume stand out to you?",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":706,"children":707},{},[708],{"type":439,"value":709},"Who else would you recommend I talk to?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":711,"children":712},{},[713],{"type":439,"value":714},"Cut these generic questions. They make you blend in:",{"type":434,"tag":470,"props":716,"children":717},{},[718,723,728],{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":719,"children":720},{},[721],{"type":439,"value":722},"\"What does a typical day look like?\" Ask instead: \"What is your team working on right now?\" You get specifics you can use, not a job description.",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":724,"children":725},{},[726],{"type":439,"value":727},"\"What skills do I need?\" Ask instead: \"What separates the interns who got return offers?\" Same intel, sharper, and it signals you're aiming at outcomes.",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":729,"children":730},{},[731],{"type":439,"value":732},"\"How did you get your job?\" off a profile you didn't read. Ask instead about the specific jump you saw on their LinkedIn. It proves you did the homework.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":734,"children":736},{"id":735},"how-to-run-the-20-minutes",[737],{"type":439,"value":738},"How to run the 20 minutes",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":740,"children":741},{},[742],{"type":439,"value":743},"Keep it tight, and respect the clock you asked for. A simple agenda:",{"type":434,"tag":745,"props":746,"children":747},"ol",{},[748,758,768,778,788],{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":749,"children":750},{},[751,756],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":752,"children":753},{},[754],{"type":439,"value":755},"Warm open (1 minute).",{"type":439,"value":757}," Thank them, confirm you have 20 minutes, and let them know you came with a few questions.",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":759,"children":760},{},[761,766],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":762,"children":763},{},[764],{"type":439,"value":765},"Your 30-second intro.",{"type":439,"value":767}," Who you are, what you're studying, and the field you're aiming at. Short. They didn't take this call to hear your life story.",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":769,"children":770},{},[771,776],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":772,"children":773},{},[774],{"type":439,"value":775},"Their story (a few minutes).",{"type":439,"value":777}," Lead with one path question and let them talk. People enjoy this part, and it warms up the conversation.",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":779,"children":780},{},[781,786],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":782,"children":783},{},[784],{"type":439,"value":785},"Your sharp questions.",{"type":439,"value":787}," Move into the work and the \"how you break in\" buckets. This is the meat.",{"type":434,"tag":474,"props":789,"children":790},{},[791,796],{"type":434,"tag":478,"props":792,"children":793},{},[794],{"type":439,"value":795},"The close (last 2 minutes).",{"type":439,"value":797}," Leave room for the setup question below. Don't let the clock run out mid-answer with no time to close.",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":799,"children":800},{},[801],{"type":439,"value":802},"If they offered 20 minutes, wrap at 18 and offer to give time back. Ending early is a flex, not a failure. It's the surest way to get a second conversation.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":804,"children":806},{"id":805},"the-close-that-turns-a-chat-into-a-referral",[807],{"type":439,"value":808},"The close that turns a chat into a referral",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":810,"children":811},{},[812],{"type":439,"value":813},"Here's the part the other guides skip. They stop at \"who else should I talk to?\" and call it networking. That question is a setup, not the finish. The referral is a separate, later move, and treating it that way is what makes it work.",{"type":434,"tag":569,"props":815,"children":817},{"id":816},"stage-one-the-soft-setup-at-the-end-of-chat-1",[818],{"type":439,"value":819},"Stage one: the soft setup at the end of chat #1",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":821,"children":822},{},[823],{"type":439,"value":824},"In your last two minutes, ask:",{"type":434,"tag":826,"props":827,"children":828},"blockquote",{},[829],{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":830,"children":831},{},[832],{"type":439,"value":833},"\"This was really helpful. Who else would you recommend I talk to, and would it be okay to use your name when I reach out?\"",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":835,"children":836},{},[837],{"type":439,"value":838},"This does two things. It expands your network through a warm introduction, and it plants the seed that you're a serious person worth vouching for. What you do not do in chat #1 is ask them to refer you for a job. They just met you. A referral request now feels like the whole chat was a setup, which sours the relationship you spent 20 minutes building.",{"type":434,"tag":569,"props":840,"children":842},{"id":841},"stage-two-the-actual-referral-ask-later",[843],{"type":439,"value":844},"Stage two: the actual referral ask, later",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":846,"children":847},{},[848],{"type":439,"value":849},"Once a posting is live and you've built a little rapport (you followed up, maybe you talked twice, you acted on their advice), you can make the direct ask. The key is to make it effortless. A busy person won't write a referral from scratch. Hand them everything they need to act in one click: name the specific role, ask plainly whether they'd be comfortable referring you, and attach a short forwardable blurb plus your resume so the referral writes itself.",{"type":434,"tag":576,"props":851,"children":854},{"className":852,"code":853,"language":439,"meta":581},[579],"Hi [Name],\n\nThanks again for the chat back in [month], your point about [specific\nthing they said] stuck with me. I'm applying to the [exact role title]\non [company]'s team ([link to posting]). Would you be comfortable\nreferring me, or passing my resume to whoever owns that role?\n\nTo make it easy, here's a blurb you can forward as-is:\n\n  \"[Your name] is a [year] at [school] studying [major]. We spoke\n  about [field] and I was impressed by [one concrete thing: a project,\n  how they think]. They're applying to the [role] and I think they'd\n  be a strong fit. Resume attached.\"\n\nResume is attached either way. No worries at all if it's not something\nyou're comfortable doing.\n\nThanks,\n[Your name]\n",[855],{"type":434,"tag":584,"props":856,"children":857},{"__ignoreMap":581},[858],{"type":439,"value":853},{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":860,"children":861},{},[862],{"type":439,"value":863},"The honest truth: most people won't refer a stranger after one conversation. That's exactly why the relationship and the follow-up matter. A referral is a favor that puts the referrer's name on the line, and people only do that for someone they've decided is worth it. The chat earns the right to ask. The follow-up earns the yes.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":865,"children":867},{"id":866},"follow-up-the-thank-you-and-staying-on-their-radar",[868],{"type":439,"value":869},"Follow-up: the thank-you and staying on their radar",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":871,"children":872},{},[873],{"type":439,"value":874},"Send a thank-you within 24 hours. Keep it short, and name one specific thing you took from the chat so it's clearly not a template.",{"type":434,"tag":576,"props":876,"children":879},{"className":877,"code":878,"language":439,"meta":581},[579],"Hi [Name],\n\nThanks so much for the time today. Your point about [specific thing]\ngenuinely changed how I'm thinking about [topic], and I'm going to\n[concrete next step based on their advice]. [If they gave you a name:]\nI'll reach out to [person] this week and use your name, as you offered.\n\nReally appreciate it,\n[Your name]\n",[880],{"type":434,"tag":584,"props":881,"children":882},{"__ignoreMap":581},[883],{"type":439,"value":878},{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":885,"children":886},{},[887],{"type":439,"value":888},"Then do the thing almost nobody does: close the loop. When their advice or referral leads somewhere, report back. A two-line update keeps you on their radar without pestering, and it's the move that turns a one-time chat into someone who'll vouch for you again.",{"type":434,"tag":576,"props":890,"children":893},{"className":891,"code":892,"language":439,"meta":581},[579],"Hi [Name],\n\nQuick update: I [acted on their advice \u002F got an interview with the\nteam you referred me to]. Wanted to say thanks, your [advice \u002F intro]\nmade a real difference. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.\n\n[Your name]\n",[894],{"type":434,"tag":584,"props":895,"children":896},{"__ignoreMap":581},[897],{"type":439,"value":892},{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":899,"children":900},{},[901],{"type":439,"value":902},"One light touch later (a relevant article, a congratulations when they post a work win) keeps the door open. More than that starts to feel like you only want something, so keep it genuine and rare.",{"type":434,"tag":442,"props":904,"children":906},{"id":905},"frequently-asked-questions",[907],{"type":439,"value":908},"Frequently asked questions",{"type":434,"tag":569,"props":910,"children":912},{"id":911},"whats-the-difference-between-a-coffee-chat-and-an-informational-interview",[913],{"type":439,"value":914},"What's the difference between a coffee chat and an informational interview?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":916,"children":917},{},[918],{"type":439,"value":919},"There's no real difference in substance. Both are short, low-pressure conversations where you ask about someone's work and career, not for a job. \"Coffee chat\" is the casual label for peers and recent grads. \"Informational interview\" is the formal framing for senior contacts or formal industries. Match the term to who you're emailing.",{"type":434,"tag":569,"props":921,"children":923},{"id":922},"how-long-should-a-coffee-chat-be",[924],{"type":439,"value":925},"How long should a coffee chat be?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":927,"children":928},{},[929],{"type":439,"value":930},"Ask for 15 to 20 minutes. In practice 20 to 30 is normal, but asking for less makes it easier to say yes, and respecting the clock you named makes you the kind of person they'll talk to again. If they're enjoying it and keep going, let them, but you should never be the one running over.",{"type":434,"tag":569,"props":932,"children":934},{"id":933},"what-do-you-say-in-a-coffee-chat-request",[935],{"type":439,"value":936},"What do you say in a coffee chat request?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":938,"children":939},{},[940],{"type":439,"value":941},"Name a specific reason you picked this person, ask for advice rather than a job, request 15 to 20 minutes, and offer to work around their schedule. Use the alum or cold templates above and swap in the bracketed details. The specific reason is the part that gets a yes.",{"type":434,"tag":569,"props":943,"children":945},{"id":944},"is-it-okay-to-ask-for-a-referral-in-a-coffee-chat",[946],{"type":439,"value":947},"Is it okay to ask for a referral in a coffee chat?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":949,"children":950},{},[951],{"type":439,"value":952},"Usually not in the first chat. Asking someone who just met you to put their name on the line tends to backfire. Instead, end chat #1 with \"who else would you recommend I talk to?\" and make the direct referral ask later, once there's a real posting and some rapport. When you do ask, make it effortless with a forwardable blurb and your resume attached.",{"type":434,"tag":569,"props":954,"children":956},{"id":955},"what-questions-should-you-not-ask-in-an-informational-interview",[957],{"type":439,"value":958},"What questions should you not ask in an informational interview?",{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":960,"children":961},{},[962,964,970],{"type":439,"value":963},"Skip anything Googleable (what the company does, basic role definitions), don't open with salary, and never ask \"can you get me a job?\" The last one is the fastest way to end the relationship. If applications alone aren't working and you're ",{"type":434,"tag":486,"props":965,"children":967},{"href":966},"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhy-am-i-not-getting-internship-responses",[968],{"type":439,"value":969},"not getting responses",{"type":439,"value":971},", conversations are the fix, but only when you ask for advice first and let the referral follow.",{"type":434,"tag":973,"props":974,"children":975},"hr",{},[],{"type":434,"tag":435,"props":977,"children":978},{},[979,981,986,988,994],{"type":439,"value":980},"Do this today: open ",{"type":434,"tag":486,"props":982,"children":984},{"href":488,"rel":983},[490],[985],{"type":439,"value":493},{"type":439,"value":987},", pull five names from your school who work where you'd want to, and ",{"type":434,"tag":486,"props":989,"children":991},{"href":990},"\u002Ffeed",[992],{"type":439,"value":993},"browse internships",{"type":439,"value":995}," to confirm those companies are on your target list. Then send the first ask using the alum template. Don't draft all five and polish for an hour. Send one, and you're already ahead of the students who'll be reaching out cold the same week applications open.",{"keys":997},[998,999,1000,1001,1002,1003,1004,1005,1006,1007,1008,1009,1010,1011,1012,1013,1014,1015,1016,1017,1018,1019,1020,1021,1022,1023,1024,1025,1026,1027,1028,1029,1030,1031],"in:bangalore","in:mumbai","in:delhi","in:gurugram","in:hyderabad","in:pune","in:chennai","in:noida","in:kolkata","in:jaipur","in:ahmedabad","in:software-engineering","in:data-science","in:marketing","in:design","in:finance","in:sales","in:human-resources","in:operations","in:remote","us:new-york","us:san-francisco","us:washington-dc","us:los-angeles","us:software-engineering","us:data-science","us:marketing","us:design","us:finance","us:sales","us:human-resources","us:operations","us:remote","ph:manila"]