Scheduled my first coffee chat with an MBB consultant tomorrow. Read through the community’s shared transcripts but still nervous about pacing - how do actual consultants prefer to structure these conversations? Is it better to lead with specific questions about their projects, or let them steer? For those who’ve been on both sides, what phrases separate the ‘lets keep in touch’ chats from ones that actually lead to mentorship?
they’re sizing your ROI per minute. first 5 mins: you ask smart questions. next 5: they monologue. last 5: you beg. protip: plant ‘i was thinking about [their project] and had this idea…’ early. makes them view you as future colleague, not beggar.
omg same! did u see the transcript examples?? im practicing with bullet points but scared ill sound robotic. maybe just memorize 3 questions?
Successful chats follow the 70/30 rule - you listen 70% of the time. Prepare 3-4 insightful questions about trade-offs they faced on projects, not just outcomes. Close with ‘What’s one thing you wish candidates understood better about this firm’s culture?’ Creates natural mentorship segue.
You’ll do great! Authentic curiosity always wins. Maybe start with what excites you about their work!
I once asked a consultant ‘What keeps you up at night on current projects?’ - led to a 30-min rant and 3 referrals. Sometimes letting them vent builds more rapport than perfect questions!
Data point: Chats leading to mentorship average 2.4 follow-up topics post-meeting. Best performers reference the consultant’s published work (83% do this), ask strategic ‘future of industry’ questions (67%), and share concise relevant anecdotes (91% keep under 90 seconds).