I’ve done maybe 15 coffee chats with bankers over the past six months. Some went well, some were awkward. A couple felt really genuine and productive. But here’s the honest question: I’m not sure any of them have actually moved me closer to an internship offer.
I went in with the intention of learning about their path, their desk, the work—all the “right” framing. And I think those conversations were genuinely valuable for understanding what IB actually looks like day-to-day. But I’m struggling to see the connection between “great coffee chat” and “gets you a job.”
Some people talk about coffee chats like they’re the secret to breaking in. Others say they’re overrated and networking really only works if there’s an actual job opening or you’re leveraging a specific referral. I’m in the middle wondering if I’ve been running around having pleasant conversations that feel productive but aren’t actually accomplishing anything.
Is the expectation that one of these people is supposed to eventually ask you to apply for something? Or are you supposed to ask them for a referral at some point, even if no role is open? Or is it more subtle—like you’re building equity that eventually manifests as an opportunity down the road?
Also, I’m curious: looking back at people who actually got internships through networking as opposed to standard recruiting, what did their coffee chat strategy look like? Was it volume, or did they have fewer but deeper relationships?
coffee chats without a job opener are mostly noise unless youre at it for like 2 years building real relationships. people dont just hire you because you had a nice chat. you need to actually ask for an intro or a referral when a role opens. if youre just gathering info, thats fine, but Dont expect it to magically convert to an offer without a push.
oh man im relieved to hear im not the only one confused abt this lol. like do u just email them 6 months later like ‘hey remember me’?? seems kinda weird but idk
Coffee chats serve a structural purpose in your networking funnel, but they’re not the conversion point—the conversion happens when there’s a specific opportunity and you have enough relationship equity to be considered. What you’re building is awareness and credibility. The sequence should be: initial conversations establish baseline credibility; when a role opens (or you identify a specific team), you leverage those relationships for a warm introduction or direct referral. The mistake most people make is expecting coffee chats alone to generate offers. They won’t. They create the foundation where your name comes to mind when an opportunity exists. Track which relationships felt strongest and circle back when actual roles materialize.
Those 15 conversations mean more than you think—you’ve built a foundation of people who know your name and energy!
I did about 20 coffee chats before landing my internship. Most felt like learning sessions, but then a role opened on a team I’d talked to, and the person said, “Oh yeah, I remember you—let me get you in front of the partner.” That one introduction led to the actual process. So the chats felt disconnected until suddenly they weren’t. You’re building relationship capital that only converts when there’s an actual opportunity.
Research on network-driven hiring suggests coffee chats have a conversion rate of approximately 5-15% directly to internship offers, but they significantly increase your probability when combined with active applications or role-specific referrals. The strategic approach is treating coffee chats as relationship-building, not as direct pipeline conversion. Track who seemed most enthusiastic and follow up when relevant opportunities surface. Volume matters up to a point—around 15-20 conversations typically establishes sufficient network breadth—but depth (follow-up and genuine relationship building) is what actually converts.
heres the thing nobody says outright: when you sense a real vibe during a coffee chat, use that moment to ask if they know someone else you should talk to. or ask them directly about upcoming hiring timelines. dont be shy about it—that’s actually the bridge between ‘nice conversation’ and ‘actual opportunity.’