Ask HN: How do you prepare for a coffee meeting with a potential employer? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How do you prepare for a coffee meeting with a potential employer?

In a few days, I'll be meeting a CTO of a 20 person startup for coffee. While their offering is an enterprise product, I liked the product and cold-emailed him seeking the position. Given that this is the first time I'm meeting a potential employer not over a phone interview or an office tour, what should I expect ?

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Same as for any important meeting: get a decent sleep, arrive on time, look appropriate, behave well, and (I guess you're doing this bit) have the content prepared.

The advantages of meeting over a coffee are that it is quick, you're on roughly neutral territory, and there's an opportunity to feel things out enough to decide whether it's worth taking things to the next level both personally and technically.

Being able to concisely describe what you've done in the past, what you'd like to do in future, and why you approached the firm should cover the bulk of the work content. Having an opinion on related technology issues is good, and I usually ask semi-random questions outside of work stuff too, just to get a feel for the person: nothing too controversial, but just conversational. Even if you're interested in a purely technology role, demonstrating that you can talk to strangers doesn't hurt.

It could be a little as 15-20 minutes; it could last for hours. Be ready for either. CTOs are usually very busy people, so get to your points and don't waffle.

Try to pay, but don't insist. Thank the person for their time. Send a followup thank-you email (and do anything else you said you would too).

Good luck!

They want to meet with you because of what you said in your e-mail. So bring evidence to substantiate what you wrote.

I'm not sure what you meant by "While their offering is an enterprise product, I liked the product and cold-emailed him seeking the position".

Maybe I'm reading to much into it. But you sound despondent about the prospect about working with an enterprise product.

If that is the case, remember, a job works both ways. It's not fair on yourself or the employer to work for something you're not truly enthusiastic about.

Good luck!

> what should I expect ?

Expect two peers talking shop about the industry. Most likely it will be surface level stuff. Be prepared if conversation goes deep. A lot of guys like the informality of coffee chats hoping to foster a more genial conversation. Expect that he is going to size you up on potential cultural/team fit.

You can craft a great meeting by expressing genuine interest in him as an individual. Read his profile, look for points of connection. Ask: What were the attractors for him to join the company? What are some of the priorities he's facing now? Where are they struggling?

Expect nothing more than your standard initial phone call. In fact, the advantages of a coffee meet are way higher than a call. They are probably going to be equally awkward at the beginning, unless they have done such coffee sessions before, in which case they will simply lead you.

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