Recruiting guide

How to track coffee chats

A coffee chat you don't write down is a coffee chat you'll barely remember by the time it matters — the follow-up, the interview, or the next conversation with that same banker.

Tracking a coffee chat means capturing three things immediately after the call: what they told you, what you told them, and what happens next. Most students remember the first for a day or two and forget the rest — which is a problem, because the value of a coffee chat compounds only if you can reference it accurately later, in a follow-up email, a superday interview, or a second conversation six weeks on.

Take notes within the hour, not by the end of the day

Specifics fade fast. Within an hour of the call, write down what you'll actually need later — not a full transcript.

  • One or two specific things they said about their group, deal experience, or path into banking.
  • Anything personal they shared (where they're from, what they studied, a shared interest) — this is what makes a follow-up feel like a continuation of the conversation instead of a form email.
  • Any advice they gave you directly, especially anything actionable for your own recruiting.
  • Whether they offered to help further (refer you, forward your resume, connect you with someone else) — and whether you've followed up on that offer.

The follow-up timeline

Short answer: a thank-you within 24 hours, a value-add follow-up 7-14 days later, and a final touch when you actually apply. Each stage is detailed below.

  1. Within 24 hours: a short thank-you note referencing one specific thing from the conversation. Generic "thank you for your time" notes are forgettable; a callback to something they said is not.
  2. 7-14 days later: a value-add follow-up — an update on something you discussed, a relevant article, or progress on advice they gave you. This is the touch that keeps the relationship alive past the first conversation. Templates for both of these are in the cold email & follow-up templates guide.
  3. At application/interview time: a note letting them know you've applied, referencing the conversation, and asking if they'd be willing to put in a good word — only appropriate once you've built up two or three genuine touchpoints first.

Why a running log beats a notes app

A notes app captures the content of one chat fine — it doesn't help you see, across 20+ contacts, who's overdue for a follow-up, who you promised to send something to, or which relationships have gone quiet. That view only exists if coffee chat notes live in the same place as your outreach status and follow-up dates — see how to track the broader networking pipeline for the fields that need to sit alongside these notes.

You had the coffee chat.

Log the notes and next steps in MarketIQ. It reminds you exactly when to follow up — no more remembering seven days later, three weeks too late.

Log your coffee chats

Frequently asked questions

How do I follow up after an investment banking coffee chat?

Send a short thank-you within 24 hours referencing something specific they said. Follow up again 7-14 days later with something of value (an update, an article, progress on advice they gave you) rather than just checking in. Save a final touch for when you actually apply.

How soon should I follow up after a coffee chat?

Send a short thank-you within 24 hours referencing something specific from the conversation. Then follow up again with something of value — not just a check-in — 7 to 14 days later.

Is it okay to ask for a referral during the coffee chat itself?

Generally no, unless they offer first. Asking directly on a first call tends to read as transactional. It's more effective to build two or three genuine touchpoints, then ask when you actually apply — and even then, make it easy to say no.

What if they don't respond to my thank-you note?

That's normal — bankers are busy and a thank-you note often doesn't need a reply. Don't read it as a bad sign. Follow up again in 7-14 days with something new to say, not a repeat of the same message.

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