Coffee Chat Questions – What to Expect in an Informal Case Interview

Coffee chats have grown to be the norm in most geographies, as consulting firms are making a bigger effort to groom their candidates and separate themselves from the competition. While most firms go for a simple, short meeting – an actual coffee chat – others go as far as scheduling dinners between prospective candidates and partners. Regardless of the context, coffee chats are a great opportunity for candidates. ☕

This article from our expert Cristian covers what you can expect from attending one and how to get more out of them than a free coffee.

What Is the Purpose of a Coffee Chat?

Consulting firms are willing to use their most precious resource – the time of their consultants – to meet with prospective candidates for two core reasons:

To increase the number of applications. Management consulting firms tend to have high standards and look for a specific skill set. The reality is that there are not that many candidates out there who are the right fit, so coffee chats are an attempt to find these select few. Firms not only want to inform candidates about their existence but also about what makes them different and why they should be the candidate’s first choice. The assumption here is that if you increase the number of people who enter the application pipeline, and the conversions from one round of recruitment to the other stay the same, you’re going to end up with more people hired, or at least the best possible people from each batch of applicants.

To increase the share of successful candidates who take their offer. The reality is that candidates who are successful with one firm tend to be successful with other firms as well. In short, they have multiple offers to choose from. Most candidates decide on the offer not only based on compensation, career prospects, or even the prestige of the respective company but also on the ‘vibe’ that they got from the people who they interacted with during the recruitment process. It is then in the interest of each consulting firm to leave a very good impression on each candidate.

What Sort of Coffee Chat Questions Can You Expect?

Below you will find a list of ten common interview questions. It’s worth going over them and briefly thinking about what you would answer to each of them, however, don’t overprepare these. The coffee chat is meant to be a casual interaction and by sounding rehearsed you are only likely to make yourself appear less genuine and slightly awkward.

Here they are:

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why consulting?
3. Why are you interested in joining our firm?
4. Are there other firms that you are applying to?
5. What’s your background in (education, professional)?
6. How come you are making this career switch / leaving your current employer?
7. What attracts you the most about being a consultant?
8. Do you have any questions about the recruitment process?
9. What are most concerned about in terms of the recruitment process?
10. Is there any way in which I could help you?

What Makes for a Good Performance in a Coffee Chat?

A great coffee chat isn't about giving perfect answers or proving how much you know. It's about showing up as someone others enjoy talking to and could imagine working with. Two things matter most: the impression you leave and the connection you build. Here's how to get both right:

Leaving a Good Impression:

• Be aware: Every interaction is a kind of interview — people form lasting opinions based on first impressions.
• Dress professionally: Show respect for the meeting and the other person’s time.
• Be polite and approachable: A friendly and respectful attitude goes a long way.
• Show curiosity: Ask thoughtful questions and express genuine interest.
• Stay engaged: Listen actively and respond attentively.
• Leave a lasting impression: Aim to be remembered positively after the conversation ends.

Forging a Connection:

• Focus on communication skills: These matter more here than technical skills like casing.
• Build rapport: Let your personality show and connect authentically.
• Demonstrate team fit: Help them envision you as part of their team.
• Show social ease: Indicate that you can navigate professional and social settings comfortably.
• Be open and curious: These traits make you someone they'd want to support through the recruitment process.

What Should You Do to Ensure This Result?

1. Approach the coffee chat with curiosity and openness, not anxiety. Think of it as a chance to speak with someone who’s ahead of you in a career you’re interested in — someone who can offer insights and advice, not a gatekeeper to impress or fear.
2. Be genuinely interested in the person you're speaking with. Ask about their work, their experiences, and what they've learned. Most people enjoy talking about themselves, especially when they feel someone is truly listening. Keep the tone light and conversational — there's no need to overprepare or ask intense questions if the vibe is meant to be relaxed.
3. Most importantly, be yourself. If you're naturally funny, let that shine through. If you're more serious, that's fine too. Trying to act like someone you're not will only feel awkward. It's also completely okay to be nervous and just be honest about it. A bit of vulnerability, when owned with confidence, can be surprisingly disarming and relatable.

What Should You Do After a Coffee Chat?

Once you’ve had a coffee chat or two, you have a good understanding of the recruitment process, you received some advice on how to approach it best, and it’s time to move on. At this point, there are almost no consequential benefits of spending more time networking, and your time is best spent actually improving your interviewing skills. As a last note, make sure that you remain in touch with the consultant you met with, communicate to them the timeline that you have in mind for the application, and assure them that you will reach out if you have any questions.

There are two things that you could ask for additionally:

1. A referral. Unless you have one already, the coffee chat can be a great opportunity to ask for one. Don’t hesitate to ask directly at the end of the conversation, especially after thanking the consultant for taking the time to discuss with you. Almost all firms offer bonuses for referrals, so consultants have a strong incentive to recommend prospective candidates in the recruitment process.
    
2. A practice case. If you feel that you’ve developed a sufficiently strong relationship with the consultant you met with, you can also ask them to do a practice case with you. It’s a rather big ask because consultants tend to get these requests often and the job already requires long hours serving clients. Spending an additional hour giving a case to a candidate is no small thing. But doing a case with them can be a great advantage, not only because it will give you a good indication of the probability of passing the interview, but could also come with advice in terms of what is the gap that you need to close to be interview ready and what does it take to do there. In short, what a coach would do.
    

As the last point, not all firms, geographies, and offices practice coffee chats. In these situations, don’t hesitate to just ask for it. Approach the recruiter at your target firm, and say that you are interested in applying for a role with them and that you would like to learn more about the firm. Then ask whether they offer anything like a coffee chat or the opportunity to interact directly with some of the consultants. It’s likely that they will put you in touch with someone from the office you are targeting. Either way, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so it’s worth a shot.

To summarize, coffee chats are a great opportunity to learn more about the job and the recruitment process. Approach them with curiosity, relax and show your true character and just remember that all that you should be aiming to do is to connect with the person sitting across from you. Everything else is just going to follow through from there.

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