Registration

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This program is for UCSF graduate students and postdocs at any stage, from any program. This workshop is designed with research-based graduate students and postdocs in mind.  

Overview

Most of us find it daunting to reach out to a stranger; but most potential mentors start as people you don’t know yet. Whether you’re choosing a thesis lab, seeking research collaborators, exploring careers, or applying for jobs, “coffee chats” (also known as “informational interviews”) are an essential way to find mentors and opportunities.  

Fortunately, there’s a straightforward protocol you can follow. We’ll walk you through how to contact people, ask to talk, and use a 30-minute conversation as the foundation for future mentorship and opportunities. We’ll provide templates, examples, and an opportunity to troubleshoot your first “invitation to connect.” You’ll also hear from a student leader about their experience with some common challenges of conducting coffee chats.   

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Describe the protocol for setting up a coffee chat with a potential mentor 
• Write an “invitation to connect” that is likely to get a positive response 
• Prepare questions for an informational interview  
• Identify steps you can take to ensure a productive conversation 

Format

This workshop will take place on Zoom.  

12 -1 p.m.: Learn and Reflect 
No active participation is required for this part of the event. You will be invited to reflect individually and to respond to questions in the chat. 

1 - 1:30 p.m.: Apply and Practice 
In this part of the workshop, you'll apply what you learned, via activities including breakout rooms. Participants who prefer not to participate in breakout rooms may leave at 1 p.m., or complete an individual reflection activity instead. 

Speaker

Ray Care, PhD - Program Director, Career & Professional Development for PhDs, Office of Career and Professional Development