Coffee Chats allow employers to share additional information about the company or a particular role. These informal chats are a great way to incorporate alumni at your company into the recruiting process. Students value the alumni perspective and how their experiences at Wharton enabled them to contribute to their current employer and position.
Individual and small group Coffee Chats schedules, both in-person and virtual, can be coordinated through our online CareerPath system or the professional student clubs. Schedules facilitated by MBA Career Management are open to all students via first-come, first-served signups. Employers are encouraged to use whatever platform they are comfortable with as they will be managing the day-of process.
If you are interested in participating in a Coffee Chat or have any questions about these events, contact your Relationship Manager.
Best Practices for Virtual Coffee Chats
- Utilize the “waiting room” feature on Zoom (or another platform) to ensure students don’t overlap and enter an earlier Coffee Chat
- For small groups Coffee Chats, try to limit total number of participants to 8-10 so everyone can fit on the same screen
- Have a backup plan in case of technical difficulties (for example, 1:1 –company representative will call the number on the student’s resume, small groups –use dial-in/phone instructions)
Recommend Coffee Chat Locations
This year, we are excited to offer space in our On-Campus Recruiting Suite for coffee chats during the fall.
If you would like to host your chats in our suite, please inform your Relationship Manager as soon as possible. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Below are two lists of alternative coffee chat venue options – on-campus in University City and off-campus in Center City – for your reference. We recommend using a University City location for chats held Monday – Thursday and considering a Center City location for those held on a Friday.
Please note, MBACM does not reserve space at the below locations for employer Coffee Chats. Table availability is on a first-come, first-served basis so we recommend to call ahead and/or arriving to the coffee shop early to secure space.
University City Venues – Recommended for Monday-Thursday Chats
- 1920 Commons Starbucks | 3800 Locust Walk
- Corner Bakery | 3737 Market Street
- Joe’s Cafe | 3620 Locust Walk
- Panera Bread | 200 S. 40th Street
- Saxbys | 4000 Locust Street *call to reserve space
- Starbucks | 3901 Walnut Street
- Starbucks | 3401 Walnut Street
- The Inn at Penn | 3600 Sansom St. *call to reserve space
- UPenn Bookstore Starbucks | 3601 Walnut Street
Center City Venues – Recommended for Friday Chats
- Bluestone Lane | 2000 Walnut Street
- Di Bruno Brothers | 1730 Chestnut Street
- La Colombe | 130 South 19th Street
- Starbucks | 1801 Spruce Street