UNC Career Center invites employers to host on-campus Coffee Chats as part of your UNC recruiting strategy. Coffee Chats provide employers with a casual, low-pressure opportunity to connect with UNC-Chapel Hill students through one-on-one or small-group conversations. These sessions are designed to help students learn about your organization, career paths, company culture, and recruiting process while giving your team the chance to build relationships with potential candidates before they apply.
Why Host a Coffee Chat?
Coffee Chats are ideal for organizations looking to:
- Build brand awareness on campus
- Connect with students in a conversational setting
- Meet candidates before application deadlines
- Share insights about your organization, culture, and career opportunities
- Recruit for internships, full-time positions, graduate programs, and early talent programs
- Complement larger recruiting events such as career fairs or information sessions
- Connecting UNC Alumni with current students
Students consistently value opportunities for personal interaction with employers, making Coffee Chats an effective relationship-building recruiting strategies.
How to Create Your Coffee Chat in Handshake
Coffee Chats can be scheduled in Handshake using one of two formats, depending on how you would like students to participate. Please choose the option that best matches your recruiting goals when submitting your request.
If you would like students to reserve individual 15–30 minute conversations with your recruiters, submit your Coffee Chat using On-Campus Interviews in Handshake.
This option allows students to sign up for specific appointment times, creating a structured schedule for your recruiting team.
Best for:
- One-on-one networking
- Resume reviews
- Individual career conversations
- Targeted recruiting
- Connecting with pre-selected or registered students
How to Request Individual Appointment Slots
- Log in to your Handshake employer account.
- Navigate to On-Campus Interviews.
- Select Request an Interview Schedule for UNC-Chapel Hill.
- Create your interview schedule and indicate that the format is a Coffee Chat.
- Choose your preferred date, time, and # of requested rooms.
- Submit your request for review
For detailed instructions, visit the Handshake Help Center: How to Request an Interview Schedule at a School
If you prefer students to stop by throughout the event without reserving a time slot, submit your Coffee Chat as an On-Campus Event in Handshake.
This format is ideal for casual networking where students can come and go during the scheduled time.
Best for:
- Open networking
- Employer branding
- Informal conversations
- Multiple recruiters meeting students
- General career exploration
How to Request a Drop-In Coffee Chat
- Log in to your Handshake employer account.
- Select Events from the navigation menu.
- Click Create Event.
- Choose On-Campus as the event format.
- Complete the event details, including your preferred date, time, and event description.
- Submit the event request for approval by the University Career Center.
For step-by-step instructions, visit: How to Create an Event in Handshake
UNC Career Center partners with employers to coordinate every aspect of the event.
We provide:
- A reserved room in Hanes Hall
- Event promotion to relevant student populations
- Student registration through Handshake
- Day-of event support
Employers simply bring their recruiters—and the coffee (optional!).
To maximize your Coffee Chat experience, we recommend:
- Bringing recruiters who enjoy mentoring and conversation.
- Including UNC alumni whenever possible to foster authentic connections.
- Encouraging students to ask questions rather than delivering a formal presentation.
- Sharing information about your organization’s culture, hiring process, and career paths.
- Following up with students after the event to continue building relationships.
Many employers combine Coffee Chats with additional campus recruiting events to create a comprehensive recruiting strategy.
Popular pairings include:
- Career Fairs – Meet a large number of students, then invite top candidates to Coffee Chats.
- Information Sessions – Introduce your organization to a broad audience before hosting smaller conversations.
- On-Campus Interviews – Meet students through Coffee Chats before interviewing on campus.
- Tabling – Increase visibility in high-traffic student spaces while promoting your Coffee Chat event.
