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Morgan Stanley Coffee Chat: Email Template & Questions

Choose a person whose work you want to understand, explain that interest briefly, and ask for 15 minutes. These examples help you prepare without treating a conversation as a referral request.

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Free to copy. No signup. Independent guide, not affiliated with Morgan Stanley.

NextCoffee editorial team · Reviewed October 6, 2026

A request you can make your own

An illustrative draft, not an actual email or a promise of a reply. Replace every bracket and remove any sentence that is not true for you.

  • Replace the group and learning goal with the person's actual role; this example is for investment banking.
  • Keep the experience sentence only if it is true and relevant. A class project is enough; an invented deal is not.
  • Offer flexibility instead of sending a calendar invitation before they agree.
Coffee chat request

Subject: [School] student interested in your work in [group]

Hi [First name], I'm a [year] student at [School] exploring investment banking. I noticed that you work in [group] at Morgan Stanley, and I'm interested in how analysts develop an understanding of the companies they cover. Through [a project or experience you actually completed], I've started learning about [specific topic]. I'd value your perspective on what that work looks like on a banking team. Would you be open to a 15-minute call sometime in the next two weeks? I'm happy to work around your schedule. Thank you, [Your name]

Before you reach out

01

Choose the business before the contact

Investment banking, wealth management and investment management involve different work. Read the person's current role and office before drafting. A question about advising families will not fit an analyst working on corporate transactions.

02

Find one honest reason to reach out

An alumnus, an event speaker or someone in a group you have researched gives you a natural starting point. If you have no shared connection, say what you want to learn. Do not invent a mutual contact or imply that you met.

03

Separate an event from an informal chat

Morgan Stanley lists student events through its careers site. Registration, eligibility and selection rules belong to each event. A private email to an employee does not register you for one, and an informal conversation is not an application.

Six questions for a Morgan Stanley coffee chat

Choose two or three, then listen. A useful follow-up to their answer is better than racing through the whole list. These are original preparation prompts, not official interview questions.

  1. 1

    What did you misunderstand about your group's work before joining?

    An approachable opener for an analyst or associate. Follow up on one difference they describe.

  2. 2

    How does a new analyst begin learning the businesses your group covers?

    Useful for industry coverage. Ask about the learning process, not confidential client information.

  3. 3

    What makes a first draft genuinely useful to the next person reviewing it?

    Gets beyond a list of technical skills and into how the team evaluates junior work.

  4. 4

    Which part of a typical assignment takes more judgment than students expect?

    Invites a concrete example without asking for non-public transactions or materials.

  5. 5

    Looking back, what would you spend less time on when preparing for recruiting?

    Helps you prioritize preparation. Their experience is one perspective, not an official selection rule.

  6. 6

    Based on what we discussed, what would be useful for me to learn next?

    A closing question that turns the conversation into an action you can genuinely follow through on.

Build a free banking agenda

Follow up with something specific

If the first request gets no answer, one short follow-up after about five business days is a reasonable starting point, not a firm rule. Reply in the same thread and make it easy to decline. After a conversation, send a specific thank-you; a later update should report something you actually did, not simply ask whether they remember you.

More follow-up examples

After the conversation

Subject: Thank you for your time

Hi [First name], Thank you for speaking with me today. Your explanation of [specific point from the call] helped me better understand [what changed in your understanding]. I'm going to [one action you intend to take] based on your advice. I appreciate your time and would be glad to stay in touch. Best, [Your name]

Check programs and events with the firm

Official resources checked October 6, 2026. Program availability and eligibility can change. Networking does not replace an application or guarantee an interview.

Morgan Stanley student opportunities

Research businesses and student pathways before choosing a contact.

Morgan Stanley career events

Check the actual event listing for audience, registration and availability.

Turn strategy into conversations

Keep track of the conversation, not just the email.

Try NextCoffee's demo to see how reviewed outreach and follow-up reminders fit into your recruiting plan.

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