Rude to not actually have a coffee during an informational interview over coffee?

I'll be traveling to NYC soon for networking and will be meeting with several wall street professionals for coffee in a single day. However, that would mean downing 5+ coffees in a single day which would be a serious caffeine overload.

I might be overthinking this but thoughts anyone? Would it be rude to not actually have a coffee during each of these meets? I could order a water or hot chocolate but part of me thinks that would come off as odd.

 
CHItizen:

You'll be fine. Get whatever you want.

Get what ever you want - tea, water.. BUT, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, KEEP IT SIMPLE... Just don't be the guy that orders the double cream, soy milk, triple-shot frappuchino with a dab of mint, a spritz of carmel topped with white chocolate syrup but no sugar.. That's an auto-ding right there..

 

Honestly, I like to think that I'm non judgemental, but I'd look down on it. People like other people who are like them. I wouldn't want to put you in front of clients/LPs. If you absolutely can't drink tea/coffee get a bottle of water.

Please don't quote Patrick Bateman.
 
DBCooper:

Honestly, I like to think that I'm non judgemental, but I'd look down on it. People like other people who are like them. I wouldn't want to put you in front of clients/LPs. If you absolutely can't drink tea/coffee get a bottle of water.

It's pretty funny how you're more likely to be an outcast on the street for your choice of drink then sexual orientation these days. Never saw that coming 15 years ago. Yet again, 15 years ago I was in elementary school and everybody was drinking chocolate milk. Maybe adult chocolate milk drinkers such as myself will one day become a protected class.

 

Unless your eating cake, brownies I wouldn't even think about it. And yes, a bacon/egg/cheese w/ Nesquik would not be deemed to be "peer level". I would try to hide it in, a travel coffee mug or say it was a protein shake b/c you're working out or some other excuse. But would never say it's my nesquick milk.

Just my $.02.

 
TX_golfer:

Unless your eating cake, brownies I wouldn't even think about it. And yes, a bacon/egg/cheese w/ Nesquik would not be deemed to be "peer level". I would try to hide it in, a travel coffee mug or say it was a protein shake b/c you're working out or some other excuse. But would never say it's my nesquick milk.

Just my $.02.

Unflavored milk is superior for pastry accompaniment. Gotta maintain a balance, hombre.

heister: Look at all these wannabe richies hating on an expensive salad. https://arthuxtable.com/
 

True Story: When I was an analyst, I bought a quart of chocolate milk and kept it in the communal fridge. Everyone loved it so much that it became an office tradition, and to this day someone replenishes it every week.

That being said, yes, people will judge you. Unless you use a straw.

 

What's sad is that I probably would order a burger or chicken fingers at a steak house. I'm a really picky eater and my diet is not much different from when I was 8 years old. I guess my taste buds never matured. I'm not a big fan of fancy restaurants. I'd much rather go to Wendy's and get a Baconator. Good thing I have zero interest in doing sales.

 
mastertrader89:

What's sad is that I probably would order a burger or chicken fingers at a steak house. I'm a really picky eater and my diet is not much different from when I was 8 years old. I guess my taste buds never matured. I'm not a big fan of fancy restaurants. I'd much rather go to Wendy's and get a Baconator. Good thing I have zero interest in doing sales.

Trololololol. Good work.

 

I've since started liking tea; however, something that I did in a few informational interviews that were over coffee last year was that I would order a large tea, and then quickly take out the tea bags. Tea is a normal drink (at least I think it is) and it is totally normal for different people to enjoy different strength of tea. So, by doing this, you can basically get away with just sipping on warm water. And although I'm not a professional so I can't say for certain, I would have to imagine that if you cannot perceiver through a few sips of something that doesn't quite agree with your taste buds, you probably won't be able to perceiver through a career in banking; however, that is just my uneducated guess.

 

I do love chocolate milk, but I wish my more important questions got this much action. I'm kind of lost with no direction right now, trying to break into trading, so if anybody can help me with my other threads I'd greatly appreciate it:

http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/considering-tulanes-master-of-man…

http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/no-relevant-work-experience-and-i…

Don't get me wrong, chocolate milk etiquette is still very important.

 
<span class=keyword_link><a href=/resources/skills/finance/going-concern>Going Concern</a></span>:

If you don't feel comfortable ordering chocolate milk just get one of these bad boys:

Capri Suns are good, but I'm more of a Berry Blue Kool-Aid Bursts kind of guy. Bought a 6-pack earlier in the year actually. I saw them at Walmart and just couldn't resist.
 

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