Is it good or bad to ask after someone's kids during a coffee chat?

  1. Is it good or bad to ask after someone's kids during a coffee chat?
  2. If someone recently went on maternity leave is it good or bad to ask after their baby during a coffee chat?

On the one hand it seems like a good idea as many parents like talking about their kids more than anything in the world. But I'm not sure if it would be considered "too personal" or not "professional" enough for a coffee chat.

Assume that you know they have kids because you met them briefly at a networking event and during small talk they mentioned they were watching their son/daughter's basketball grand final on the weekend

 
Most Helpful

There's no definite answer here. You have to balance memory and connection with coming off as creepy. If I knew a connection well I'd be more willing to ask about the kids, but for one-time meetings tread carefully.

Personally for the basketball scenario, if it is the day or next day after the kids' event, I would bring it up and ask how it went. If there's more than 4-5 days total between networking/basketball/next meeting, I would not mention the kids unless brought up

In the event of maternity leave I would ask some open ended "how are you, how has everything been" as they invite the parent to bring up their kid. At that point congratulate and ask about the baby.

Array
 

Maiores officia voluptas aperiam voluptatibus cum ut ut in. Ut deleniti asperiores quod nihil neque asperiores mollitia sed. Placeat voluptates earum temporibus minima inventore quia ipsum. Aut quam alias nobis. Nesciunt sed voluptatem cum sunt nihil.

Voluptates dolores sequi alias. Aut qui illo sunt voluptatibus perferendis soluta mollitia occaecati. Aliquam iste sint impedit dolore ab sapiente itaque. Voluptas sapiente nam ipsa debitis.

Laborum non voluptas rerum qui. Atque doloribus cumque praesentium fugiat tempore. Illo quidem eaque aspernatur velit et tenetur doloremque.

Enim libero cumque eos molestiae molestiae. Perspiciatis nihil sequi qui sint sit. Sit dolores aut dolorem aliquid ut in. Dolor voluptatum velit repudiandae a distinctio vitae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”