How are you? How has your last week been?😇

I know at least for a lot of students especially international students, the previous week has been rather hectic, sad or as some quoted in an event we hosted today “a rollercoaster.” 😟

It is majorly because a lot of you have exams and the pressure to land jobs does not make it any better, but here is something that honestly has been a game changer for me and helped me land 4 job offers in 1 year before graduating in Top 4 consulting firms.

And that is coffee chats, which I know a lot of us do but the point is, are you doing it right?

Here are 3 things that you should do whenever you have a coffee chat coming up:

☕ Set the intention and the expectations for the chat, you can do so by sending them an email to them or a LinkedIn message to them as a follow up once they have confirmed having the call with you so they know what you are hoping to learn from the call and helps them be aware and comfortable.

☕ Do your research, make sure when you prep for the chat, you look at questions beyond the average and regular that you can find on ChatGPT and study their profiles on Linkedln to get a better understanding of who they are, their context, certain specific experiences or project they did, favourite sport, travels etc.

☕ Practice the flow of the chat before, by doing it in the mirror with yourself or on your laptop camera and just practice the intro and how you would kick off the call, small talk you can do etc. The more you practice the better and more confident you will get. It does not happen overnight

And now, Checkout great opportunities & events coming up:)👇

🪄A few quick tips given by the mentors in our network when asked ‘On simple things students can do that make a difference in chats’ and they said:

➡️Be curious and ask thoughtful questions and listen with genuine interest.
➡️Keep it real and honest interaction as authenticity goes a long way.
➡️ Follow up, send a simple thank-you email or message on any platform you are connected with them to keep the connection alive.

Coffee Chats: Questions You Should Ask to Network Better resource

Coffee Chat Sample Messages resource

Opportunities this Week

1. Toronto Canadian Immigrant Newcomer Fair
   
   The free fair includes hiring employers, a Resumé Clinic, educational institutes, settlement service providers, interview skills workshops, speaker sessions throughout the day, and much more.
   
   🗓️Friday, June 27, 2025
   ⏱️10:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT
   📍Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St W Toronto, ON
   

2. Tech Networking Event by Startup Valley

   ​​Meet and network with Tech & Business Professionals, Influencers and AI experts. Pitch to the audience with your Startup and seize your chance to dive into the world of business, technology, and venture capital.
   
   🗓️Tuesday, April 8, 2025
   ⏱️7:00pm - 9:40pm EDT
   📍Kos Restaurant, 61 Bellevue Avenue Toronto, ON

3. York University 2025 Green Career Fair

   The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) and the Office of Sustainability at York University are proud to host the Green Career Fair 2025! This event will connect aspiring professionals, industry leaders, and innovative organizations dedicated to creating a sustainable future.
   
   🗓️Wednesday, April 2, 2025
   ⏱️11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
   📍Zoom, Online

4. Immigration Drop-In Session
   
   Are you an international student navigating the complexities of immigration in Canada? Whether you have questions about student visas, work permits, permanent residency, or other immigration pathways, we’ve got you covered!
   
   🗓️Saturday, April 5, 2025
   ⏱️10am - 4pm EDT
   📍York University, Toronto, ON

5. One Run at a Time
   
   Growth isn’t just about climbing the career ladder or building a resume. It’s about showing up—for yourself, for your community, and for the habits that shape who you are.
   Join us at our Monthly Community Runs where we move together.
   
   First Run Details:
   📅 Date: Saturday, April 5th, 2025, 7:00 AM EST
   📍 Location: Queens Quay & Stadium Road
   🏅 Distance: 5 km
   No sign up needed! Just show up

6. Monthly Co-Working Sessions — Let’s Grow Together! 📚☕
   
   Join us for our co-working session on:
   📅 Date: Saturday, April 19th, 2025, 10 AM - 12 PM EST
   📍 Location: Toronto Reference Library (Bloor St. W, 2nd Floor)

   

What coffee can teach us about building community | Nevan Bell | TEDxCSUMontereyBay

Coffee is the perfect tool to bring communities together. There are a few important steps in using this tool to bring others from individualism to the collective.

Exciting collaborations we want to bring to you !!

🌱My Beacon an app that allows you to create a bank account before you even leave for Canada. It also helps with bill payment back home whether its your educational loan or mortgage payments or more and in just 10 minutes 😱 

💰 Bonus: Get $25 cashback on your first India bill payment!

Download My Beacon now on iOS & Android and use referral code ‘Re-Defined' to get started!🚀

🌱Tired of the same job search cycle?😩
It’s time to change the game.

At Re-Defined, we’re reimagining networking and career growth for international students and immigrants. Our new membership program helps you build a sustainable career, not just land a job.

🤝Join our waitlist now! Memberships launch soon, and for only $10/month.

🌱Apply for your work permit, or PR using the platform Immigrate Global AI

Use the code RE-DEFINEDVISA for discount on submitting the application

Visit the platform here

Other things to catch you up on:

Check out our NEW SITE, its out now⬇️ Find link here

Wrapped our recent event in Waterloo!!
Thank you to our sponsors @a1globalcollege for their support :)) Check out the picture below from the event

What you can help us with today? »»

Share your insights with us

At Re-Defined, we’re building a space where students and young professionals can sharpen their skills, gain confidence, and prepare for the real world. For us to do so, we need your help, we launched a student survey recently to help us gather your insights and feedback and learn about your experiences.

You can find it here, and will take just 3 minutes.

Additionally, Subscribe to our Newsletter here if you have not already!!!

Lastly, if you are interested to be a part of our community, you can do so using the links below:

🤝Join Our Community Waitlist here

🤝Join as a Mentor here

🤝Be a Part of our Team here

Thank you…see you end of the month!!!