If you are professional and only ask for a short 15 to 30-minute meeting with someone you are interested in learning from, many professionals will give you that time. With the pandemic changing how people meet, you may not get a face-to-face meeting, but you may find it easier to get a Zoom video conference meeting.

Please be prepared with questions and do the necessary research on the person you want to talk to and the subjects you're interested in. You may like to learn about the company’s culture, a particular type of job, or the entire industry.

Sometimes in these types of meetings, your questions may be referred to others in the company, especially if they are well-thought-out and good questions. Everyone you meet is an opportunity to build your network, so follow up and connect on LinkedIn.

The purpose of the meeting is to learn. You can learn about the particular kind of job the person you meet has, which can be the goal. You can learn about the industry the person works in, competitors, and other companies they work with. You can ask for advice on approaching a potential employer or if your contact knows people at the firm you want to apply with and suggest you talk to.

Potential contacts for an interview might be more willing to connect virtually because they know they can end the meeting quickly and control the process.