Your networking and personal meetings agenda

Organising your personal meetings agenda and making the initial contact for a network meeting can seem daunting, especially if you don't personally know the person you're contacting. But don't be put off. All you are going to do is ask your contact for their advice.

And we all like to give others the benefit of our advice - don't we?

So the person you're ringing - I did say use the telephone didn't I? - will be receptive and even mildly flattered to be asked. So armed with your personal meetings agenda, go ahead because you can make them feel good!

If you do know the contact well, just say you were gathering some thoughts on, let's say, current thinking on Product Launches in Eastern Europe (because that's the type of job you're interested in) and you would really value their advice. Could they manage a brief 20 minute chat to swop ideas?

If you don't know the contact so well because another person has suggested their name, you must use the name of your common contact when you ring and say:

"Jill said you were the best person to speak to and I would really appreciate a 20 minute chat with you. Would Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon suit you the best."

Once you've made your initial contact and arranged a meeting, what do you think you should do now, in preparation for the meeting itself? You need to prepare your own personal meetings agenda.

Some guidance on personal meetings agenda

• Set your personal meetings agenda and objectives out clearly. You need to be clear about your aims when talking to the person. You also need to establish what you want to achieve from the meeting.

• Find out more about the person you’re meeting beforehand. This will help you and show you're interested as well.

• Prepare suitable questions, comments or thoughts for the meeting. If you can 'bring something to the party' so much the better.

• Explain exactly why you are contacting them.

• Clearly communicate what advice you are after.

- Their thoughts on new opportunities

- Their impression of you and your skills

- Specific sector or company knowledge

• Keep the initiative - lead the conversation, if it slips the contact might lose interest.

• Keep notes - always keep a record of the information you're given.

• Manage the time efficiently - remember it's theirs as well as yours. Although you have a personal meetings agenda to meet, don't be too pushy. It's up to you to sense when the moment is right. You'll need to be sensitive to the other person's needs. In fact if you asked for 20 minutes, get up to leave at that point. If they say it's OK to carry on...

Having a personal meetings agenda shows you won't waste their time or yours!

As you want to clarify for yourself what sort of role would best suit you, you should know what to say:

Explain that as part of your personal development you are considering what future role would most benefit both you and the organization that eventually hires you. To do this you are researching possible options (but not threatening his position if you’d like a job similar to your contact).

So you'll need to tell him about your achievements and skills that are relevant, but not in a way that suggests you expect him to offer you or even tell you about a job.

You might ask:

• How he got his job in the first place

• What was (if you don’t know) his previous background

• What does he find enjoyable / challenging / stimulating

• Where does he see his future

• Where does he see your future

• What actions would he recommend you take

• What can he tell you about companies with these jobs

• Who could he recommend you talk to

And always be sure to sure to say:

“if you were me, who would you talk to?”

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General Comments on Networking & Personal Meetings

• It's the most successful route at leading to jobs but follow the rules!

• It is a proactive route, but functions best when you have your own personal meetings agenda.

• Very important for people over 40 and more senior candidates.

• It's a good way of gathering help, advice and information, as well as getting your name around in relevant circles.

• You can end up with having many pairs of eyes and ears working on your behalf.

• Your network can be used once your new role is acquired.

• It can be a great confidence builder, especially if you work to a personal meetings agenda.

I know it sounds perverse to say don't give the impression that you want them to offer you a job (when you really would like it) but it's all about expectations. If they think you expect too much, you probably won't get anything. However if they have a job vacancy and they like what they see and here from you, a job offer or discussion may follow.

Go back from personal meetings agenda to the employment search page.

Go back to read about Networking for Jobs and learn other ways to find hidden jobs.

Go and read about Informational Interviews and learn other ways to learn about suitable job openings.

Go to Networking and learn how this skill is central to finding a new job.

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