How do I handle this career opportunity? (1 Viewer)

[The Indestructible]

I applied for a job with a company.  The job description said the position would report to X.  After I applied, a friend told me that he knows X and offered to introduce us by email.  My friend told X that I was interested in a job with the company.  I got introduced to X by email and we're meeting for coffee next week.    

Is there anything I should definitely say / not say while meeting with X?  This would be an otherwise great "informational interview" with X but for the fact that I already applied.  I obviously don't intend to ask X about the status of my application or anything like that, but I also don't want to pretend that I didn't apply or dance around the issue. 

Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.  TIA

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Treat it as an interview.  I don’t mean dress up but represent yourself like you would in an interview.  Also I think as long as you’re not a complete moron a lot of positions come down to personal / cultural fit, so if you guys hit it off that’s probably a good sign 

 

[E Street Brat]

Dont call him X during the meeting, 

Dress for the job you want. 

 

[Skipdog77]

Do not lead with an amusing anecdote regarding an iFriend and his misadventures with a fleshlight and a pack of raccoons.

GL

 

[That one guy]

In all seriousness:

https://imgur.com/gallery/aQsEr

 

[eoMMan]

Bring him flowers.  

 

[Vanilla Guerrilla]

Make sure to Irish up the coffees.

 

[belljr]

Dont call him X during the meeting, 

Dress for the job you want. 

THis is why I wear jeans and sneakers every day........

 

[Epic Problem]

Make sure you sit at a booth. A footie goes a long way. 

 

[Juxtatarot]

I  I obviously don't intend to ask X about the status of my application or anything like that, but I also don't want to pretend that I didn't apply or dance around the issue. 

I would absolutely tell him how you applied.  Why not?  

 

[Chemical X]

jobs nowadays require ins, IMO.  you have one.  use this opportunity to indicate you have applied, are very interested and treat it as an interview.  bring enthusiasm and offer to pick up his coffee.  bring a resume just in case.

 

[The Indestructible]

I would absolutely tell him how you applied.  Why not?  

I want him to know that I applied and will treat this as an interview (as somebody mentioned), but don't want him to feel pressured in any way beyond that.  He accepted an informal coffee meeting with me on a mutual friend's recommendation.  

You know how an old high school friend emails you out of the blue to meet up, and when you do they jump into a sales pitch for financial planning services?  You feel ambushed.  I don't want this person to feel that way.  

 

[Fullback Fro]

Treat it like a iFriend first time cornhole.  Be assertive but flexible.  Shoe choice is important.  It says a lot about a man. 

 

[Wrigley]

Do not sleep with his wife

yet

 

[Al O'Pecia]

Meeting for coffee is what ladies do.  Tell him to meet you at the bar.

 

[Maik Jeaunz]

you should go with the Euro kiss on each cheek when you meet him. it's a pretty standard greeting now.

 

[Al O'Pecia]

You know how an old high school friend emails you out of the blue to meet up, and when you do they jump into a sales pitch for financial planning services? 

No.

 

[belljr]

I would actually suggest going full Panera

 

[E Street Brat]

you should go with the Euro kiss on each cheek when you meet him. it's a pretty standard greeting now.

OR. you can sniff his ### like a dog.  

 

[Dedfin]

I would actually suggest going full Panera

Is the Panera guy still around? I forgot his last alias.

 

[sbonomo]

I want him to know that I applied and will treat this as an interview (as somebody mentioned), but don't want him to feel pressured in any way beyond that.  He accepted an informal coffee meeting with me on a mutual friend's recommendation.  

You know how an old high school friend emails you out of the blue to meet up, and when you do they jump into a sales pitch for financial planning services?  You feel ambushed.  I don't want this person to feel that way.  

Life is an interview.  Be yourself.  I hire people based an skills and personality.  If you can fit into the team you are a much better hire than others.  Just my opinion.

 

[gianmarco]

Yeah, I'm not understanding the dilemma here. Seems pretty straightforward.

Be yourself. Tell the truth.

Anything else is silly and makes no sense.

 

[Fullback Fro]

Yeah, I'm not understanding the dilemma here. Seems pretty straightforward.

Be yourself. Tell the truth.

Anything else is silly and makes no sense.

He's looking for tips.   Like my Shoe tip.  Don't sleep on your shoe choice.

 

[kutta]

I want him to know that I applied and will treat this as an interview (as somebody mentioned), but don't want him to feel pressured in any way beyond that.  He accepted an informal coffee meeting with me on a mutual friend's recommendation.  

You know how an old high school friend emails you out of the blue to meet up, and when you do they jump into a sales pitch for financial planning services?  You feel ambushed.  I don't want this person to feel that way.  

This is totally different, I think. Did your friend tell him you applied? If not, he should. And if so, then the guy knows it’s kind of an interview too.

 

[Phil Elliott]

Do some research on the company and ask “X” some questions/make comments that show you did your research.

 

[The Indestructible]

This is totally different, I think. Did your friend tell him you applied? If not, he should. And if so, then the guy knows it’s kind of an interview too.

Yes, this is the issue.  My friend said that I was "interested in some openings." 

I think it'd be weird / counterproductive to go to meeting with X and NOT tell him that I applied.  So I'm just trying to find a good way of bringing it up.  I want X to have all of the information that he needs to be able to steer the conversation where he wants it to go / not go. 

Right now, I'm leaning towards: "Just so you know, I applied for this position.  Maybe I can start by talking about why I'm interested in this organization."     

 

[NotSmart]

He's looking for tips.   Like my Shoe tip.  Don't sleep on your shoe choice.

I mean, really, how often do you look at a man’s shoes?

 

[NotSmart]

Right now, I'm leaning towards: "Just so you know, I applied for this position.  Maybe I can start by talking about why I'm interested in this organization."     

"Just so you know" adds a little bit of a negative vibe IMO.

 

[EYLive]

Don't give X any reason to think you're after his job.

For instance, if he asks where you see yourself in 5 years, don't say "in your office".