As you follow your path toward your goals, you’re going to find yourself in meetings with potential employers, program coordinators and other professionals. These people are the gatekeepers between you and your goals. You need their help to gain acceptance to a program, to find a job, to get a reference, and so on. Like many people, you may be intimidated by the thought of walking into the office of a person in authority and asking for what you need. Having a plan will help you to do this. It will allow you to work within the system but still focus on your dreams and goals.You want to make it as easy as possible for the person you’re meeting with to give you what you need.
Here are some of the things that you can do to improve the outcomes of your meetings.
Before the Meeting
• Phone ahead and make an appointment for a specific meeting time whenever possible. Ask if you’ll need to bring any documents with you. For example Badge, ID card, etc.
• The day before your meeting, double check that you have a copy of all the documents you need. Be able to back up every claim you make with documentation(Always keep your own photocopy of every document you’re required to give to someone else.)
• Think about what you want out of the meeting. Write down your goal for the meeting.
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• Know your rights.
• Put yourself in the other person’s shoes: How do you like to be asked for something?
• Plan what you want to say. Think about the best way of saying it. Write it out (or record it) and rehearse it. Try to be clear and concise.
Meeting Day
• Prepare yourself with a relaxing bath or shower. Remember to dress the part and stand tall!
• Take a pen and a notepad with you to the meeting so you can make notes. Write down the name and title of each person you meet with.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to the meeting. You want to walk in as calm and relaxed as possible. If the meeting is unscheduled (on a first come, first served basis), try to get there early in the day.
In the Meeting
• Treat the other person with courtesy and respect. Be positive. Take the attitude that the other person wants to help you.
• State your goal in a straightforward way early in the meeting.
• Make sure you understand what’s being said. Repeat what the other person has said in your own words to be certain you’ve heard it correctly.
• Don’t let yourself feel rushed. Claim the time you need to fully understand what the other person is telling you.
• Ask for what you want. You’re working toward your future!
At the End of the Meeting
• If you’ve achieved your goal, find out from the other person what you need to do next, or what s/he will do as a result of your meeting.
• If you haven’t achieved your goal, ask the other person what you need to do in order to achieve it. Ask him or her to write down the reason why your request was turned down.
• Right after the meeting, go over your notes and add details while your memory is fresh
• Begin to plan your next step. Did the meeting point you toward new goals? How will you reach them? Were you unhappy with the way things turned out? What will you do about it?