Face-to-face meetings are very helpful for job seekers if the venues are chosen strategically. While online communication and virtual interviews have become more common, there are still several benefits to in-person interactions during the job search process:
- Personal Connection: Meeting someone face-to-face allows for a more personal connection that can be difficult to establish through digital communication. It enables both the job seeker and the potential employer to get a sense of each other's personality, communication style, and demeanor.
- First Impressions: In-person meetings give you the opportunity to make a strong first impression through your appearance, body language, and overall presentation. This can help you stand out positively in the minds of potential employers.
- Non-Verbal Communication: A significant portion of communication is non-verbal, including facial expressions, body language, and eye contact. These non-verbal cues can convey confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism, which might be harder to gauge in virtual interactions.
- Networking: In-person meetings provide a chance to expand your professional network by interacting with not only potential employers but also fellow job seekers, industry professionals, and recruiters. Networking can open up new opportunities and provide valuable insights.
- Demonstrating Initiative: Taking the effort to arrange and attend a face-to-face meeting demonstrates your genuine interest in the position and the company. It showcases your initiative and commitment to the job search process.
- Real-Time Feedback: In a face-to-face meeting, you can receive real-time feedback and clarification on any questions you might have about the job role, company culture, or expectations. This can help you make more informed decisions about your application.
- Assessment of Company Culture: Being physically present at the company's location allows you to observe the work environment and company culture firsthand. This can help you assess whether the company's values align with your own and whether you would be a good fit.
- Memorability: An in-person meeting can make you more memorable to the employer. It's easier for them to remember a candidate they've met in person, which could give you an advantage over other applicants.
- Negotiation and Discussion: Face-to-face meetings are particularly valuable during negotiation stages. Salary discussions and other sensitive topics can be handled more effectively in person, as it allows for real-time back-and-forth conversation.
It's important to note that the relevance of face-to-face meetings can vary depending on your targeted industry and your venue choice. Carefully choose the events you attend, network broadly at those meetings, and feel free to visit the same venues periodically. People get to know you after several encounters, and the likelihood of a job referral goes up with each meeting. Key.
As a Career Coach, Dave McAleer provides personalized job seeking solutions to Transitioning Military Members, Military Spouses, and Veterans at the TAP Center on MacDill Air Force Base. The Veterans he works with are highly qualified and sought after professionals from prestigious commands, to include CENTCOM, SOCOM, SOCCENT and JSOC. These Veterans possess the professional acumen and experience that make game changing employees.
Dave's passion and mission is the continued support of our Nation's greatest resource - our Veterans. He does this by assisting them with the “what’s next” by mentoring them throughout the job seeking process until they are hired. The one on one training he and his team provides is repeatedly resulting in Hired Veterans.
Dave is honored to have served with the finest servicemen and women in our Nation and to be a Special Operations Combat ?? Veteran.?A member of the Team of Teams.
