Meeting w/ Manager
So I have a meeting next week with a Program Manager who works at a company I've been dying to work for. I was networking through LinkedIn and found him and sent him a message requesting to speak with him via phone or email (Just not to push my limits). I explained to him how I've been applying to the company where he works (It's a franchise, not just one branch) and my application would never get referred (it's super selective). To my surprise, he read my LinkedIn message and told me to shoot him an email so he could see if we can schedule a phone call or time when I could come to his office. He then gave me his email, I emailed him and he sent me a Google Invite for a meeting next week. I've had an informational interview for a different company once and the girl I spoke to was not far from my age. The informational didn't really go anywhere or help my chances. It was basically a waste of time. So my question is, what are the odds of this "so called meeting" with the Program Manager turning into something beneficial like a job offer or something between those lines?
It's hard to give you any odds without knowing if as a program manager he even has hiring authority. If he does, this could be a great way to get a foot in the door.
Do you know if the company has current vacancies they are trying to fill?
Networking is truly the best way to land a job, and I have landed several jobs through LinkedIn myself, so I know it works.
The best advice I can give is meet with him, but do so expecting nothing to come from it. If you land a job, awesome. If it goes nowhere then at least you know how to network and can go about seeking out another opportunity.
I think a meeting is a good sign though. ;-)
Never think of "odds", think of possibilities, even if he cant hire you he can give you direction, focus, and a giant push either with a hiring manager, or with a friend in that line of work that has a stepping stone company. If you get reffered out to a stepping stone company, expect to be there 3-5 years, then resubmit to your goal. Just be confident when you talk to him, the fact that he is a manager means nothing they put in theur pants the same way we do....