Grandpa's Spells wrote:BJ, why are you invited along?
It's that time of year when you apply for internships and placement years. As well as formally applying to about 40 companies, I've been relentlessly emailing friends and family asking if I could be put in contact with anyone. This was one of the guys I emailed.
OK, so your agenda is not going to be mysterious, which is good.
"Kid with some hustle" is what you need to communicate. Having done your reading will help. Acting over-excited or blase' will not.
One of the downsides of the Internet is that it allows like-minded people to form communities, and sometimes those communities are stupid.
I spent a couple of hours reading about him and his company on the web, and I've ordered his biography which will come tomorrow. What else would you suggest reading?
He's very passionate about petrol. One of the companies he owns was set up to buy petrol stations, and he introduced self service petrol stations, convenience stores in petrol stations, and canopies in petrol stations to England. We'll be going to look at a petrol station that he's either considering buying or already owns... my mate wasn't too clear on that. I suppose I need to spend some time reading about petrol stations.
Don't talk a bit about yourself unless asked. Even then, keep your answers short and to the point. Follow your answer with a related question about his business.
I know youre construction but act interested in the property industry which is what he is actually about. Read up a small bit on the Canary Wharf history and know who Ritblatt and others are. Find out what a REIT is. Know what a yield is - it's east stuff to find out but will make a difference. A construction guy is great. A construction guy with an eye for and understanding of the property sector is even better.
Im not in that field but even I've heard if him. I interview occasionally. We're tired of seeing homogeneity. We don't want risqué, arrogant or weird. But be an individual. You've got your interests. Let him see you be passionate and informed on them if they come up. And give the impression at all times that if he employed you, you could represent him tomorrow at a difficult meeting cos you're smart enough to say "I don't know" or "I'll get back to you".
Dont smoke. Don't be on ur phone. And seriously, do NoT give out details about yourself on the Internet. These large companies are set up to track web content with key words. Someone might be showing him this now. Just don't do it. Your life is your life. Don't post yourself out of a job.
Good advice from TROY. There's a noticable distinction which he will be able to tell relatively quickly between a young aggressive kid ready to get started on a career and a sweaty desperate fool willing to do anything. I would also do this which I have learned the hard way: if you have to internally debate whether you should say or respond to something you pretty much already have your answer...keep your mouth shut. Don't run your suck especially about something you really know nothing about. It's okay to acknowledge that you don't know the answer to something.
Gorby, I'll admit I don't know much about the property business outside of construction. Can you recommend something that could be read in a couple of hours that would give me a basic introduction so I won't need to stand there looking like a retard?
If you've got a little time, research the challenges he had to overcome to build that structure you referenced in your initial post which you've now deleted for some reason. What entitlements did he have to seek, e.g. things like height, density, parking, landscaping, facade, colors etc. What building code challenges? Exiting, fire suppression, etc. Talk to or visit the local authority that issues the permits for that building...see if you can get a brief interview with the chief inspector or planner for that specific project. This info will give you good talking points when you have the opportunity.
Be clear up front about what you want. Are you looking for a job or for an internship? In what area (be realistic about it)? It really should be in an area that you have an affinity and an appropriate background.
All the homework and buttkissing will be wasted if you don't ask. Practice the question you plan on asking. Something like "If you have any internship openings, please consider me. I'd really appreciate an opportunity to prove that I can be an asset to your company." Find something that works for you, and practice asking the question 100 times in the mirror. Stand up when you practice. You will get 0% of the jobs you don't ask for.
A few more things:
--Books to get (and they're probably available at the local library) include "Sweaty Palms" by Anthony Medley (about interviewing and opening doors) and "What Color is your Parachute" (about getting jobs).
--Be prepared to say what you've been doing to improve yourself. Why you're involved in certain charitable endeavors (give back to the community, improve certain skills); new skills you're trying to improve and how (I suggest joining a local Toastmasters group-- great way to improve public speaking skills. If you've been working on improving some of your IT type skills, perhaps with construction management software or getting better with Excel, mention that too.). Have a very brief narrative prepared and practiced about these. Saying you're involved in charitable work because you care about helping people may help but may not. Adding that you're involved because you're looking to work with successful people and learning from them sounds better. Just make it succinct.
--Have a solid resume that is tailored for the job/internship you're looking for. You might want to spend the money to have it professionally done. If you have it professionally done, take in information about the company and field you're trying to get into-- that will help the resume writer tailor it and make sure it has all the right buzzwords. Make sure the resume writer has experience writing for the field you're trying to get into. At least in the States, resume language and formats differ for government and private sector jobs. In general, shorter resumes are better. If you can, take a copy with you.
--Send him a thank you letter for speaking with you. Send it NLT than the day after you speak to him. Email is fine, but if possible, a hand written one will really stand out. Keep it succinct. You want him to get it before he forgets you. You might have to send it to his executive assistant-- nothing wrong with that. This will make you really stand out.
"Liberalism is arbitrarily selective in its choice of whose dignity to champion." Adrian Vermeule
One last thing...is your mom reasonably hot? I know hot in GB is like semi-walking dead here in the U.S. but nonetheless if the situation calls for it, don't hesitate to offer up your mom for sexual favors. Throwing a sister into the mix, doubleteam-wise, could possible get you a job and a car. Maybe clear it with them first.
Bricks and mortals is a book you could look for. But really at your level it's ok to just say you've an interest and would like to learn more rather than feel you need to display wares. So just google a report on the London Market at the moment - what are prices doing? Is there an overhang of supply or a shortage? Just real high level stuff. So you have something to say. An don't pass it off as your own. Say "I read someone who thought..."
Relax and don't be too eager. Like reading about him is good but don't be creepy. Do find out what a yield is - I had it explained to me. It's something you can joke about - like "I'm construction in Uni but interested in the wider industry but even the definition of yield seems complez so I've a lot to learn".
Too late to "cram" and there's no need. Sleep well and enjoy it.
"That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy.
It is our job to see that it stays there." - George Orwell
I've been given the opportunity to go and visit a potential property, with the owner of one of the largest property companies in the UK, and the man who just built the tallest building in London. This is significant, because I'm applying for internships and placements, and this could be a major foot in the door. Networking at it's best.
I asked the guys for some advise on how to behave around him, what to research etc... They delivered with some great advise, which I'm sure can be extrapolated to any person in a position of power, or any interview. If for whatever reason you desperately want to know who the gentleman in question is, you can PM me, but as Gorby rightly said, I probably shouldn't publish stuff like that online.
He erased the original thread but basically our BrewJew has a very important tag-along type meeting...i.e. he's been invited along with another fellow to meet this moneyed gent who's making a ton of money in the refurbished dildo market. Personally I didn't even know there was value in used dildos but obviously there is. Our CharlstonJew is hoping to leverage his considerable personal and family expertise on this subject in an effort to land his first job right out of college. Besides earning a living, he'll hopefully be able to get his club foot repaired and get his family the considerable dental work they've not been able to afford. I may have taken liberty with a few things but this story is pretty much corrrect. He's meeting with a guy named Thurston Howell, III.
Shape, you forgot the bit about QJ being an expert on "large realistic ethnic dildos", the chance meeting at a gay karaoke evening in Soho and the misunderstanding about the seatless trousers.
Shapecharge wrote:
He erased the original thread but basically our BrewJew has a very important tag-along type meeting...i.e. he's been invited along with another fellow to meet this moneyed gent who's making a ton of money in the refurbished dildo market. Personally I didn't even know there was value in used dildos but obviously there is. Our CharlstonJew is hoping to leverage his considerable personal and family expertise on this subject in an effort to land his first job right out of college. Besides earning a living, he'll hopefully be able to get his club foot repaired and get his family the considerable dental work they've not been able to afford. I may have taken liberty with a few things but this story is pretty much corrrect. He's meeting with a guy named Thurston Howell, III.
Oh that's great! One question tho? How is he going to get there, is his mom going to repeatedly drive him so they wont realize they fuckin make a mistake or will he just ride his Schwinn Stingray?
syaigh wrote: The thought of eating that giant veiny monstrosity makes me want to barf.
