As a 26 year old who is still early in their career, I work very hard to prove myself as a serious young professional. I never want to appear as though I don’t belong in the room. Sometimes, I feel insecure about my age in a business setting because I worry that it changes people’s perceptive of my credibility. To combat those fears I started doing research and asking more experienced professionals how to prepare for an important meeting or interview. As time went on I started becoming more comfortable and confident in a corporate setting, and I was able to start applying my own experience and advice.
Now, why would somebody like myself- who is admittedly still early in their career- be giving advice on business?! Great question. When I was doing research and asking others for tips, I found it slightly overwhelming to filter through the advice and pick out what was relevant to me at this point in my career. I wanted to create a resource for other young professionals who may be looking for a good starting point. I hope this list helps you feel confident and prepared for your first business meeting, and then you can start applying your own experiences into your preparation plans.
I’d love to hear your tips for how to prepare for an important work meeting or interview! You can tweet me @mynortherncharm.
Do Your Research
This is especially important if you’re preparing for an interview. On atleast 5 different occasions I’ve been to an interview or meeting that started with “So, what do you know about us?” This is an easy way for interviewers to see how serious you are about the job. I’ve had potential clients ask me that questions as well, so it’s always a good idea to learn a bit about the person or company beforehand. You don’t need to do a full background check, but you should probably check out the company’s mission statement and some of their past projects or clients.
TIP: If the meeting or interview is really important I like to prepare a question to ask about the company/job/project because it shows that I'm engaged in the subject and thinking critically.
look the part
Figure out what you are going to wear ahead of time. Then, make sure it is clean, ironed/pressed, and doesn’t have any pesky stains, rips, holes, or loose thread. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step- a well planned outfit will provide you with a boost of confidence and help you feel like you’re presenting the best version of yourself.
TIP: I've listed below some of my favorite places to shop when I'm in need of more formal business attire. While I don't typically shop at these stores for everyday wear, I think they have a great selection of cute (and appropriate) outfits for interviews or important meeting.
plan your commute
If you are commuting to the meeting/interview than you should account for a bit of extra planning. Once you have an address for the meeting, you’ll obviously want to see how long it’ll take you to get there- but I recommend looking up the travel time DURING the time frame in which you’ll be traveling. For example, Let’s say your meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 11 am. The day before your meeting, at 11am, you should lookup the estimated travel time. This will give you the most accurate estimate for your commute to the meeting.
16 Tips for Adulting
If only there was a class in school called "How To Be An Adult"... Well, here is the next best thing- I put together 16 tips for "adult-ing" that I wish I knew sooner.
Click Here For 16 Adulting TipsPack your work bag
There are a few essential items that you definitely need to bring to any type of business meeting/presentation/interview. In addition, I’ve included a few recommended items below that I think will come in handy. Depending on your particular profession, these essentials may change. What’s important is that you have everything you need to walk into that room as the best version of yourself.
Don't Forget To Bring:
Business Cards
If you don’t already have business cards, order some right now. I recommend the brand MOO. Click here to visit their website. Always keep your business cards up-to-date with your current information, and always have a handful of cards with you at all times. You never know how many new faces you’ll meet in a day! (Get yourself a business card holder while you’re at it. I bought mine for $7 off Amazon. Click here to check it out)
Notepad
I recommend bringing a notepad, instead of relying on your phone or computer to jot down notes. I’ve found that my laptop can sometimes feel like a barrier between myself and the person I’m speaking with. Also, having a computer in front of you can be pretty distracting at times.
You never know when technology is going to fail you…so it’s good to have an actual notepad in your arsenal. I recommend these notepads from Amazon because they are small and narrow, so they’re easy to take with you. Click here to check them out.
Pen (+1 Backup)
You should bring a pen with you, even you plan to take notes on your laptop. Seriously, even if you think you don’t need one, bring one. Actually, bring two! Even if you don’t end up needing it someone else in the room might and you’ll stand out for being prepared!
Office Survival Guides
Make your desk or office cubicle feel like a second home by stocking it with everything you need to succeed! Check out my lists for everything you need at your desk, and in your bag, so you can start ENJOYING your work life.
Work Bag EssentialsWork Desk Essentials
Optional items to bring:
Laptop (or iPad if applicable)
While I don’t recommend taking notes on your laptop- you may still want to have it in your bag just in case you need to reference a document or use it as a presentation tool.
TIP: If you're planning on making a presentation at this meeting, using your laptop, make sure you have an understanding of the input connections on your computer. I have been to several meetings where the presenter was unaware that their laptop did not have a normal HDMI port and instead required a special adapter. Test out the technology aspect beforehand to make sure everything goes as planned.
Water Bottle
You may find yourself doing most of the talking, especially if it’s an interview, so make sure you bring some water. I’ve made the mistake of thinking “They’ll have water there, they always offer water at these meetings” only to find myself with the worse case of dry mouth.
Tide Stain Stick
I carry a mini stain remover stick with me in my work bag everyday, but I always make sure I have it the day of a big meeting. You never want to show up to a meeting with a mustard stain in the middle of your shirt. Throwing a little stain stick in your bag is much easier than carrying around a whole backup outfit.
You can get a 3 pack of Tide To-Go Stain Sticks on Amazon for $7: Click here to check it out. (not sponsored)
