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help me get the job when I'm the only woman interviewing!

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Happiness43 · 08/05/2015 08:33

Ladies I could really use your help...

I am about to attend a second interview for a high-end, German, shower and brassware company and have been asked to give a presentation..... I am attempting to win a role which would see me responsible for building a strong business relationship with Architects and Designers in London.

The one major point I must be able to prove is how I will get these very VERY busy people to see me and keep me in the front of their minds.

So here's the thing. I fully expect to be the only female candidate so I want an angle 'the men' won't have considered.

The presentation they have asked me to give is on the subject 'my first 90 days in the role'.

I have some generic questions....see text below. However, I'm aware that whilst the majority of architects seem to be male, there are plenty of extremely talented women in the Architectural and Design world who are also mothers. I want to ask YOU these questions.

Bottom line? What would make you give me half an hour of your time? If you could choose the ideal supplier relationship what would it be? Keep it in the office? A play date for our children whilst we chat? You name it....

I'm a single mother trying to get a job that will make the world of difference to the life I can give my children. I truly value your thoughts and advice......and I could use it by end of play Saturday 9th May!!!

If anyone could spare 5 minutes I would really appreciate any input you could give me based around the following questions....

a) How would you prefer to be approached when a new supplier is looking to develop a relationship.

b) What is the biggest turn off?

c) Which approach from any of your current regular suppliers have you been most receptive to?

d) What do you receive/desire from your current preferred suppliers in terms of regularity of contact/hospitality. Can you give me any examples (good and bad).

If anyone might have the inclination to help this working mum win this job,I would be very grateful indeed.
Thank you

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MoonlightandMusic · 08/05/2015 22:04

Personally, I would find an attempt to use my gender and possible personal life choices (as that is what having children is) somewhat off-putting and, possibly, slightly stalker-ish unless it's on my LinkedIn profile or publicly available on a professional site.

I think absolute confidence in your ability to successfully build relationships for the company is what will make you stand apart from your male challengers - very few women project this, so such confidence stands out as unusual.

My background is financial but, in terms of what would be a 'differentiator' for a potential vendor looking to gain some time to develop a working relationship with me then I would be looking for the following:

Absolute confidence in what you are trying to sell me and in coping with any 'tricky' questions I may choose to throw at you at any point during initial discussions

Indication that the initial sales pitch matches what's actually on offer (i.e. you are providing the actual product/service in a good light, not trying to sell me something where it turns out the devil is very much in the detail)

That the quality of service if I do sign up will match or exceed that offered in your pitch.

A clear acknowledgement that relationships take time to build and you will be putting in the effort to develop the relationship but it does need to be a 'quid pro quo'.

Only my personal opinion though, so still go with your gut feel on what will make you most successful on the day.

Very best of luck with the presentation.

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Happiness43 · 08/05/2015 23:54

That's very helpful thank you. I wouldn't necessarily target women with children if I were to be selected for the role and certainly wouldn't wish to make anyone feel I had stalker tendencies!
I'm just asking the question of people in that category here. All comments gratefully received, just the same.

Thank you.

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MoonlightandMusic · 09/05/2015 20:26

Sorry, Happiness, re-reading it, think my post came across a bit stronger than I'd meant - I meant more I'd tend to be more comfortable in a situation where the focus was purely on the work side, and would find it very off-putting for someone to use the 'we're all females together' type angle to win the business.