Advice PLEASE! I am making a BIG pitch tomorrow and I could really do with some advce and kind words - I have a bit of a block about it

[WideWebWitch]

I am meeting someone in my company tomorrow to pitch for a much more senior job.

I have the appt, I've re-done my cv today picking out my relevant experience, I had a positive meeting with this person last week where I outlined some of my ideas, which they seemed to like, what else should I mention?

I'm nervous about this (uncharacteristally and inordinately so actually) because if it goes well I could end up with a much bigger job + a large pay rise and if it doesn't, well, I don't know really.

I'm intending saying something like
"I know this role is coming up and I would like to be considered and to apply when it's advertised. You don't know me well though and so I thought I'd bring you my cv and talk through what I think I can bring to you/the role"

Then I want to talk about my beliefs about the company, what I think I can do, what I think needs to happen to achieve those goals.

What else? Does this all sound too pushy? My boss has coached me a bit but I really am anxious, any advice welcome, TIA.

If your boss is encouraging then go for it

If there was a chance it would be inappropriate then your boss wouldn't have suggested it (unless your boss hates you ?)

Go in feeling confident and positive

btw if you don't get the job - you will still have your current role - what will you have lost?

Oooh, good luck.

You are NOT being pushy! Would a man ever think 'oh, am I being too pushy'? Nope. You are being dynamic and a self-starter, and all that. Also, it's not what you think you can bring - it's what you can bring

Other than that, I have no experience at all of these sorts of things, but hope it goes well.

give person room to talk themselves - perhaps ask for their thoughts on the role before you launch into what you believe you can bring to the role. apart from that you sound like you've got it covered so just take a big deep breath, go to the loo beforehand and check your teeth for spinach, even if you haven't eaten spinach for months, check anyway. Good luck and know that you're good enough

No, boss doesn't hate me afaik!
Good point re man thinking that and about letting the other person speak too, absolutely.

I know I need to be cool, calm and collected and usually I am but because this is potentially v important (and I prob won't be staying in current role if I don't get this for reasons too complicated to go into so that's prob not helpng my state of mind!)

It's as well to check whether there will be any changes to the role - there may well be changes to the scope or responsibilities.

Also ask what they percieve as the main challenges of the role before you launch into your view of what needs to happen (if the person you are seeing is the one responsible for startegic direction).

Might be a good idea also to ask whether the person thinks there are any areas in which you appear to be weaker re: the job spec - this will help you polish those for the application itself.

Of course it's not pushy. It's exactly what a man would do.

Good idea Puddle, you usually get a chance to do that at interviews don't you, you're right if I go on before I've asked that question thenI won't be able to tell him how I fit the role.

Thanks NJ.

I am leaving in a couple of hours so any other last minute advice most welcome.

This is your opportunity to show them how bloody fab you are and how much you could actually do for them if they let you.
You are great, you will get it. Good Luck

WWW hope it goes well, your approach is fantastic, I would be impressed.
Lots of people are disproportionately nervous when going for what would be a big promotion, there's often a sense of being a bit of a fraud, in a 'what really, me? You think I'm that good' kind of way, especially when it's a big jump.

It's important to believe that you are that good, and as others have said, if your boss is supporting you, that's a really good sign.

Talking about your beliefs about the company, what you want to achieve etc is all brilliant stuff.

Regarding the challenges of the role - someone else has suggested asking what they are. I wouldn't do that. If I was interviewing you or listening to you pitch, I would want you to tell me what you perceive the challenges to be, and what your proposals are for dealing with them. It's important that you have thought about that particularly if you are pitching quite a bit higher than the level you are currently working at.
You will need to demonstrate even more than most that you understand the role and its challenges well, and are capable of meeting them head on, thriving on them, bringing positive solutions and tangible benefits for the organisation.

The same applies for areas of 'weakness'. Don't mention weaknesses as Nurseyjo says. I would say that this role represents a real opportunity for development for you, you are excited about the prospect of further developing your experience and knowledge in x areas and [this] is how you intend to accelerate that so you can hit the ground running.

Indicate that you know yourself and areas you will need to develop, then ask if he perceives there are any other areas where he feels you could benefit from increased experience or whatever.
Your demonstration of your full awareness of your own abilities is key, so identifying yourself what areas you could do with further knowledge and experience and also identifying how you are going to address it quickly is important.

Be calm, confident and enthusiastic about this opportunity, check for spinach as Hectorshouse says , hold your head up and smile.

Good luck!

oooh, and also relax your shoulders. Your shoulders get tense without you even noticing, so breathe slowly and force yourself to be aware of your shoulders and neck and relax them, it makes a difference when you're nervous!

And if it's a bloke, don't wear too much make up and keep perfume usage to an absolute minimum!

Firm handshake and eye-to-eye contact, as well as lots of listening. You need to come across as enthusiastic but without jumping in all the time.

Can you also find out if anyone else is in the running? If you can that might also give you an idea of what they're looking for.

And at the end of the meeting, don't be afraid to ask their opinion - of you and of your chances.

Good luck.

good advice on here and I think you really have gone about it the right way by thinking it through and thinking what you can bring to the role. You really only need a few key things to ask as if you prepare too much thre is the temptation to talk at them rather than engage in dialogue.

Be relaxed, friendly and listen.

Your boss would not have suggested it unless you stood a very good chance - keep that in mine.

Oh god didn't mean to be all patronising.

Good luck - come back and tell us what happened.

Thank you to everyone who helped, it went really well and I got what I wanted which was mainly a) a change in reporting structure and b) to make it clear I want to be considered for the bigger job when it comes up.

Thanks for all the advice, especially the listenign one, that's the thing I am sometimes crap at - I want to jump in with my view and it's often not apppropriate to do so!

In an internet cafe, waiting to meet my sister, feeling very relieved

Thank you to everyone who helped, it went really well and I got what I wanted which was mainly a) a change in reporting structure and b) to make it clear I want to be considered for the bigger job when it comes up.

Thanks for all the advice, especially the listenign one, that's the thing I am sometimes crap at - I want to jump in with my view and it's often not apppropriate to do so!

In an internet cafe, waiting to meet my sister, feeling very relieved

excellent www, pleased it went well! Fingers crossed for the big job when it comes up.

Yay