This is a presentation abut, how I use coffee meetings, earlier to get a new job and today to get the next customers. I am working as Freelance consultant and are working with Lean, process optimization, PDCA Feel free to use it and if you have any questions. Please let me know

1. Network/Coffee meetings in
practice
with background in Network
Experience of use
René Nørbjerg
April 2017

2. Motto:
You get the authority, that you show
competent for.
You gain more authority by surpassing
the expectations of your surroundings.
René Nørbjerg, short intro
Today - independent Consultant.
Before that 25 years in Post Danmark, Danske
Bank, Det Konservative Folkeparti og G4S

3. Agenda
• Network and the expansions
• Using Network in practice.
• Inviting to a coffee meeting via LinkedIn
• Negative experience on social media
• My expatiations for you.
• How I use Network today.
• How I use coffee meetings today.
• But first….

4. Results since January 2010
• Multiple concrete job offers, i. a.
– Scandlines (project manager)
– Danske Bank (Senior Business Process Consultant)
– University College Sjælland (project manager)
– KMD (Lean Consultant)
– Waterfront Communication (project manager)
– G4S (Chief of Planning)
• More than 100 coffee meetings in 8 months
– Made up to 3 in a day
• 2 x offers of free further training
• I still get offers of jobs, education. etc.
• My jobs came via my network.

5. How do I find people for coffee meetings?
• The traditional ways I connect with people are:
– Stacks of business cards I have collected over time
– People from receptions, network meetings, etc.
– People found on the social media, by searching names
(earlier colleagues etc.)
– Wrote (and writes) often to journalists and praise for a
good article, or someone who wrote a good letter (people
get happy from praise and they remember you)
Remember: How you find people, is completely irrelevant;
Just find them.

6. Who do you want to be in a network with?
• Remember to ask yourself that question, in the start.
• Former colleagues?
• Current colleagues?
• Must you have met people, before you want to connect?
• Are you ready to be in network with most people?
– E. g. if they ask, do you say “yes, please”
• And remember you can always delete a connection again, if the
person does not live up to your expectations.

7. Network in practice (1/2)
• Coffee meetings with everyone from anywhere, segmenting:
1. I started with people I knew (somewhat like training)
• It was difficult in the start, but some good people helped.
2. People, I “got” from one meeting, were used to get to the next.
• Remember to ask ”Can I use you as a reference?” at the meeting
3. People from debate forums, e.g. LinkedIn, Facebook etc.
• Remember you got knowledge, passion or something else in common.
4. Meeting forums, e.g. parents meetings , boards etc.
• If you can spot “subjects” in the room, you are good.
5. People in companies, I want to work with
• I made a top10 list
6. Try yourself with unique people, where you think
• ”I would like to meet them, here is the opportunity”
Remember: You are often closer to people, than you think, when you analyse it.

8. Network in practice (2/2)
• Coffee meetings - experience
– My experience is:
• Everyone (80%) has time for you, but they have to set the time.
• Remember to have an updated calendar at hand.
– It does not work to say ”I don’t know if or when I can” 
– Preferably book meetings 4 weeks in advance. The best mail is as follows:
» Hi xx. I would like to cancel the meeting on x/x xx:xx, as I now have
a job/task”
• My entry point as job seeking:
– ”My calendar is empty, I have no bonds”☺
– ”You tell me when you got time because, I got time then”
• Remember, a meeting is the entry to the next meeting/contact
– Not because the contact has a job at hand, but because the contact
knowns other people, who might have a job.
– The person might remember you, when they see a job offer.
– Let the person ”name drop” the most, and write down the names.

9. My invitation to coffee meetings
(Segment #3)
Dear Xx at company Xx.
I can read from your profile, that you got many contacts for positions,
where you need the right candidate.
Since I am job seeking and especially within areas, such as project
manager, line management or LEAN consultant e.g. on medicinal/
logistics area, was I wondering, if I could invite my self on a cup off
coffee with you, where I could present my self for you.
That way you could know more about me, and thus have a better
premise to “sell me” to a costumer in Xx concern.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
René Nørbjerg
Email: rene@renenoerbjerg.dk
www.renenoerbjerg.dk
Phone. 93 86 06 80

10. Thoughts before a coffee meeting
• 5 questions to ask, before you contact (new) people:
• What is the official purpose of the meeting?
– How long time do you expect it to take ?
• What can I offer the person?
– What do they get from meeting me?
• What is my (own) agenda – why do I want this meeting?
• What is my ”payment” for the persons time, contact and knowledge?
– Can I offer something?
• PS: if you meet up without a agenda (which I sometimes allow), then you
must be really sure, that I don’t sit and feel I am wasting time.
– Seriously – it’s so unprofessional.

11. – Remember to have something to say in the discussions, you
participant in, and not just write to be seen.
• Rather few, but great comments.
– Too many updates per day gives a negative focus.
• E.g. don’t let facebook/foursquare update automatically.
• Worst case. You will be removed from there LinkedIn.
• Best case. They only ”hide” your updates.
– There are also con artists here.
• I have been offered pyramid schemes.
• Sale of various ”unique” products.
• People, that want a recommendation, because we said hello to
each other (and I would like to recommend you)
– Remember its you, it falls back to, if you recommended someone, that
did not hold the entire way.
Negative experience on LinkedIn

12. The Essentials of Networking
• Updated CV always ready (both in Word and PDF format)
– E.g. LinkedIn or Dropbox
• Contact information on LinkedIn
– Email and phone number must be in the contact information
– Headhunter/client must have an easy time finding you
• Pictures on LinkedIn profile!
– Yes, its more important than you think.
– I don’t connect with people without a picture, unless they specifically written to
me, and I know who they are (having met them multiple times)
• Honest recommendations from pervious jobs/ positions
– They will be needed before you know and at short notice.
• Business card. You all probably own that, otherwise get it.
– Its unfortunate to make meeting plans on a tissue paper.
– Use e. g. www.vistaprint.dk

13. Picture on your LinkedIn profile!
• It does not matter if you lack a picture.
• A picture is a picture, it does not matter, how I look.
– Common things I hear people say.
– The truth is:
– Its more important than you think.
– Its important, that you look nice. It’s your sale window.
– I don’t connect with people without a picture, unless they specifically written
to me, and I know who they are (having met them multiple times)
– LinkedIn says, there are 11 times more visits on profiles with Pictures than
profiles without.

14. Expectations to you, after you get a job.
• Do with others as you would like to have it.
• E. g. Always answer mails you receive.
• Always call back, if they left a message.
• Say ”Thanks for the help” to those who helped you.
– Personally, not on a public page.
• E.g. these mails I have received.

15. The best mails I can receive.
• Hey René
I will just share with you, that I have been offered a job in department XX,
which I have agreed to. I am really happy that you showed me some of
Danske Bank’s world and I am looking forward to working with you. Thank
you for it and have a really good afternoon. :)
• Hey René
Thank you for the lead, you gave me for region XX. I just received the
contact, and wish you a great weekend. My weekend I definitely going to
be good now.
Best regards.
XX

16. My use of network in 2017.
• My goals are:
– Min. 1. board position in the industry (2020)
– Get clients so I can live.
– Min. 1. Advisory post (2020)
– Hold 1-2 coffee meetings per month
– Hold 1 speech every quarter
– Continue to create debate/dialog in de groups, I participate in
• All this with the help of
– Social Groups, Powerjobseekers.
– LinkedIn, Facebook.
– Everyone I meet e. g. you.

17. Questions from you.
• Just ask now
– Haven't got any now, then.
• Remember you can always find me at
Website: www.rnconsulting.dk
Email: rene@rnconsulting.dk
And yes just connect with me on LinkedIn