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Networking
ELEVATOR PITCHES If you met the CEO of your dream company, what would you say? An elevator pitch is a brief speech to share who you are and what you can provide their organization. It is also a go-to item for career fairs and interviews when someone simply says "tell me about yourself." A good pitch should be able to answer the following for your audience: • Who are you? • What are you looking for? • Why should they care? Some components to gather for your pitch include your field of study, strengths and abilities, accomplishments, and relevant activities. In his famous TedTalk, author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek says "people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it." So, tailor your elevator pitch to your audience and show them why they should want to hear more.
Tips • • •
Practice your speech before you need it Be concise and focus on the listener’s needs Watch your body language and delivery
EXAMPLE PITCH Hi, my name is Frederic Leach and I attend NYU’s School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance. This past year, myself and three other students decided to start a fraternity to promote higher ideals in business. This involved a lot of planning, organization and teamwork to incorporate the first chapter and get 18 members to our first banquet. I am hoping to use my problem-solving skills and passion to pursue a career in accounting and advance the profession. Can you tell me more about your company's open positions? Sources: (Collamer, 2013) (Schroeder, 2017)
