2. Public speech

Subject title Public speech

Purpose of the activity The main aim of the activity is to teach youngsters how to briefly present them to potential employers; it is what is called an elevator pitch, as well as reflect on their skills and experience by writing an Employability Canva. This activity also improves self-reflection, self-confidence and self-image realization. The activity will be in two parts, in the first participants will write down their skills and experience and in the second, will practice Elevator pitch.

The task is meant your youngsters around 16+ who will start first steps in applying for job and want to know how to present themselves in front of the potential employers, however also for more advanced people, who have some knowledge in job interviews- this activity will be very beneficial. By the end of the workshop, participants will gain or re-gain knowledge about their experience and skills, and also develop skills of talking about themselves and “selling” themselves to get a job.

Duration 2–5 hours (depends on the number of participants).

Location and tools Writing tools, paper sheets.

Number of participants 15–20 participants.

Acquaintance/ team building methods At the beginning of the session, each participant is invited to stand in front of the entire audience and introduce himself/herself in 2–3 minutes. This free-form presentation, suggested by the session leader, is presented as an introduction to both the theoretical and practical parts of the session, in order to give each participant the opportunity to compare what will change during the session.

Practical tasks The whole seminar starts off with the first practical assignment, namely the “Employability Canva”.

Step 1. The participants work in groups of 3–5 people. They are asked to fill in «Employability canvas» for a person in the picture. There can be several options:

• famous person (for filling in the canvas the group has to search for facts from his/her life in the internet); the participants choose some person for their group themselves (it can be a famous person or one of the people they know locally);

• some imaginary person (the participants fill in the canvas with imaginary facts).

The groups present their results to all the other participants. Step 2. Each participant fills in the «Employability canvas» for himself/herself individually. They have to try to remember their previous experiences, competences, interests.

Step 3. Speed dating. Each participant receives a «clock face» and agrees on several meetings with other persons (number of meetings depends on how much time you have at your disposal, in general in can be 3–4 meetings).

Practical tasks The facilitator tells what time it is (09.00, 15.00, etc.) and the pairs meet and discuss what they have written for themselves in the canvas. During the discussion they try to help each other, ask questions and add some facts that could be initially forgotten.

NB! It is up to each participant to decide if they want to discuss the part «Dreams for future occupation», because it can be too personal.

Step 4. Each participant takes some minutes to add something to their canvas and write down any ideas which appeared during the previous activity.

Step 5. Reflection. Discussion in a common circle. Next task is to discuss elevator pitch. Presenter discusses on the white board what is an elevator pitch with the group. Then participants are put in groups of 4 and everyone has 5 minutes to prepare an elevator pitch, using all information written on the Employability canva. After 5 minutes, in the groups, each participant does the elevator pitch and after each pitch other participants give a constructive feedback on the pitch. After everyone in the group have done the pitch, each group chooses the best pitcher and this person goes in the front of the people and does the pitch again. All participants again give the constructive feedback.

Afterwards, participants by choice are asked to be filmed for the elevator pitch. Person is filmed with a phone camera, which can be instantly put on the projector and again showed on the screen. All participants discuss the body language aspects and give constructive feedback.

End of session reflection methods Questions for participants: What did you learn about yourself during the activity?

What was the hardest part of today’s workshop?

What was the easiest part of the today’s workshop?

Do you feel now more comfortable about speaking up about yourself?

Elevator pitch is a professional introduction where one quickly summarizes his/her professional experience and sets a goal for the person to whom it is addressed, in this case a potential employer. It is maximum 1 minute long, however it can be also 20–30 seconds long. The name for the pitch came from the method of talking to a potential employer in an elevator, as long as the elevator goes up or down, the candidate has to speak out.

There are several things which should be done in an elevator pitch:

• The pitch should be brief, approximately 30–60 seconds. It should not contain all life-story, it has to be brief and contain only the most important information;

THEORETICAL INFORMATION

• The body language has to be persuasive, the message has to be positive and confident, thus smiling is very needed;

• Elevator pitch should definitely include skills, qualifications and experience. Examples are also great, but those should be short and concise. Potential employee should focus on the value given to the potential company, the same as in the cover letter;

• The best way how to have a perfect pitch is to practice it many, many times. It can be done in front of friends, family, animals and toys. Also it can be done in front of the mirror, in order to see the body gestures;

• Body gestures have to be open, hands can articulate the words, but they cannot be too dynamic. Never ever arms should be crossed, it is not a positive attitude;

• Some of goals can be mentioned. It will show the determination and result-orientation. Perhaps nothing very specific, but goals related to the aim of the pitch could be stated. For example, “I would like to get started in the IT industry, such as working as a tester”.

Things which should not be said or done during an elevator pitch:

• Even though elevator pitch should be short, talking fast will not be a solution how to put into one minute a vast of information. The information should be told clearly and without any heist;

• Pitch should be not exaggerated. Yes, information should be seen as very valuable and something extraordinary, but it should be also down-to-earth and realistic.

Body language of the elevator pitch. Research shows that around 50-70% of the non-verbal communication comes from the body, thus using person’s body effectively and with a right purpose is extremely essential. Here are things in the body, the potential employee must pay attention to when addressing a pitch: • Facial expression. The facial expression should be suited to the topic and not too exaggerated. Smiling and acting positive is needed, however exaggeration and constant smiling is definitely not needed. Instead, person should be calm and collected, and reflect the topic into the facial expression, namely tailor to it;

• Body positioning. It is not suggested to in any way cross any body parts, for example, arms, legs, it makes the person less confident. It is also not suggested to fiddle with the hair, looking away when talking, wave hands and gestures excessively. Instead, person should use a power pose, namely be relaxed, legs apart, body open and have palms facing upwards when talking and gesturing. • Lastly – practice, practice, practice.

Employability canva is a tool where participants will be asked to insert their information, similar to the CV and use it for the elevator pitch. There are 8 categories, which should be explained by the presenter:

1. Volunteering experience - any experience where the person did not get paid, it can be working in an animal shelter, helping at the youth centre, helping with organizing some events and so on. Especially for youngsters it is important to stress that any experience, paid or not paid, is an experience, which should be put in an elevator pitch and also on the CV.

2. Employments – positions, where the person was employed and got paid.

3. Entrepreneurship and freelance – are creative self-employed tasks and short-term tasks, which were done independently by the person, such as managing own cafe or translating occasional articles for someone.

4. Internship – paid or unpaid short-term position somewhere, usually as a part of studies.

5. Languages – knowledge of the languages, should be noted with European language system, namely A1-C2. It is very advisable to put languages, which a person knows A1. 6. Hobbies – few interesting hobbies, perhaps employer will have something in common with the employee.

7. Special skills – some special interests or skills, such as Driving licence, scuba diving certificate, fastreading skill and others. 8. Dreams for future profession – here a goal of the pitch or CV should be stated, what the person wants to achieve.