Elevator Pitch Tips from Megan Conroy, Winner of the 2017 GEICO Elevator Pitch Competition

Spring Career & Internship Expo is right around the corner, March 7 to be exact,  and one thing you should do to prepare for it is work on your elevator pitch!

Your introduction to employers, or ‘elevator pitch’, should be between 30 seconds to one minute in length and should be seen as an animated business card. It should give recruiters and employers a thorough understanding of who you are professionally, and what you are capable of.

Megan Conroy is a junior marketing student at Georgia College who won the 2017 GEICO Elevator Pitch Competition. I asked her to share her secrets to developing an elevator pitch that will stand out and resonate with employers.  Read  her awesome tips below.

Utilize the Career Center

They can help you with your resume, LinkedIn profile, internship and career search, and also help prepare for your upcoming interview. They’re super nice people, too!

Reference Your Most Recent Resume

It helps to know what  you have to offer!

Write Down a List of Your Strengths

Write down why you think you stand out. Then talk to friends, family, and previous/current employers.  Ask them what they think your strengths are.  How does that compare or differ with what you listed?  What stands out?

Research Job Positions You Want

Find a job posting of or similar to the job you want.  What are some of the qualities and requirements of what they’re looking for? Make a list of those.

Compare Your Strengths to Job Requirements

Compare both your lists and see if anything is the same. If they are, that’s something you want to include in your elevator pitch. If they’re not, what are some transferable skills or experiences that could help in that role? Make a list.

Start Writing!

Grab your lists and your resume and get crafting your pitch! I always imagine that someone just asked me what I want to do and why.

My biggest tip for this: keep it simple and talk out loud as you write your pitch. It may sound good on paper but it’s entirely different when you speak it. Include some of your work experience (mention it) and talk about the skills you learned in that role (these skills can come from your lists of strengths). Talk about your out of class experiences and if you don’t have any, talk about a relevant course or a major project. Be sure to discuss your role and contribution to the course or project.  ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS say your name in the beginning and at the end of your elevator pitch and don’t forget to SMILE!

Practice!

Practice practice PRACTICE. Practice in front of someone for an hour and let them help and critique you. The night before I won the fall 2017 elevator pitch, I literally couldn’t remember my pitch. I practiced on Skype with someone for 3 hours because I couldn’t figure out what to do with my hands. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes.

Relax and Just Breathe!

It’s okay if your speech isn’t exactly what you wrote. Just let your thoughts logically flow when you speak. If you go word for word by what you wrote, you won’t seem genuine and it will be too rehearsed.  Finally, just pretend that you’re having a conversation with someone, and you will do fine!

“What are Hiring Managers Buying?” – Here’s What an Employer Really Wants

The Career Center has worked with hundreds of employers to help connect them with students to interview for job and internship openings. We’ve talked with many of them about what qualities they look for in the students they end up hiring. Here’s some of the advice that RedVentures, a South Carolina-based marketing agency, had to give:

• Their recruiters will spend approximately six seconds looking at your resume. And they will spend most of those six seconds looking at your name, your education, and whatever position is listed first on your resume. Think about this – what is the most important or related experience you have for the job you’re applying to? That’s the one that needs to be positioned closest to the top of your document!
• Social media can make or break you! RedVentures says that 93% of recruiters will look at your “digital footprint” at some point throughout their interview process. Make sure any questionable content on Facebook, Twitter, etc., is either removed or made completely private. However, not all social media should be deleted or hidden – don’t forget to take time to craft an amazing LinkedIn profile. Is LinkedIn really that big of a deal, you might ask? RedVentures answers: 89% of recruiters have hired someone through LinkedIn!
• If you land an interview, RedVentures hires candidates who research their company thoroughly before the interview and who have thoughtful, prepared questions to ask. They also look for an email or a handwritten note thanking them for their time and referencing something you liked or learned in the interview. At the end of your note/email, remind them again why you’re the perfect person for the position.

So there you have it, straight from the source! If you think you might need help with your resume, your interviewing skills, your LinkedIn profile, or anything career-related, don’t hesitate to give the Career Center a call (478-445-5384) and set up an appointment with a career advisor. And if you dread talking on the phone, simply stop by (110 Lanier Hall) or send us an email (career.center@gcsu.edu)!

 

How to Tackle the (Dreaded) “Tell Me about Yourself” Question

You’ve landed your first job interview with an employer you’re really excited about, and right now, you’re following them into their office to begin the interview. You feel confident and ready. You’re wearing a brand new suit, you’ve got a killer resume, and you’ve done extensive research on the company.  Your handshake is on point. If they ask about how you’ve shown leadership in the past, you’ve practiced your response. An example of a conflict you’ve had with a coworker and how you resolved it? Your answer is polished and prepped. You’ve got this.

The two of you sit down. The potential employer clears their throat. You’re ready for anything they’re about to throw at you. They say, “So, let’s start with you telling me a little bit about yourself.”

Crickets.

You’re racking your brain for something, ANYTHING to say. You stutter out your name, and where you’re from, and then….

Your inner monologue is screaming: what else do I say? Where do I begin? Do I tell them how many siblings I have? Or about my hobbies? My penchant for eating a whole can of Pringles while marathon-ing Netflix shows in bed?

Being prepared for the beginning getting-to-know-you questions in an interview is an absolute must, although we often overlook it. So here are a few tips on how to prepare:

• Address your strengths – what do you want the employer to know about you?
• Think about the research you’ve done on the company and this position – what have you done or what skills do you have that will make you an excellent candidate for THIS job?
• Reference the “why” – why should this employer hire you over the other five people they have interviewed that week?
• Consider the Present-Past-Future formula, which is a great way to design your response. First, mention what you are presently doing and what skills you possess (that will be needed in this position), then, talk a little bit about what you’ve done in the past  that would contribute to the company, and what you’re planning to do or hope to achieve in the future,  For more info about this formula and for some examples, check this article out:
  Present-Past-Future Formula

Last words of advice: PRACTICE. Go ahead and type up an introduction for yourself, and rehearse it in your head before your interview. Don’t memorize it (you obviously don’t want to sound like a robot) but having a general framework in your head will ensure that your confidence remains unshaken, and that you start your interview off with a bang.

If you’d like to see some more examples, here’s a video that shows interviewees giving a “bad” answer and then a “good” answer:
“Tell Me about Yourself: Good Answers vs. Bad Answers”

If you want to get some feedback on your introduction as well as practice it on a real live person, please make an appointment for a mock interview with us at the Career Center. We will be happy to help!

My Consulting Internship with GovStrive Led to a Full-time Job

By Lauren Darrow

Last May, I was a junior struggling to find an internship and was extremely frustrated with my search. Finals came and I was still without an internship. Then, the Career Center send out an email the day of my last final and my friend encouraged me to apply to an internship mentioned in the email. I applied through Career Connection for the internship, and luckily, I received a phone interview and then an in-person interview. I landed the internship and couldn’t had been more excited. Looking back, I have been so thankful for the Career Center sharing this opportunity with me. Since completing my internship with GovStrive, I have worked part-time with them the past school year and recently have been offered a full-time position after graduation. I would highly encourage any GC student to utilize the services offered by the Career Center.

Currently, I am helping GovStrive select new interns.  If any junior business major is interested in consulting, they should definitely consider applying for the internship with GovStrive.  Campus interviews are Thursday, April 17 in the Career Center.  To be considered, create or login to your account on Career Connection at http://www.gcsu.edu/career, upload your resume, and then submit your resume to the Campus Interview Schedule section of Career Connection.

 

Dress for Success for the Career Opportunities Fair

Guest Writer:  Anna Lopez-Ratouis, Career Peer Advisor and Mass Communication/PR Major at Georgia College

The Career Opportunities Fair will take place November 14 in Atlanta at the Cobb Galleria Centre.  For students still wondering about attire, here is some advice on how to dress for success and make a positive impression on employers.
People say “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”, so to get it right the first time follow a few recommendations from the Career Center before you attend the Career Opportunities Fair.

For ladies:
Choose appropriate fitting pants with a matching with jacket/blazer.  The colors should be conventional. If you want to wear a skirt make sure that the length is appropriate. For skirts, just above the knees is a good length. A blouse is necessary underneath the blazer.  Make sure your blouse is not see through or too revealing.  As for shoes, heels should be medium height but if you feel more comfortable with flats, wear flats !  Closed-toe shoes are preferred but can sometimes be hard to find.  If you must wear peep-toe pumps, make sure you have a fresh pedicure and that the rest of the shoe is very conservative.

Don’t wear too much jewelry or carry a bag that is too ostentatious.  Understated is best.
Here is an example of a classic but seasonal and trendy look that you could put together for the career fair.

Professional attire and accessories appropriate for a career fair.

For gentleman:
You can never go wrong with two-piece suit and a matching pair of shoes.  In most professional settings, you want to go for a traditional colors such as black, navy blue or grey. For the shirt, white and light blue will match almost any suit color.  Ties allows you to show your personality and individuality, however avoid ties with comic characters.  The fabric quality is important as well.  Silk ties with a slight pop of color is the way to go.  Your socks should be dark.

The picture below shows a great look for men attending a career fair.

Try to find clothes that are both professional and comfortable so you feel confident in them. Avoid touching your face and hair while you talk to people.  You also want to focus on the person and not everything around you so maintain good  eye contact and avoid checking the time or your cell phone.  Your appearance and personal hygiene is important to recruiters because it shows that you pay attention to your image and that you respect the people the people around you.

Follow these steps and you will all set for success!

The Career Center will be taking a bus to the career fair.  Sign-up for your seat on the bus by November 5.  Drop by 132 Lanier Hall to sign-up and pay your $10 deposit to save your seat on the bus.  We’ll be leaving from campus at 9:30 a.m. and returning around 5:00 p.m.  Students can also carpool together for the event.

Asking the Right Questions about Graduate & Professional School

Whether you’re planning to attend the Graduate & Professional School Fair on Monday, October 22 or looking ahead to a campus visit for one of your top schools, it is important to be asking the right questions so that you can make sure you are making the right decisions about the type of program you enter and the university you eventually choose.  Even if you don’t really know what you want to study in graduate school, you probably have some ideas of what already interests you so you’ll want to ask questions to help you explore those interests a bit further.

As you begin to explore schools, you will need to ask some basic questions.  You may be able to get much of it from the programs’s website, but sometimes these can be hard to navigate and you just need a real person to help you locate the information.  The great thing about the Graduate & Professional School Fair is that you’ll have representatives from over 50 programs here who are anxious to answer your questions.  You can use some of the questions provided in this blog for the programs you are meeting at the fair.

As you begin the exploration process, the following questions will help you choose which schools and programs to consider.

Admissions Questions:

• What application deadlines should I be aware of?  Does your program accept students throughout the year or only after a certain date?
• What is the undergraduate GPA range and preference for this program (sometimes referred to as the middle 50%)?
• Which entrance exam is required?  What is the preferred test score? (for standardized tests such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT)
• What percentage of students who applied last year were admitted?
• What additional factors most impact acceptance into this program?
• Do you look for applicants with a specific academic or professional background for this program?
• What assistantship opportunities are avialable?  How do I go about locating and applying for thise opportunities?

Program Specific Questions:

• Are there pre-requisite courses I need to complete before I start this program?
• What are the degree requirements? How many required and elective classes are there?
• How long do students typically take to complete this program?
• What areas of concentration are available?
• What percentage of students complete the entire graduate program?
• How does the department evaluate student progress?
• What kind of thesis and examinations are required?
• What practical experience are students expected to complete?  What support is provided to help students fulfill experiential components of the program?
• What professional development opportunities exist for students?
• What kind of licensure/certification will I be eligible for after completing the program? This question is important if you want to go into a field that requires licensure.
• Where do your graduates work?  What types of positions do they get?
• What kind of job-search support is provided by faculty and/or career services?
• Are students admitted even if they do not locate an assistantship?  Some programs will only admit or enroll students who locate an assistantship on campus.

It’s also important to connect with faculty during your application process, especially if you want to work with them on research or in an assistantship in a graduate school program.   If you are applying to professional school, you could also use these questions during your interview.   (If you can connect with faculty, these are some questions to ask. Also check the program’s website.)

• Are their assistantship opportunities with you or other faculty in the department?
• What is your particular research interest?
• What opportunities exist to work with faculty on their research? On my own research?
• What is most important to you in an advisee?
• When and how is an advisor selected? How difficult is it to switch advisors once you’re into your program?
• How many full- and part-time faculty members teach in this department?
• What diversity exists within the faculty?
• What experience have the faculty had outside the academic world?

Look for opportunities to talk to students in the program.  They can tell you what it’s really like to be a student.

• How available is your advisor?
• How would you characterize the departmental culture?
• What is the actual time commitment for a teaching assistant or research assistant position?
• Is the departmental stipend enough to live on?
• How do students interact with each other inside and outside the classroom?
• What are some of the politics or current issues within the department?
• What diversity exists within the student body?
• How much support do students receive in developing their own approach to the field?

Graduate and professional school is expensive, so you want to ask these questions at the beginning as well.  Keep in mind that graduate assistantships often make it very affordable to go to an out-of-state or private institution.  However, these opportunities are competitive and often require early application.

• How available are teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships?
• What resources are available for students, such as graduate student housing, medical insurance, child care, fitness, etc?
• Are students guaranteed funding throughout their time in the program, or is it awarded on a yearly basis?

Kick-off Your Job & Grad School Search with Senior Picnic

The University Career Center will host the second annual Senior Picnic tomorrow, Wednesday, August 29 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.  Since tropical storm Isaac decided to pass through Georgia, this year’s event will be in Magnolia Ballroom.  Yes, we do have the awesome senior t-shirt for the first 400 seniors, but our goal is for everyone to walk away with much more.  As a senior, you want to use the entire year to execute a successful job or graduate school search.  It takes at least six months to find a job in the field you want, so we want you to kick-off your senior year right with the information you need from career services.  In addition to the free t-shirt everyone is buzzing about on campus, you will have a copy of the Career Center calendar, access to the Graduate School Guide, and the opportunity to begin networking with employers who hire our students.  Our event is made possible by the generous support of our employer sponsors.  Make sure you stop by and say hello to them tomorrow.  Casual attire is encouraged for this informal networking event.  No need to dress in professional attire or even bring your resumes; just stop by their tables and see how their opportunities might fit your interests and goals.

Connect with Your Career at the Senior Picnic

In just two weeks, the Career Center will host the first ever GC Senior Picnic. On September 7 from Noon – 2 p.m., seniors are invited to have lunch with the career services staff and our employer and educational partners on front campus. For a sneak peak, watch our YouTube video produced by the awesome staff at UTV and University Communications.

In addition to getting free food and a t-shirt, seniors will also get the career information they need for a successful senior year. Both the professional job and graduate school search and application process can take up to 9 months, so we’ve timed the picnic just right.

Need Career Direction? We have an App for that!

Screen shot showing Career Connection checklist on Bobcat Tracks

What a busy summer! We usually finish the summer in the Career Center wishing we had a bit more time to work on new programs for the upcoming year. However, this summer we cannot wait for students to return because we are anxious to show off the new GC Career App. It’s the first university app available to GC students, and it’s entirely focused on helping you navigate the career development process. If you have an iPhone or iPad as well an any Android phone, you can download the app for free.

The GC Career App connects with you with our blog, social media, and events calendar. You also have access to Bobcat Tracks which is the main portion of the app. Bobcat Tracks is a topical checklist that follows the order of the career development process: assess, explore, experience, and plan. We purposely did not organize it by class-year because we know that everyone enters and progresses differently along the career development continuum. Plus, we think that most people will do a little bit of the career exploration process each year of college (assess, explore, experience, and plan) – or at least they should!

The App will not tell you what to do with the rest of your life, but we hope it will be a fun way for you to track your career progression. This App even encourages you to get involved on campus and provides some suggestions on leadership opportunities you can pursue. Getting involved on campus is a major component to career success because of the transferable skills you will obtain that employers are seeking. Academics are important but once you have the degree, employers will want to know that you have the leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to succeed in the workplace.

Don’t forget to the check out the GC Career App in the iTunes App Store or the Android App Market. Use the App to see what you’ve done so far, and then visit us in 232 Lanier Hall to see a career advisor so you can work on the areas that you haven’t explored or need to review. You can also call us at 478-445-5384 to make an appointment.

Lesson Three: Dress for Success

The following is a piece of advice from our guest intern blogger, Courtney.

I produced this video with the help of Ben Elliot and SGA at the end of the last school year. While this is mainly for the use of dressing for interviews, you should be prepared to dress just as professionally every day. Please comment leaving tips for others such as things that should have been added to the video and your favorite places to shop for business attire. My go-to stores for work clothes are JCPenney and New York and Company, both located in the mall of my hometown Augusta, Ga.