Career Fair / Personal BrandPresented by Michael T. Breslin

Lally Office of Career Management and Professional Development9/16/2015

• NSBE / SHPE Career Fair• JobLink• Practice• Career Fair prep notes

Agenda

“…a firm handshake, good eye contact, a smile…”

Our ritual beginning…

“Hi, my name is ______, and I help _______.”

…with a twist

RPI Career Fair

• Claim – "Here's what I can do for you. Here's the value I can deliver to your organization."

• Credibility – "Here's why you should believe me."

The message distilled to two points

“No one expected their spoken pitches to perform better.”

• Why are you interested in the organization you’re talking to?

• Be enthusiastic. This is not the time to be laid back.

Career Fair communication tips

30-60 Second Sell

Add all of this up

What do you bring?

How do you dress?

Very Bad Things

Other notes

“I grew up in Seattle, but moved here to attend university. I’m a junior this year with a major in accounting and a minor in communications. I know accounting today is much more than numbers in a box so I felt my communications courses would prepare me for the demands of client service. I’m a member of student government serving as co-chair of the community outreach committee, and in that role I’ve organized projects for the United Way and Habitat for Humanity. I’ve researched your company and I know you offer the resources of a ‘Big 4’ with the personal touch of a smaller firm and I believe that combination will give me the best opportunity to contribute and grow my career in the long run.”

Sample pitch