Elevator Pitch Workshop: Learning to Tell Your Story with Amazon

Name: Elevator Pitch Workshop: Learning to Tell Your Story with Amazon
Uploaded: 2021-09-22T14:57:19.000Z
Duration: 1 h 2 min 24 s
Description: This workshop covers how to introduce yourself to employers either in an elevator pitch at the Career Fair or via the "tell me about yourself" question in an interview. We will help you figure out how to translate your experiences and customize your story to demonstrate that you are a good fit for the employer.

Introduction to Elevator Pitch and Storytelling

In this section, Laura Kroger from the FCCS Peer Services team introduces the topic of elevator pitch and how to tell your story to employers in a memorable way.

Introducing the Team

Kelly Pasquick and Kathy Libels Parker are part of the Career Services team.

Justin, a senior engineer at Amazon, will be sharing his perspective on elevator pitches.

Importance of Making a Good First Impression

A good elevator pitch helps create a memorable and impactful first impression.

It is crucial for career fairs, networking events, informational interviews, and job interviews.

Elements to Include in an Elevator Pitch

Name (first and last)

Major and year/graduation date

Skills obtained through coursework and internships

Relevant experiences like projects or past internships

Tailoring the pitch to the company or position being sought

Crafting an Impactful Elevator Pitch

This section focuses on crafting an impactful elevator pitch within a limited time frame.

The 60-second Challenge

You typically have only 60 seconds to leave an exciting, impactful, and meaningful impression.

It's important to consider what you say, how you say it, your appearance, etc., within that short timeframe.

Key Elements for an Elevator Pitch

Name (first and last)

Major and graduation date/year

Relevant skills obtained through coursework/projects/internships

Special interests related to the field or industry

Remember that these notes are just summaries. For more detailed information, please refer to the corresponding timestamps in the transcript.

Elevator Pitch Tips

In this section, the speaker provides tips on crafting an effective elevator pitch for career fairs.

Personalize and Customize

Adding personal interests and customizing the elevator pitch to the position can make it more interesting and memorable for employers.

Employers are more likely to remember candidates who bring excitement and energy to their pitch.

Make an Impact

Repeating interactions with the same company at career fairs shows genuine interest.

Sharing unique accomplishments or projects can leave a lasting impression on employers.

Avoid memorizing the pitch word-for-word; instead, have a list of talking points to make it more conversational and natural.

Sample Elevator Pitch Conversation

This section provides an example of how an elevator pitch conversation could unfold during a career fair.

The student introduces themselves as Jordan, a sophomore mechanical engineering major.

The employer introduces themselves as Susan, a chief engineer for Blue Rocket.

The conversation involves sharing background information, project experience, technical skills, and an interesting fact.

The employer asks about what the student is looking for in terms of opportunities.

Virtual Career Fair Etiquette

This section discusses proper etiquette during virtual one-on-one sessions at career fairs.

Initiating Conversation

When joining a video call first, initiate conversation by asking how their day is going or making small talk.

If the employer joins later, they should ideally start by asking about the student's background or introducing themselves.

Avoid Awkwardness

Do not simply say hi or ask what the company does without prior research.

It is important to know about the company beforehand to make a good impression.

Virtual vs. In-person Interviews

This section addresses the difference between virtual and in-person interviews in terms of initiating conversation.

Similar to virtual career fairs, when joining a conference room for an interview, it is acceptable to initiate conversation and ask about their day.

If the employer does not respond, the student can proceed with their elevator pitch or wait for the employer to ask about them.

The language used in this summary is English, as per the transcript provided.

Meeting Setup and Room

In this section, the speaker discusses the setup of the meeting room and how students are brought in. They also mention using a platform called Handshake for individual meetings.

Meeting Room Setup

The recruiters are usually in a room where students are brought in.

Students are thrown into the room one after another.

The platform used for individual meetings is called Handshake.

What Amazon Looks for in an Elevator Pitch

This section focuses on what the Amazon hiring team looks for when listening to an elevator pitch from college students.

Criteria for Evaluation

Amazon looks for students who make the most of their time in school by taking relevant classes and learning data structures.

Extracurricular activities and active learning outside of class are highly valued.

Demonstrating curiosity and a willingness to learn is important.

Leadership principles, such as being curious, play a significant role in evaluation.

Qualities that Make a Student Memorable

Here, the speaker discusses qualities that make a student memorable during an elevator pitch.

Memorable Qualities

Willingness to learn, take on more responsibility, and be involved stands out.

Good communication skills are crucial; if communication is lacking, it becomes difficult to conduct formal interviews.

Experience working on team projects is highly encouraged and considered impressive.

Importance of Hands-on Experience and Course Projects

This section emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience and course projects in an elevator pitch.

Importance of Hands-on Experience

Hands-on experience is more important than simply talking about classes taken.

Having internships or engaging in course projects provides valuable real-world experience.

Course projects help prepare students for challenging interview questions.

Interesting Points in an Elevator Pitch

The speaker shares some interesting points that can make a student's elevator pitch memorable.

Memorable Elevator Pitch Points

Examples of interesting points include having patents, conducting research as an undergraduate, or launching popular apps.

Showing interest in cutting-edge areas like AI, machine learning, and computer vision is impressive.

Going beyond the standard curriculum and exploring advanced topics makes a candidate stand out.

Team Experience and Collaboration

The importance of team experience and collaboration in the interview process.

Working with others demonstrates teamwork skills.

Collaborative experiences provide valuable learning opportunities.

Employers may ask about collaborative projects or experiences during interviews.

Crafting Your Elevator Pitch

Tips for creating an effective elevator pitch.

Take a few minutes to write down key points for your elevator pitch.

Consider the appropriate length for your elevator pitch, which may vary depending on the format (virtual or in-person).

In virtual sessions, you may have more time to speak, around two to three minutes.

Prepare a conversation-starting elevator pitch that allows employers to ask follow-up questions based on your initial introduction.

Customizing Your Elevator Pitch

Tailoring your elevator pitch to specific companies and positions of interest.

Customize your elevator pitch to show interest in the company and position.

Research the company's mission statement and connect it to your own values and how you can contribute.

Demonstrating excitement about the company helps establish cultural fit.

Length of Elevator Pitch

Determining an appropriate length for your elevator pitch.

In virtual sessions, aim for a longer elevator pitch of two to three minutes.

Face-to-face career fairs may require a shorter 60-second pitch due to time constraints.

Longer pitches allow for more meaningful conversations and give employers more time to engage with you.

Reading Body Language in Video Conferences

Observing body language cues during video conferences.

Pay attention to recruiters' body language during video conferences.

Watch for signs of engagement or restlessness through their eye contact and facial expressions.

Recruiters may briefly look away to read your resume or profile, so don't be discouraged if they do.

Preparing for Questions

Being ready to answer questions based on your elevator pitch.

Have a prepared two-minute elevator pitch that covers key points about yourself.

Be prepared for employers to ask specific questions about projects, internships, or other experiences mentioned in your elevator pitch.

Use your elevator pitch as a starting point for further conversation and let the employer guide the discussion.

Customizing Elevator Pitch to Company of Interest

Including information about the company of interest in your elevator pitch.

Customize your elevator pitch by incorporating details about the company you are speaking with.

Connect their mission statement to your own values and explain how you can contribute towards achieving their goals.

Overcoming Discouragement during Elevator Pitch

Staying confident and focused during the initial moments of delivering an elevator pitch.

Don't be discouraged if recruiters briefly look away during the start of your elevator pitch.

In virtual sessions, recruiters may be reading your resume or profile while listening to you speak.

They are trying to match up what you say with relevant points on your resume, so keep going confidently.

These notes provide an overview of key points discussed in the transcript.

Researching Companies Before a Career Fair

This section discusses the importance of researching companies before attending a career fair. It provides tips on how to utilize company websites, browse through job openings, and gain insights into the company's mission and values.

Researching Company Websites

Visit the company's website in advance of the career fair.

Explore their services, mission, and values.

Look for products or projects that interest you.

Example: If Amazon is filtering products with robots, mention your excitement about this technology.

Browsing Job Openings

Check out the career website of each company you are interested in.

Look for open positions related to your field of interest.

Gain insights into the different problems they are working on.

Utilizing Other Resources

Explore Handshake profiles and social media websites of companies.

Check if companies have press releases or a press room on their website for additional information.

Dos and Don'ts for Career Fair Conversations

This section provides guidance on what to include and avoid during conversations at a career fair. It emphasizes condensing relevant information, avoiding excessive buzzwords, and expressing genuine interest in specific companies.

Dos:

Condense your history to what is most relevant to the employer.

Choose keywords and integrate them strategically into your conversation.

Express interest in specific areas or projects of the company.

Don'ts:

Avoid going through your entire history or irrelevant details.

Do not fill conversations with buzzwords or jargon just to impress.

Never say that you don't have any experience; focus on showcasing genuine interest in working for the company.

Making Future-oriented Inquiries

This section highlights the importance of making future-oriented inquiries during career fair conversations. It shares an example of a freshman seeking advice for future conversations and emphasizes the impact of such inquiries.

Seek advice on what classes to take or skills to develop for better conversations in the future.

Example: A freshman asked for guidance on preparing for next year's conversation, which left a positive impression.

Body Language and Presentation

This section discusses the significance of body language and presentation during career fair interactions. It emphasizes maintaining good posture, smiling, avoiding fidgeting, and avoiding conducting interviews from bed.

Keep your body language open and avoid crossing arms.

Maintain good posture to exude confidence.

Smile during video interactions.

Avoid fidgeting during conversations.

Do not conduct interviews or career fair activities from bed.

The remaining part of the transcript does not provide any relevant information for note-taking purposes.

New Section

This section discusses the importance of creating a suitable environment for video calls and presentations.

Setting up the Environment

It is recommended to sit at a desk or table with your computer upright, rather than lying down.

The location doesn't matter as long as it is neat and tidy.

Ensure that your floor is picked up and your bed is made if you are in your bedroom.

Choose a quiet environment with minimal distractions.

New Section

This section emphasizes the importance of stating obvious things due to unusual circumstances.

Stating the Obvious

Although it should be common sense, it is necessary to mention certain things due to the current situation.

New Section

This section highlights the significance of maintaining a neat and tidy environment during video calls.

Neat and Tidy Environment

In addition to stating obvious things, it is important to ensure that things are neat and tidy wherever you are.

Even though there may not be a specific slide on this topic, it can make a big difference in how you are perceived during video calls.

Make sure your floor is picked up and your bed is made if you are in your bedroom.

Choose an environment with minimal distractions.

New Section

This section introduces a template for creating an elevator pitch and provides a sample for reference.

Elevator Pitch Template

A template for creating an elevator pitch is provided, which serves as a great starting point when feeling stuck.

A sample elevator pitch is also available as a resource for further guidance.

New Section

This section emphasizes the importance of practicing the elevator pitch before the career fair.

Importance of Practice

Practicing the elevator pitch is crucial to become more comfortable with delivering it to others.

Participants will break into small groups and take turns practicing their elevator pitches.

It is encouraged to practice between the training session and the career fair, finding suitable times such as while driving in a car.

The more you practice, the better prepared you will be for the actual event.