Tech Under 20:Pitch Yourself Workshop Session: 30 Second PitchRick Stomphorst | rick@searchvelocity.ca | @StompRPresident, SearchVelocity.ca

30 Second Pitch• In 30 sec, roughly an elevator

ride, you have to give an employer enough information about you to generate interest in you

• There’s no perfect pitch, but there are clearly wrong ones.

Who are you?• The listener doesn’t know you from

a hole in the wall. Nothing. Zippo.• Employers actually hope “you are

the one”• Majors / specialties / strong

interests in school? • Something unique?• High mark in Math, English, Gym,

etc.?• Volunteering Experience?

Why? • Listeners want to know why

they’re listening to your pitch. Tell them up-front.

• “Summer job”• Why you?

• E.g. Determined, independent, budding software developer, where you live

What?• What you do, what you have

experience in, how can you save them (or make them) money?

• E.g. Excel, Word, Inventory Systems

The Ask• What are you looking for?

• Hint: summer job • In your case, include “When”

• I’m available starting June 1

ExampleHi, I’m Student Stomphorst, a Grade 12 student from Oakville, looking for a summer job. Two classes I’ve excelled at are math (90%) and Computers (85%). I’ve previously worked in Retail at ComputersAreUs, I’m very good with Excel, Word & Powerpoint, and some inventory management systems experience. I’m spending my volunteer hours at Habitat for Humanity. My past manager and volunteer manager said they’d both be a reference. If you need an enthusiastic proactive person for the summer to off-load work to, I’m your man/girl.Again, I’m Student Stomphorst. Thank you.

Interview Tips• Arrive precisely 10min early.• Bring 2 copies of your resume (one for you and 1 spare).• Have 3 stories you'd like to get across. "We understand stories. So do you" -Ron

Howard, May 2014 addressing 4,000 people at IBM Summit• Have a 2-3 minute rehearsed answer to the question "So tell me about yourself" (tip,

rehearse in the car on your way there)• Have 3 questions ready (not HR questions)• It's usually ok to jot down a few notes during the interview, but good etiquette to

ask "do you mind if I make a few notes". Don't spend the interview writing, or it will seem like you're interviewing them!

• Immediately afterward the interview, stop to write down what happened during the interview. People often use this for a basis for a potential 2nd interview and/or thank-you email.

• Here's a good recent article on interview questions: http://onforb.es/y7yiZi • Here's a good recent article on 5 questions great candidates ask: http://bit.ly/UleSp0• Great article on "The best ways to close a job interview http://yhoo.it/Q2FrPt • Common Non Verbal Mistakes made at a Job Interview (infographic)

http://ow.ly/mi6oi • 30 sec pitch for grads: https://www.kent.edu/career/your-one-minute-elevator-pitch• Be yourself