On Tuesday April 8, Senior Career Specialist of the Center for Career and Professional Development John Kesaris asked students to envision himself as an employer at the upcoming Spring Career Fair for practicing their elevator pitch.

Kesaris emphasized to the students attending this workshop that it wouldn’t be a typical workshop with a pre-planned slide presentation or a lecture. He felt it was necessary to get a sense of all the students’ experiences in a professional setting and finding out their concerns, especially those who will be speaking to employers directly for the first time.

The majority of the students there were new to this specific way of applying and job-seeking, which allowed them to start from the beginning stage of sparking a conversation, as well as being presentable and looking professional.

“You should be dressed business casual to business formal. Everyone should be dressed up for the part in this professional setting, especially because when you dress well, you feel good,” said Kesaris.

To make it simple, Kesaris asked students how they would introduce themselves if it were a normal conversation with someone you don’t know, like if we are currently working and where, what we study at CSI, and what some of our interests are outside of school. When introducing yourself to employers at the fair, initiating a conversation with that employer and having a good first impression is just as important as handing over a copy of your résumé. In its entirety, these two steps are mainly what students are asked for at the Career Fair.

Being able to confidently and somewhat quickly present yourself and your strongest qualities on your résumé also helps employers remember your interaction when looking at that document. Developing the elevator pitch includes organization and keeping things concise as you would on your résumé.  

Thinking about the employer’s company values and what they may be looking for in an applicant can benefit you in your interaction in many ways, especially by expressing your interest to learn more about the company. Kesaris also mentioned how researching different facts, experiences, or qualities of the employer’s company is a good way to be prepared for questions they might ask you at the fair.

A few students who were held up by classes had missed out on developing their elevator pitch with the students who came earlier. Kesaris asked a second-year student, Calvin, who is an Environmental Sciences major, to present his elevator pitch that he had been working on by himself. After Calvin delivered his pitch, Kesaris asked Calvin a few questions about himself to break it down into a more complete and concise pitch.

“We broke down your education, what you’re studying, what year you are in, and we broke down what you’re passionate about,” said Kesaris. “That’s all I want you to practice. That’s what I was telling everyone to practice. Practice your elevator pitch but keep it more controlled and more organized.”

Students definitely walked out of the “How to Talk to Employers” workshop with the confidence and preparation to give employers the best versions of themselves and a good first impression. It’s best to remember to stay calm, be positive, and have a plan, so even if you stumble a little bit, you can always pick yourself back up. Even if you missed this workshop, you can always speak to someone at the Center for Career and Professional Development like John Kesaris. They are always available to help you remain confident and give advice on how to best approach events like the Pathways to Success Career Fair.

Students can contact the Center for Career and Professional Development at CSI in Building 1A, Room 105 or 718.982.2300.

By Kyle Cicero