List Three Professional Accomplishments Identify

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List Three Professional Accomplishments Identify

WORKSHEET INSTRUCTIONS

Part I:

1. List three professional accomplishments related to work or school.

Examples: volunteering for a worthy cause, successfully mediating a dispute among your co-workers, solving a tough problem for your employer, helping your athletic or academic team to be successful, presenting difficult or highly technical information in class, facing unusual travel or cultural challenges, starting or making a major contribution to a small business, etc.

2. List three skills and behaviors you demonstrated to attain each achievement.

Examples: engaging others in discussion, working independently, listening carefully, paying attention to detail, thinking abstractly, being decisive, taking risks that paid off, communicating effectively, training diligently, etc.

Part II and III: Networking is the number one way that people get jobs in the U.S., yet it requires a confident behavior to leave a favorable impression. This confidence is developed through preparation and practice of your Elevator Speech. Follow the guidelines below for your First Impression exercise, where you will deliver your Elevator Speech.

Creating Your Elevator Speech: Spend some time thinking about how you would introduce yourself to a potential employer or other influential business associate, using the worksheet on the reverse side.

  • Small Talk and Background: Include relevant facts about your background that can be explained in an interesting way. Depending on the situation (networking event, meeting someone in an “elevator” or in an interview) what background information are you comfortable sharing, and is appropriate to share? Examples: where you are from, something unique about you (born and raised in X state, just returned from a trip to X, just earned pilots license, etc). This is the “small talk” that occurs before most people launch in with the question, “So what do you do?”
  • College Student’s Elevator Speech: When describing what you do, you may share why you selected your major, why you find some courses or professors interesting, the most rewarding thing about your current job or activity, etc. Also include information about one of your selected accomplishments and how the behavior(s) you demonstrated applies to your ability to be successful in your future career.

First Impression Exercise Assignment (later in the semester): In the First Impression Exercise, be prepared to enter the assigned conference room, shake hands and introduce yourself to the guest, share the information you prepared, answer any questions they have and ask questions to learn something about the other person. Be sure to keep the conversation on a professional level and do not forget to practice a good firm handshake, maintain direct eye contact, and confident body language while you are seated across from the guest. Watch out for excessive mannerisms and movements.