The document provides a guide on how to effectively pitch oneself in a job interview, emphasizing the importance of a concise 30-second pitch that engages the listener. Key elements to include are personal background, unique qualities, relevant experiences, and clear requests for opportunities, such as summer jobs. It also offers interview tips like arriving early, preparing stories, and being ready with questions for the interviewer.

1. Tech Under 20:
Pitch Yourself Workshop Session:
30 Second Pitch
Rick Stomphorst | rick@searchvelocity.ca | @StompR
President, SearchVelocity.ca

2. 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.

3. 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?

4. 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

5. What?
• What you do, what you have
experience in, how can you save
them (or make them) money?
• E.g. Excel, Word, Inventory Systems

6. The Ask
• What are you looking for?
• Hint: summer job
• In your case, include “When”
• I’m available starting June 1

7. Example
Hi, 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.

8. 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