Elon University's College2Career (C2C) program offered a professional etiquette presentation Wednesday night to relieve any jitters students may have with talking to employers before the Job & Internship Expo.
A series of three mock interviews where students were able to practice confidence in giving elevator pitches were held after the presentation.
“In any kind of career situation where you’re talking about yourself, it’s not necessarily a common form of communication that we use everyday with our friends, faculty, and family members,” said Brooke Buffington, associate director of Career Services for the Love School of Business. “The more you can practice, whether it’s a networking introduction or a mock interview, the more comfortable you get in that type of professional situation.”
Buffington hosted the event alongside Danielle Golinski, assistant director of Career Services for the Love School of Business and Morgan Smith, student ambassador for the Porter Family Professional Development Center.
Students were first shown a short 15-minute presentation of the basics of professional etiquette. The video covered everything from proper attire to interview tips. One important piece of advice was given about elevator pitches.
“Show your personality through your actions, not what you wear,” Golinski said.
Attire is suggested to be conservative and well-fit without being tight so that outfit choice is not the focal point of the conversation. Attendees learned to prepare for an interview as they might for an exam or presentation. They were encouraged to review main topic points until they can be remembered. Those hosting the event added students should be prepared to both ask and answer questions.
The importance of doing prior research on the company and employer was also stressed. Students were able to practice this skill during the mock interviews held. Each student was given a sheet briefly outlining descriptions of three hypothetical companies before approaching them to give their elevator pitches.
At the close of the event, students received feedback on how they performed. According to Buffington, she saw improvement in the students with each interview.
“They seemed to gain more confidence as they spoke to different mock companies and seemed to start to feel more comfortable with how to go about introducing themselves and what to say when employers ask them questions,” Buffington said. “I hope they gained something from it.”
Information on employers attending the Job & Internship Expo is available on the first floor of the Koury Business Center.