By: Simonae Dismuke
Presenting yourself to recruiters at Internship Fair can be nerve-racking, but the tips below will help you be calm, cool and collected while pitching.
There are many different ways to pitch, but the first step should always be to know your audience. In the case of Internship Fair, it means researching the companies you are interested in ahead of time. Know key facts and values about the company forward and backward and be able to answer any question thrown at you. Be aware of what is important to the recruiters, and imagine their perspective.
When pitching about yourself, it is important to make what yourself stand out. Start out with a nice, firm handshake and an introduction. To make yourself stand out, you can capture interest with a brief PR story, or something really cool or unusual you have done. Make your skills sound fresh and applicable by noting the various roles you have utilized them in.
A way to keep nerves away is to have basic information at hand. At Internship Fair, your resume can serve as a basic outline for your pitch. If you forget any part of your pitch or draw a blank, a quick look at the sheet will refresh your memory. This way, there is no need to think of what to say each time and you can add information that would specifically interest the person you are pitching to.
To make your pitch the best it can be before internship, remember that practice makes perfect! Practicing in front of friends or family members is a great way to get feedback and refine your pitch.
Last but not least, remember to stay relaxed. Your audience will respond better if you appear comfortable and confident while presenting.