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StrengthsQuest  Workshop    January  21  &  22,  2014  VC  Powe,  Execu7ve  Director  of  External  Programs  Michelle  Anderson,  Director  of  Career  Services    

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§  Background  &  Exercises  –VC  Powe  §  Applying  StrengthsQuest  Themes  to  Interview  §  Elevator  Pitch    §  Branding  §  Career  Fit  §  Q&A  

Agenda  

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§  Commonly  asked  ques7ons:  §  Tell  me  about  yourself  §  What  are  your  greatest  strengths?  §  Tell  me  about  one  of  your  greatest  accomplishments  and  how  did  you  achieve  it?  

§  What  can  you  do  for  us  if  we  hire  you?  §  Describe  your  leadership  style  

 

Applying  Strengths  in  Interview  

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§  Find  partner  §  Ask  each  other  interview  ques7ons  §  Incorporate  StrengthsQuest  themes  into  answers  §  Give  tangible  examples    

Interview  Exercise  

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     §  Short  summary  of  who  you  are,  what  skills  you  possess,  and  why  you’re  perfect  candidate  

§  Deliver  in  7me  span  of  elevator  ride  (30-­‐60  seconds)    

§  Concept-­‐if  interes7ng  and  value  added,  you  will  con7nue  conversa7on  and  share  business  cards  a[er  elevator  ride  

Elevator  Pitch  

§  I  am  the  Director  of  Career  Services  at  the  Luskin  School  of  Public  Affairs.    I  connect  students  from  Urban  Planning,  Public  Policy,  and  Social  Welfare  with  employers  and  my  goal  is  to  enable  them  to  secure  jobs  in  the  industry  of  their  choice  and  become  future  leaders  in  public  service.  

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Elevator  Pitch  Example  

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§  Describe  your  field,  skills,  and  type  of  job  you  want  

§  Put  on  paper  (skills,  accomplishments,  relevant  work  experience)  

§  Edit  &  tailor  pitch  §  Read  aloud  and  get  feedback  §  Prac7ce,  prac7ce,  prac7ce….  §  Nail  it  with  confidence  

Elevator  Pitch  Content  

§  What  makes  a  successful  corporate  brand?    

   

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Branding  

§  Your  personal  brand  is  the  powerful,  clear,  posi7ve  idea  that  comes  to  mind  whenever  other  people  think  of  you  

§  What  skills  do  you  promise  to  deliver?      

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Personal  Brand  

§  Keep  an  “accomplished  file”  §  Network  §  Publish  and/or  present  at  conferences  §  Speak  at  least  3  7mes  at  every  mee7ng  §  Solve  a  complex  problem  in  an  innova7ve  way  §  Show  up  

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How  to  Create  Personal  Brand  

§  In  2  minutes  answer  each  of  the  following  ques7ons:  §  Who  are  you?  §  What  is  your  “genius  work”  i.e.  unique  skills/quali7es?  §  What  do  you  stand  for?  §  What  meaningful  value/skills  do  you  bring?    

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Exercise:  Write  your  Brand  Statement  

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§  Finding  the  right  fit  (what  gets  you  up  in  the  morning?)    

§  Best  career  fit:  when  job  matches  your  values  &  skills    

     

Career  Fit  

Focus     Minimize  

Improve   Avoid  

Like                                    Don’t  Like  

Good  At  

Not  good  at  

§  Think  about  one  or  two  jobs  or  volunteer  ac7vi7es  you’ve  held  that  felt  like  a  good  fit  for  your  skills,  values,  work  ethic.    §  Why  was  the  posi7on  a  strong  fit?      §  What  did  you  like  most  about  the  role?  §  What  did  you  accomplish  in  the  role?  §  Which  of  your  StrengthsQuest  themes  apply?  §  Where  you  able  to  use  your  strengths  regularly  in  this  job?  

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Career  Fit  Exercise  

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§  Lead  with  your  strengths  §  Give  tangible  examples  of  strengths  in  interview  §  Prac7ce  Elevator  Pitch  §  Develop  your  Brand  §  Career  Fit=when  job  matches  skills  &  values  

Conclusion