Going into my career, I know that I will have to represent myself in the best light to seize opportunities and jobs. So, I decided to attend the “Build your Brand” workshop at the STARR Career Center. There I learned about elevator pitches and the S.W.O.T. test. I have had previous experience in networking through organizations like Step Up, #Built By Girls and through my internship at Oath. I have had my own versions of my personal pitch, but sometimes I tend to lack articulation. I learned that S.W.O.T. means strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. I also realized that I have practiced before, usually before interviews, since interviewers tend to ask those questions. I learned a lot from the instructor, Adia; specifically about posture, confidence, formulation of your pitch and language. The pitch is usually brief and can be prompted by a short encounter or the question “Tell Me About Yourself”.
I really got the chance to think about my strengths and weaknesses. Weaknesses, specifically should be supported by the way you have worked to improve that. So, for example, if my weakness was having trouble completing a self-motivated project before moving on to the next idea, I would talk about the app design project I worked on. I resisted the pull to stop working by setting dates and deadlines for myself to separate the project into simpler tasks. Thus, it did not seem daunting and I was, in fact, able to complete it. In an interview, you should be focused, sit up straight and be authentic. I learned that your pitch evolves as time passes on and in different scenarios. So, I should not memorize my pitch, but be familiar with my points and talk with genuine. This really helped me gain critical feedback and understand what to do as I move forward into my career. As a freshman, I can feel a bit intimidated because of the professionalism needed in our careers, but the Starr Career Center does have a supportive environment where I can work to build my skills.
