Sell Yourself
GROVE CITY — Communication students at Grove City College attended a mock networking event recently at the university to prepare for real world career and business networking in the future.
Tricia Pritchard, guest lecturer with the GCC Department of Communication and Visual Arts, developed the idea when considering how to help her students develop their professional skills beyond the classroom.
Pritchard invited business people to attend the open networking event Dec. 14. Students spent several weeks preparing their 45-second elevator — summary-type — speeches. The speeches were their final graded assignment.
After the event, students received feedback from 13 professionals.
“I was introduced to the elevator speech, also known as a business commercial, about four years ago when I attended my first networking event on behalf of Family Bowlaway Fun Center and 11th Frame Bar and Grille,” Pritchard said.
“Teaching public speaking was a great resource in helping me to deliver an effective elevator speech,” Pritchard said. “Often, I would be asked by professionals attending networking events to assist them with their public speaking skills.
“It then occurred to me that I should include this in my public speaking course at Butler County Community College and Grove City College.”
Kristina Hall, Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber program director, said she attended the event to help students develop this aspect of their careers.
“Networking and soft skills are not taught in the classroom, yet they are some of the most important skills in a career. This mock networking event incorporated both relationship building with business professionals, as well as communication and other essential real-world skills,” Hall said. “My passion is in helping students succeed, and I think this event went above and beyond that while it provided a hands-on learning experience.”
Lisa Hunt, business development representative with USX Federal Credit Union in Cranberry Township, who also attended, said having a prepared elevator speech is a necessity in business.
“This was such a great idea and will really benefit the students because they'll get to experience a real world business scenario that a lot of people struggle with,” Hunt said. “I know people with years of business experience who panic when they have to give an elevator speech or attend a business event. You can miss out on countless opportunities if you don't know how to present yourself and how to 'work' a business networking event.”Jessica DeRicco, a senior communication student at GCC, said the event was invaluable to students who otherwise wouldn't get this professional experience until after graduation.“In the classroom, students rarely have the opportunity to sell themselves and network with other professionals and this event that Tricia pulled together let it happen,” DeRicco said. “It is a real learning experience that will have a greater impact on our lives professionally than a test.”Madison Stout, a senior English major at GCC, called it a great learning experience.“I think this networking event was a perfect way to test the skills we have been learning in the classroom,” she said. “It not only acts as our final exam but allows us to practice speaking with different companies and come up with an elevator pitch, which we will continue to use as we begin our professional life.”
