Recruiter Stories #8: Pitch Yourself!

The reasons are entirely simple and transparent - it is asked in order to assess the candidate's self-presentation skills and to simply start a conversation flowing about the specific job offer and the specific candidacy. Here everyone has freedom of choice as to what and how to tell. And you know, in 99% of cases on the candidate's face one can read greater or lesser surprise, followed by either hesitation or a brief re-telling of the CV.

One is left to think that pitching skills (from the English word pitch - a brief self-presentation) should be included in the school's compulsory curriculum, so that the advice on how to prepare for a job interview - of which the internet is full - would not pass one by, or would be correctly understood.

With pitches, over the last three years I come into contact every week at business networking mornings or afternoons. There, entrepreneurs or company representatives present themselves, briefly and concisely introducing themselves, their service or product, emphasising their specialisation or target client. Returning to the office and conducting job interviews, one must conclude that the majority of candidates simply do not have these skills or have not thought about it up to now. Although in essence it is one and the same thing - I want to sell a service or product, I learn to pitch it; I want to "sell" myself, I learn to pitch my skills, abilities, experience, knowledge, talents and professional values.

The scheme in one case and the other is similar:
- first name, surname;
- who I am;
- what are my competitive advantages, what makes me unique;
- what is my specialisation;
- why it is worth choosing me;
- what help, contribution, added value I can offer you.

Moreover, if at networking events there is a strict time limit - 30 seconds or 1 minute - then in a job interview they sit and listen to you for an hour, if you yourself have enough "ammunition". Yes, the "about yourself" section in a job interview should be brief and concise, but at the same time sufficiently convincing and effective. Thereafter questions and answers usually follow. And - bilaterally. Even the employer or interviewer should not forget that the candidate has every right to interview them too.

So I invite you - when preparing for a job interview, jot down a pitch text on a piece of paper according to the above scheme and practise saying the "about yourself" section aloud at home.

N.B. All stories are based on real events. The names of the characters in the stories are not mentioned or have been changed to preserve anonymity.