Elevator pitches. Guidelines

Follow these guidelines to work on your elevator pitches.

1. Use the following links to learn how to create and deliver an elevator pitch:

Tips: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/elevator-speech-examples-and-writing-tips-2061976

Tips & example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb0Yz_5ZYzI

2. Record and upload your own elevator pitch on Flipgrid using this link: https://flip.com/61d01d04

3. Watch the videos recorded by your classmates and make constructive comments. Video record your comments and upload them on Flipgrid using the same link. You can follow these guidelines:

-Comment on your classmate´s communicative skills.

Is the message clear enough?

Is the content adequate? Why/why not?

Is fluency ok? Why/why not?

What is the speaker's attitude? And what about his/her body language?

-Comment on your classmate´s language skills.

Is the language limited or rather varied?

Identify and comment on at least 3-4 grammar/vocabulary/pronunciation inaccuracies

-Make a general comment on a strong point and a suggestion for improvement.

What is the communication aspect you like the best?

What improvement suggestions would you make to enhance communication?

4. Watch the feedback provided by your classmates on your own videos. You can produce an enhanced version of your elevator pitch if you wish.

Job search tips

Read the following tips for job application.

1. Each CV should be adapted to the personality and style of the candidate, and always in line with the sector/post to which it is addressed. It is recommended that it is only one page long and that you include an introductory paragraph (see examples and templates at https://www.canva.com/). Following a chronological order isn’t a must and you can highlight the most relevant information in bold.

2. It is advisable for the CV to include a user name, link or icon of the professional social networks in which the candidate is. In this sense, both the content of the CV and the information included in these social networks (e.g. Linkedin, Hosco or Instagram) should be detailed, relevant and carefully elaborated.

3. The covering e-mail with which you will contact the company or accompany your CV must be accurate. It’s advisable to use a Gmail address with your name and surname.

4. You must attach your CV in pdf, which you should also revise in-depth, and provide clear contact details without being too personal (e.g. avoid your date of birth, address, age or marital status). In Spain it’s customary to include a picture of yourself, but not when applying abroad. You can also produce a video CV (see tips at https://www.thebalancecareers.com/tips-for-creating-a-video-resume-2064219).

5. Moreover, you can practice for job interviews by means of recorded video interviews (available at https://www.hirevue.com/, for example). You can record yourself answering questions.

6. Bearing the interview in mind, you can also work on your elevator pitch, which allows you to introduce yourself and summarise for up to 1.5 minutes some key aspects, such as who I am? what do I look for? and why am I applying? (see tips at https://www.thebalancecareers.com/elevator-speech-examples-and-writing-tips-2061976).

7. Most formal interviews nowadays take place in a relaxed atmosphere. Some interviews include unexpected code-switching into English to check oral skills. During the interview, you shouldn’t be vague and rather provide specific examples. Some questions you might have to reply to are what do you expect to find here? or why should we choose you instead of another candidate? You can also ask questions.

8. You should have a register of your applications. Be coherent and apply sensibly, for the right post/company. It’s important to have searched for information about the company well in advance and to be aware of the pros and cons.

Good luck with your job hunt!

Virtual exchange Limerick-CETT. Global guidelines

You can participate in a virtual exchange with business students from the University of Limerick (Ireland). The aims are the development of disciplinary, language, and cross-cultural skills. To be paired up with another student, you will need to fill in your name and email address in this document:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15fcgqmlK4vNrN7usjkKd4UjS0ybkBZivBcJ_Mrmrkko/edit?usp=sharing

You and your international partner must contact each other to arrange the first online meeting. You can invite each other via Teams or through any other channel which is convenient for both of you. You will do a writing task in English related to job applications and you will have to send it to your international partner for peer review. At the same time, you will receive a similar document in Spanish which you will have to read and correct, providing brief written feedback at the end. The task will help you to prepare for a job interview by writing 4 or 5 lines in each reply to these typical questions:

1. Why did you choose to study your current course?

2. What are you good at and not so good at?

3. What motivates you?

4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

5. Describe a time when you worked with others in a team.

6. Why do you want to work for us?

7. Why do you think you are suitable for the position?

8. What can you bring to the firm?

9. What do you expect from your placement with us?

10. You will work in another country if you are offered a placement with our company. How do you think you would cope with it?

You will need to arrange a minimum of 4 online weekly meetings with your international partners between 13 February and 10 March to discuss feedback and changes on your documents for at least 40 minutes in English and Spanish.

-Week 1 (20 min. in Spanish & 20 min. in English): Introduce yourself (background, interests/hobbies, university studies and anything you would like to share with your peer) Talk about job possibilities in your country/area. Ask your partner if there are any companies where it would be good to work. You will need this information to be able to do your writing task since you must send your partner your answers to the first 5 interview questions 4 days before your second online meeting. Important: Before you meet for the first time, prepare similar information about companies in Barcelona or in Spain with job opportunities for Irish business students.

-Week 2 (20 min. in English & 20 min. in Spanish): Talk about each other’s writing tasks providing and receiving feedback. You must send your partner the answers to the last 5 interview questions 4 days before your third online meeting.

-Week 3 (20 min. in Spanish & 20 min. in English): Talk about each other’s writing tasks providing and receiving feedback.

-Week 4 (20 min. in English & 20 min.) in Spanish): Explain to each other how you used their feedback. You can also talk about cultural differences between Ireland and Spain or any different topic both of you are interested in. Time to say goodbye

In order to receive 6% of your portfolio marks, you must provide evidence of online collaboration by sharing with your teacher screenshots of your meetings and one video recording, which will be your oral portfolio task (3%). As for your written portfolio task (3%), you must send your teacher a brief report of your virtual language exchange, as well as the final document with your answers to the interview questions, including the comments and feedback from your international partner.

You can provide your partner with feedback by filling in this grid and writing down at least a strength and a weakness you identified in his or her document:

	Poor	Fair	Satisfactory	V. good	Excellent
Linguistic use (grammar/vocabulary accuracy, range & adequacy)
Fluency & pronunciation (speech flow, intonation, stress & rhythm)
Task achievement (efficient achievement of communicative purpose, content relevance & extent)
Positive aspects:
Improvement areas:

Have a great virtual exchange!!