Keep in mind as you prepare your pitch...

• Be Authentic: It may sound basic, but the most important part of a pitch is - it’s authenticity. It has to reflect the real you. Don’t be tempted to curate your interests. Just be yourself!
• Be Reflective: Crafting a pitch is a great opportunity for self-reflection. Use this process to revisit your values, goals and interests.
• Be Specific: Try to articulate your goals and interests with as much specificity as possible. This will create a more meaningful and compelling exchange.
• Provide Evidence: If you make claims about your experience or skills, provide evidence by briefly contextualizing these claims with relevant information about you acquired these skills.
• Build A Community: Every pitch is the beginning of a relationship. You’re building a connection, not asking for a favor.

A Pitch Can Include

• An introduction
• Your interests/goals
• Your experiences/unique selling points
• Build a connection

Your Introduction

Your introduction can vary based on the event and people you are talking to and will include some of the following:

• Who you are
• A brief description of your relevant background
• Something that makes you compelling and  differentiates you from your peers

Examples:

• “Hello my name is Wendy Friend and I am completing my BA at WC majoring in philosophy and thinking about a minor in political science.”
• “I am a sophomore at Wellesley College and am actively involved in student government and the economic student association.”
• “I see from your name tag that you also attended Wellesley.”
• My career community advisor at Wellesley suggested I call you and thought you would be a good person to speak to regarding my exploration into _ career).

Interests/Goals

This section is highly dependent upon who you are talking to and why. Did you run into someone interesting at a conference? Are you reaching out to someone to learn about their career? Is an employer reaching out to you?

• A specific career/industry interest or possible major/ grad school
• Know your goal/intention for the conversation

Examples:

• “I am exploring a career as a curator in the arts …. And would love to talk to you about your experience working at the MFA”
• “A graduate degree in public policy and was hoping you could share your advice on what types of courses might be helpful to prepare me for a career in this field.”

Experience/Unique Selling Point

This is your chance to demonstrate your interest and experience in a field or a specific career path, company or job function. It is important to be as specific as possible regarding why you are interested and what experience(s) led to your interest.

• Provide evidence though internship/clubs/summer job/ community engagement
• Your unique background or perspective

Example:

• "I have taken education courses and volunteered at the child care center and realized that I really love working with children ages 2-5.”
• “An internship position at Ernst & Young in their Risk Management department and I discovered I really enjoyed the data analytics component of this job.”

Build a Connection

Remember, your goal is to make a new connection to the person or people you have met. At a minimum, be sure to thank the person for taking the time to

• Opportunity to build a genuine relationship
• Thank them for their  time
• Next steps if applicable
• Make it reciprocal

Example:

• “I see from your name tag that you work in marketing at J&J- I am so glad to meet you.”
• “I’d love to hear more about your experience working as a marketing consultant.”
• “I’m interested in marketing and am the Vice President of the Marketing Club at Wellesley College.”
• “This has been so helpful, thank you for sharing your time and insights.”
• “Thanks for your business card, I will definitely take you up on your offer to come in and meet with you at your office.”
• “And I’d be happy to talk to your daughter about Wellesley too- please feel free to have her give me a call.”

When will I use my pitch?

Your pitch will help you out  in a variety of settings where you are engaging with new people and opportunities. The specific language you use will vary based on context but a concise, focused pitch is essential. A few examples of where and how you may use your pitch are below. Keep in mind how you might use some of the same information but conveyed in a slightly different manner.

Informational Interviews
Whether researching for an upcoming interview or exploring your career interests, informational interviews are sure to be a key component of your process. Reaching out to alumnae in The Wellesley Hive can seem intimidating but a well developed pitch will make your initial email and first conversations much easier.

Networking Events
Professional organizations and societies often include networking events at local, regional and national meetings. Networking events will vary in formality, structure and duration depending on the context of the event. A very informal event may simply be listed as “Networking Break” on a conference schedule. These types of events can seem daunting but a good pitch will make it easier for you to quickly and succinctly introduce yourself to another attendee.

Graduate and Professional School
Throughout the application process and even well into your schooling, people will ask why you want to pursue graduate study in physics, education, law, art etc. You may have already answered a version of this from people who ask: Why did you decide to attend Wellesley College? The specifics in your answer will change over time but starting early will help make it clear why you decided to attend a specific institution.

Interviews
Interviews will take on a variety of formats depending on industry, but one question you are sure to be asked in some form is: Who are you and why do you want this job/internship? You will likely answer some version of this question from most, if not all, of the people you meet over the course of any interview. Having a well crafted pitch will make this much less stressful and make a case for your candidacy.

The importance of communication

Nonverbal Communication

• Body language
• Eye contact
• Handshake
• Voice

Remember
Before you attend an event, go on interview — it is crucial to set your intention for the pitch and the experience. What do you hope to accomplish from this experience? A possible internship opportunity? A new friend with shared interests? Once your intention is established, your goals will become clearer and the entire exchange and experience will be far more organic.