ECONOMY MORE THAN MY CV Lingerie, Third Floor; Selling Yourself, Top Floor — Going Up! Can an elevator speech determine whether you ride up the express — or the dumbwaiter? By Jackie Headapohl t's trite, but true — you never get a sec- ond chance to make a first impression. Studies show that 30 seconds after you introduce yourself, the impression that's made is firmly set — so how do you make it count? That can be a frightening notion to someone looking for a job. Choosing what to say during that first half-minute can potentially mean the difference between a good impression and, at best, an indiffer- ent one. And for the job searcher, indifference is deadly. Unless you stand out and make an imprint, you're likely to be passed over. To make a great first impression, arm yourself with an elevator speech (so named because, from the time the eleva- tor doors shut until you reach the 20th floor, you have a captive audience for about 30 seconds). If you're on the hunt for a job, you should have this 30-second snippet, which describes your unique skills and value proposition, locked, loaded and ready to spew every time you meet someone new who can lead you closer to gainful employment. "You've got to grab their attention and make it compelling," says Kris Plantrich, professional career coach and owner of ResumeWonders.com in Ortonville."And it has to come across as conversational — not robotic. You need to sound authentic and sincere!' Plantrich suggests you start by writing it down. "Start with who you are and what you do; then begin listing some achieve- ments. Are you a cost cutter? A good promoter? Try to show what solution you bring to the table," she says. Have three to six specific skills or achievements at the ready and think up a response to any likely follow-up questions. For example, if you're a "cost-cutter," be prepared to tell a story about how you've reduced overhead. "You should be able to shrink or stretch a good elevator speech to fit the situation," Plantrich adds. To make your elevator speech tight and effec- tive, focus on your skills and not just your per- sonal attributes, recommends Larry Frazho, I oga, pilates, spinning, bikram, kickboxin and other active wear for men and next to baby & me : www.ilovetobefree.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Let the entertainers from Joe Cornell Weddings build on your excitement. president of Career Consultants in West Bloomfield. "We recommend that our cli- ents 'inventory the product;" Frazho says. "The product is you:' Frazho provides an example:"When most people are asked to describe themselves, they'll say something like,'I'm creative, dependable and hard-working,"' he says."Problem is everybody else is cre- ative, dependable and hardworking, too. You need to stand out. Why should this person be interested in you?" Try not to include overused words and phrases. According to the social network- ing site Linkedln, the following words have lost their effectiveness: extensive experience, innovative, motivated, results- oriented, dynamic, proven track record, team player, fast-paced, problem solver and entrepreneurial. If you want to stand out, dig deeper. Use specific, meaningful phrases. Are you an analyzer? A planner? An IT guru? A logisti- cal wizard? A motivational trainer? "Look back at your career and analyze the skills that brought you success. Com- municate those skills in your elevator speech;' Frazho says. Remember, the elevator speech is supposed to be a conversation starter, not a soliloquy, so keep it short. If you've intrigued the person you're speaking with, he or she will ask a question (which, of course, you're prepared to answer).That's the kind of give-and-take that leads to a relationship; and relationships — the face- to-face kind — are what most often lead to landing that job. GIGS Labor Market Continues to Mend — Especially for Sparkies and Tech Geeks! ichigan's employment outlook continues to brighten (relatively speaking) — especially for engineers and IT professionals. Of course, the unfolding events in Japan don't help mat- ters — on several fronts. This month we are running the GIGS column on online; below is the events calendar. For the full listing and thousands of career opportunities, please visit our website at redthreadmagazine.com . M US1C. ANCE. FU We make it happen. Call Joe Cornell Weddings TODAY to book one of our sophisticated, confident entertainment teams. 16 May 2011 I ItED THREAD May 5, 12, 19 and 26: Job seeker support and networking group meeting every Thursday at JVS, 29699 Southfield Road in Southfield. Register at parnossahworksdetroit.org or by leaving a voicemail message at (248) 233-4245. May 9: Jewish B2B Networking meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, located at 26000 American Drive in Southfield. Call (888) 477-4466 for more information. May 11: 3rd Annual Back to Work Fair from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Arab-American Chaldean Center, located at 9019 Joseph Campeau Street in Hamtramck. (MyACC. org) May 12: 6th Annual Career Expo from the Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology, from noon-5 p.m. at 2955 S. Haggerty Road in Canton. Call (734) 423- 2100 for more information. (http://miat.edu ) May 12: WomenJobFairs.com's Job Fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Detroit-Livonia/Novi at 19525 Victor Parkway in Livonia. For additional infor- mation, call WomenJobFairs.com at (516) 433-1148. www.redthreadmagazine.com