The first impression is often the right one, so make sure it is positive. Meeting a person for the first time can cause stress and by wanting to do well, it can happen that the opposite effect occurs and that we do not frankly leave an imperishable memory to his interlocutor. The pressure is all the greater when professional opportunities are at stake, which is why it is essential to follow the simple advice given by an expert. Paul McDonald, managing director of the international recruitment agency Robert Half, explains that it is important to "state clearly what we have done concretely in the past" and gives the keys to succeed in seducing an influential person in 30 seconds flat, as if we had met her in an elevator. Follow the guide!
The speech, however short, must answer 3 questions:Who are you? What do you do ? Where are you coming from, what are you looking for? You should know your CV or LinkedIn page like the back of your hand and insist on your expectations and above all your objectives.
McDonald's recommends knowing by heart 4 of its strengths that we expose fairly quickly. The rest consists of details about past work experience, background, successes, and goals. We stay focused on the central message and we leave irrelevant information aside.
Not only because anecdotes are entertaining, but also because they are a good way to remember someone. The brain is a kind of machine that connects the elements:the story told (rewarding, of course) will remain associated with yourself in the mind of the interlocutor. It's all good!
Technical terms can impress, but they tend to do a disservice when time is short. The discourse must be clear and accessible to as many people as possible (even to someone who has no qualifications in the branch in question) and the ideas simplified. The instruction:talk about your experience as you would with your parents, for example.
By repeating his speech which includes the elements mentioned, we do not hesitate to time ourselves. The speaking time should not exceed 30 seconds according to the expert, if this is not the case, there are still too many details of questionable importance that can be removed.
Posture and attitude are key. Filming yourself makes it possible to identify small errors – being slightly tense, unnatural – and to correct them. The best way ? Know your story well and relax. We continue to practice until the speech becomes natural and convincing.
Last recommendation from Paul McDonald:asking a friend or colleague for their opinion can be a good way to effectively correct mistakes. You know everything ! Good luck…
