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Introduce Yourself with a Personal Commercial

Tell me about yourself
A personal commercial (also known as an elevator speech,
personal introduction, 30-second commercial, etc.) is a quick,
effective way to make an impressive introduction. You will use
your personal commercial when introducing yourself to a
potential employer at a job fair, an interview, or anytime you are
asked to introduce yourself professionally. It is also helpful
when responding to the popular statement, “Tell me about
yourself.”
Try using these questions to organize your thoughts:

 What is your career goal?

 What skills, strengths, or experiences do you have that
would help you realize that goal?
 What accomplishment best represents how you use these
skills, strengths, or experiences?
 What are you searching for in a job or internship?
 How can you immediately benefit the organization?
Personal commercial template
Your personal commercial should be conversational and natural.
The statement should not sound memorized and you should take
care not to ramble. You want to appear confident, poised, and
professional.

 Greeting: Hello, my name is (name). I am a (year in school)

studying (major) at Western Michigan University.
 Goal: I am looking for (internship/full-time position) at
(employer name).
 Interest/passion: I am interested in (interests related to the
company/industry).
  Strengths: I have many skills to contribute including
(strengths) and (skills).
 Brief example of experience: Previously, I worked at
(employer name), where I (achievements and/or
responsibilities - use the STAR method).
 Goal (informational interview): I am looking to gain a
better understanding of ...
 Question: Ask a question to keep the conversation going.
Personal commercial examples

“Good morning, my name is Nirag Vashi, and I am a

secondary education student at Western Michigan University
with a focus in science. I grew up in a family of teachers and
know that being a high school science teacher is my calling.
My passion for helping others has been evident in my
involvement in Kalamazoo Public Schools and as a camp
counselor for the last three years. Through those experiences
I have learned to interact with a diverse group of people,
which has increased my ability to relate to others. I have also
had the opportunity to create lessons for the campers that
focused on life skills like teamwork, communication, and
time management.  Having been a teacher yourself, what
things should I be doing now to prepare for my internship
search?”
“Hello, I am Alexandra Hill, and I will be completing my
bachelor’s degree in finance from Western Michigan
University in August. I have worked on a wide variety of
projects that have allowed me to put what I’ve learned in the
 classroom into use in a practical sense. Last year, I was part
of a new course where the students managed $500,000 for
the Western Annual Fund and it was really exciting to see the
portfolio grow.  I pride myself on being detail-oriented,
analytical, and driven.  I understand that you are searching
for a new investment advisor and I believe these qualities
would benefit your company’s goal to increase your client
base while continuing to provide sound investment advice.”

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(269) 387-2745
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