The Job Talk Assignment 2: Organizational Plan
During the job interview process, the purpose of a job talk is to reveal how well you fit in as a team member and colleague with an organization’s culture.
The job talk begins with the cover letter.
Why is the Job Talk important?
The way you should think about your Job Talk is that it is a single opportunity to impress your potential colleagues and employers.
The job talk is a way for you to introduce yourself, demonstrate and highlight your career skills, and thank the hiring committee for taking the time to meet with you.
What is the Job Talk about?
The Job Talk is about you. But you have to frame it in such a way that it promotes how your skills fit excellently with the position that you are seeking. The content of your Job Talk must reflect why you are
the best candidate for the position, describe your connection with the job you are seeking as well as with the organization for which you will be working.
With the Job Talk You are Demonstrating
• Your communication skills and that you can interact well with people
• Your confidence in yourself
• That you can give an engaging presentation
• Your potential as a prospective team member with this organization.
Crafting an Interesting Presentation
• Engage your audience. Let them know you are interested in them.
• Do not overload presentation with minute details – Make your main points count
• Don’t read to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Don’t hide behind the podium (and/or make sure your webcam is optimally set to capture the best version of you)
• Dress appropriately (business casual)
• You must complete this job talk without the aid of a PowerPoint. You may have another visual but I caution you to be sure any visuals are relevant to your presentation.
For this assignment, you will write an organizational plan to follow when you give your presentation.
Use the handouts I have provided with the assignment to help you create your organizational plan. Those handouts are:
• Guide to writing your organizational plan for the Job Talk
• STAR Behavioral Technique for Responding to Interview Questions
• Common Job Interview Questions and the skills associated with those questions
• Sample Student Organizational Plans
Job Talk Assignment
Leaders and hiring personnel of businesses and organizations have predetermined the skill sets they require for applicants based on a detailed analysis of the position they are seeking to fill. These skill sets include: excellent written communication skills, the ability to speak so others understand, decision making and problem solving, leadership, motivation, communication, interpersonal skills, planning and organization, critical thinking skills, team building and the ability to influence others. In any interview situation, it is important to showcase your interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Some opportunities may also require you to give a brief presentation to demonstrate a job-related skill or provide work samples (e.g. a portfolio). In this Job Talk assignment, you will demonstrate your communication skills by discussing your qualifications for a chosen job opportunity. Specifically, you give an oral presentation that highlights the skills you have for a particular position to which you are “applying”.
Objectives Develop a clear, concise, extemporaneous speech to showcase relevant job skills.
Improve speaking ability (storytelling, eye contact, confidence etc.)
Use storytelling to engage audience.
Time Limit 7 to 10 minutes
Presenters will have 10 points deducted for the earned grade for every 30
seconds over 10 minutes. Presentations that are less than 7 minutes will be
considered incomplete and this will be reflected in your grade. Practice your presentation several times before presenting to be sure your timing is accurate.
General Purpose The general purpose of this assignment is to convince your audience (the members of a hiring team chosen by your potential employer) that you possess several skills that employers in your field
seek in their employees. You will also be demonstrating your ability to influence others with persuasion.
The Process Step 1 Conduct research and find a specific job opportunity in the field that you have chosen.
This is important. (You will do some of this work during Module 2 – Career Exploration Module) I do not want you to apply to some generic “Marketing” or
“Accounting” position. You have to be specific. For example you will apply for the
“Grants Administrator” position at the Brookings Institute. You will be expected to
answer specific questions about what the Brookings Institute is and be able to answer
questions about your role as a grants administrator.
Step 2 Conduct research to gain knowledge of:
- The company to which you are applying.
- The position to which you are applying.
- The skills required of the position to which you are applying.
Step 3 Consider your past experiences (work, school, community), and brainstorm events or situations in which you may have demonstrated the skills required for the job.
Step 4 Based on the job posting and your brainstorm, choose at least 3 different skills to highlight in your Job Talk . Use the Questions and Skills Table to determine which questions are commonly asked to measure each of the skills you will discuss.
Step 5 Develop a written organizational plan for delivering your speech. You may use the Guide for writng your organizational plan for the Job Talk that I have attached with the assignment for you. You may find it useful to employ the STAR behavioral technique for interviewing: state the situation, describe the task, explain your actions and discuss the results of those actions. I have also included an explanation of that technique with the assignment for you.
Step 6 Practice your Job Talk – out lout – at least 50 times (if you want it to be good).
Step 7 Deliver your Job Talk
Method of Delivery Extemporaneous
- Use storytelling to engage your audience
- Professional, yet conversational tone
- Should be practiced and well-prepared
- Presentation should not be read from a page, or memorized.
Required Research You will search for and choose a career posting (job posting) during our Career Exploration Module. However, after you have had a few weeks of reflection, you may want to find a different career that is more suited to your career goals and interests. At any rate, you will spend a fair amount of time researching open career opportunities. Additionally, you will:
- Research the company to which you are applying.
- Research the skills necessary for the position to which you are applying. In addition research any information about the industry that is relevant and may enhance your understanding of the skills needed for the position.
- Research your own history for examples of instances where you have demonstrated the skills being discussed.
Credibility This entire presentation is about establishing your credibility for an employer.
- Business casual attire is required for this to enhance your credibility.
- Reveal your character and personality.
- Speak with enthusiasm
Written Orgnaizational Plan Required: You must create a written organizational plan that will be turned in prior to
giving your Job Talk. There is an assignment posted in BlackBoard in the Job Talk Project folder that explains the process for writing this Organizational Plan (OP).
Speaking Notes Recommended (with caution): You may use note cards for this .
- Write only on one side of each note card and number them
- Do NOT write your entire speech on your note cards.
- Reading your story from note cards will negatively affect your credibility (and grade).
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