RISING PROFESSIONALS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 TH 2014 Sponsored by:

WHAT IS THE RISING PROFESSIONALS SUMMIT? The Summit is designed to give you additional tools to be a Success with work, school and your future! At The Summit you will: Network with prominent business partners Network with teachers and students from the Cobb area Refine soft skills that include team building and customer service skills Develop financial literacy skills that relate to jobs and working WHAT WILL THE DAY LOOK LIKE? Keynote Nationally Acclaimed Motivational Speaker. Three break-out workshops. Lunch provided with an Expo of Southern Poly Student groups Participant Gifts! Prizes for showing off your BEST YOU! Having professional presence! Take-home material! Much more!

CAREER EXPERT KEYNOTE: BROOKS HARPER

STUDENTS, THINGS TO DO: Return permission slip and other required paperwork to my WBL Coordinator by the deadline set by your teacher coordinator. Talk with your teachers about missing your other classes on November12 th. Discuss the event with your employer and make sure you schedule your work schedule to accommodate the day. The Summit will end at 1:50. The Summit is on November 12 th at Southern Polytechnic University from 8:00 until 1:50. Plan professional business casual dress in advance of the Summit. Breakfast will not be served. Come with a great attitude and full belly. Come with 30 second elevator speech. Lunch will be provided. Arrive by 8:00 for registration.

DEMONSTRATE PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE Demonstrate a professional presence at all times during The Summit! Greet others with a warm friendly greeting. Smile and show a pleasant attitude. Arrive to sessions on time. Use your best etiquette. Offer to open a door, help someone locate a room. Go above by dressing in Business Corporate Professional rather than Business Casual. Ask thoughtful questions when appropriate during a break-out session. Thank the presenter upon leaving the break-out sessions. Clean up after break, lunch and during and after break-out sessions. Ask if you can be of assistance when others are in need. Be engaged in the sessions. Appreciate other perspectives and new ideas. Show confidence by holding your shoulders back, sitting up straight, greeting others.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE Create a professional presence with professional dress: Business Casual is the minimum requirement for The Summit. Shown for men on the right as “Creative” or “Entry Level”, or Mid-Level. No jeans. You are encouraged to dress in business “Corporate”. Minimum Business Dress for Men would include Khakis or dress pants, Belt with a collared shirt tucked into pants. Dress shoes. /

PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE Create a professional presence with professional dress: Business Casual is the minimum requirement for The Summit. Shown for ladies on the right as “Creative” or “Entry Level”. No jeans. You are encouraged to dress in business “Mid-Level” or“Corporate”. Ladies, please note a skirt or dress should not be short or mid thigh length. Note the black skirt on the right falls just above the knee.

PREPARE AN ELEVATOR PITCH: “An elevator pitch (or elevator speech) is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a person, product, service, or organization and its promise of value to be delivered. The name “elevator pitch” reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately thirty seconds to two minutes.”. It includes: Who am I? What do I offer? What problem is solved? What are the main contributions I can make? What should the listener do as a result of hearing this? STEP 1: First write down all what comes up in your mind. STEP 2: Then cut the jargon and details. Make strong short and powerful sentences. Eliminate unnecessary words. STEP 3: Connect phrases to each other. Your elevator address has to flow natural and smoothly. Don’t rush. STEP 4: Memorize key points and practice. STEP 5: Have you really answered the key question of your listener: What’s In It For Me? STEP 6: Create different versions for different business situations of your elevator speech. Note them on professional business cards.

EXAMPLE OF AN ELEVATOR SPEECH: Example #1: “Hi, my name is Mary Jones. I am currently a sophomore student attending ABC college. My major is in business with a minor in art. I have volunteered with the student credit union throughout my first and sophomore year at college. Last summer I completed an internship with The Museum of Modern Art, and I’m hoping to find an internship in finance this summer in the Boston area. I have always had an interest in art and I’m also finding that I have a knack for business. In the future I’m hoping to combine these two very different disciplines and find myself a career that includes them both.” Example #2: “Hi, my name is Brad. I am currently a sophomore student attending West Virginia University in Morgantown WV. In college I plan on majoring in business administration, specifically in the area of finance. This summer I did an internship with the Groundhog Hedge Fund Group and I hope to work in my college’s credit union when I return to school this fall. Ever since I can remember I have always had an interest in numbers and I feel certain that this is something I want to do in my future career. Next summer I’m hoping to get another internship learning more about how the international financial market operates. I also want a career working with people since I enjoy assisting others with their finances and I had a blast this year preparing a presentation as a team with a group of other students for my business management introductory course.”

CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU AT SOUTHERN POLY ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 TH ! At The Summit the presenters, teachers and other adult guest will be looking for your overall “Professional Presence”. If you stand out in some way then you will be given a prize ticket. A drawing will be held at the closing of the summit. The more tickets you have the more prizes you may win. How can I stand out? Examples: Deliver your elevator speech when you meet an adult guest at the Summit- make it natural. Dress in Corporate Dress instead of business casual. Show outstanding business etiquette. Ask engaging questions.