Employers Impressed with Student Performance at Speed Interviews

Business students at BGSU get workforce ready by preparing for job interviews as part of the marketing curriculum.  Each semester students enrolled in the Introduction to Marketing (MKT 2010) course learn how to “sell” themselves with a two-minute “elevator pitch” to business employers in an event called Speed Interviews. This event is the highlight of the course which teaches students how to “package” themselves much like the concepts they learn through the course in marketing a product. They move from employer to employer after their two-minute pitch and three-minute employer feedback.

Overall, 160 students took part in the Speed Interview event this spring, facing 26 judges from 24 different companies.  The top three students selected by employers were

• 1^st Place – Matthew Martella  (awarded an iPad Mini)
• 2^nd Place – Kelly Barker (awarded a Fitbit)
• 3^rd Place – Angela Lucarelli  (awarded a BGSU Sweatshirt and T-Shirt)

The overall class winner was Dr. Steve Koppitsch’s 10:30 MKT 2010 class. 

New companies who participated in the Speed Interview event for the first time were

• Home Depot
• Magna Exteriors
• Owens Corning
• PwC
• ThermaTru
• Western & Southern Life

Recruiters are very excited after being a part of this event. Here’s what two of them said.

“I just want to express my appreciation for your speed interview event. I was truly excited to see so many bright students, who were well prepared to present themselves in such a limited time. This skill is so essential in the business world, and they will not only need it for interviews but also their business communications once they start working. I also enjoyed providing constructive feedback and hope that this feedback will help these students to demonstrate their full potential during the actual interviews. I look forward to continuing my involvement with the BGSU initiatives.”

Marina Shahinyan, PwC | Manager

“Thanks so much for having us!!  As always, I was blown away by the talent you have at BGSU.  You guys do a wonderful job developing the students at such a young stage in their college life.  Thanks for inviting me.”

Meredith Levitt, Enterprise | Talent Acquisition Manager