Elevator Speech

Hello. My name is Janalee Curtis. I am currently attending Utah Valley University working towards by Bachelors in English Education. I have 3 years experience working as a litigation paralegal assistant for a large law firm as well as multiple years in customer service. I am extremely organized and work well under pressure. I enjoy challenges and am a self-starter. I ask many questions because I want to ensure I understand a task completely and am able to perform perfectly. I would like to know that what I am doing is beneficial to people in general and more importantly to the planet as a whole.

I would use this speech when interviewing for a job when they ask what my strengths and weaknesses are. I learned awhile ago that it is important to turn your weakness into a strength.

Transferable Skills Letter

July 10, 2011

To Whom It May Concern

As a paralegal assistant, I was a motivated self starter who sought work out and endeavored to improve my knowledge and effectiveness with every project I worked on. I handled multiple attorney projects at one time as well as maintained order and functionality of all client files. My experience taught me how to work under pressure, deal with a variety of strong personalities, as well as conflict resolution. Because of the nature of the documents I created and handled I understand the sensitive nature of discretion as well as how to successfully handle multiple critical deadlines. These are just some of the many skills it takes to stay an engaging, efficient, and organized teacher and I am eager to use my skills and talents in the teaching of the next generation of successful students.

SKILLS

Three skills I enjoy:
1. Writing
2. Compiling
3. Guiding

Three skills I perform well:
1. Teaching
2. Organizing
3. Reading

Three skills to develop:
1. Decision making
2. Dominant
3. Interviewing

Interpersonal abilities is one of the biggest things that employers look for that I need to work on. I really need to learn how to interact better with people. I also need to learn how to talk with strangers and be better capable of taking a leadership role. I need to be more comfortable in that role and not be afraid to tell others "no". My skills set does suit me well to be a teacher and I have an easier time talking to kids then I do to adults. I also need to work on my confidence levels.

Personal Values

1. Honesty: Honesty is extremely important to me in my personal life and therefore very important to me in my career. I am an honest person and therefore expect others to be just as honest with me. I want to work for a company who is trustworthy towards their clients, employees and the public as a whole.

2. Companionship: This affects my career choice because I want to make sure that whatever career I have I am able to stay accessible to my husband and my parents. I will not choose a career therefore that requires me to travel often or work excessive hours.

3. Being a good mother: I would like to work somewhere that is child friendly and encourages family time and togetherness. Activities such as Christmas parties and summer barbecue are something that encourage family time outside of work.

4. Environment: I am passionate about the environment therefore I want to work somewhere that the company also cares. A place that recycles and has an environmental board would be perfect but I think if they didn’t I would be more than willing to try and start one on my own with fellow co-workers.

5. Learning: I love to learn, which is one reason that I want to be a teacher. I feel the opportunity to learn and affect others learning is huge and amazing opportunity. I don’t want to work somewhere that is stagnant and does not offer classes to help improve the knowledge of their staff.

6. Service (contributing usefully to society): I worked for a company that donated time to the food bank once a month. I feel that it is important as employers to give service to the area in which they operate to help the residents of the area as well as the surrounding area itself. There are so many opportunities to serve others and all employers should be attempting to serve their communities in some way.

7. Peace of Mind: I think peace of mind comes when the values you cherish are being met. Obviously I would avoid employers that are dishonest, are selfish or lazy.

8. Stability: I would like to work somewhere that always needs employers and will always provide service to the public. I don’t want to work for anyplace that is high risk.

9. Security: This value is important however also the one that is least able to be controlled. In an employer looking for a place that has contingency plans and drills helps give feelings of security.

10. Self Respect: This is a value I have but the one I find the hardest to achieve. An employer can help employees achieve this by offering gym discounts, insurance to employees, and occasional wellness fairs.

The beginning . . .