PwC Announces Winner of "Best Elevator Pitch Contest"

Hundreds of college students submit videos for chance to win $5,000 Prize

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Apr 14, 2011, 12:00 ET

NEW YORK, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Susan Eckman, a junior at Arizona State University, is the winner of PwC US's "Best Elevator Pitch Contest" and a $5,000 prize. The competition, launched as the finale to PwC's Personal Brand Week 2.0, asked undergraduates of all majors to submit 30-second videos pitching what makes them stand out to potential employers. Eckman, an accountancy and finance major, was among hundreds of students to produce and post entries promoting their unique skills and interests on PwC's US Careers Facebook page.

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Over a six-week period, friends, family and supporters cast thousands of votes for their favorite videos. The 10 most popular clips advanced to the finals, where they were judged by a committee of PwC recruiters and a Generation Y workplace expert in four categories: body language and professional appearance; the ability to articulate unique skills; future aspirations; and a strong close.

"A good elevator pitch is an essential part of one's personal brand. It helps make the right first impression and succinctly communicates your value as a professional," said Paula Loop, US and Global Talent Leader, PwC. "We were impressed with all of the submissions we received. The effort and creativity put forth by students made it difficult to choose a winner."

The contest was a fitting conclusion to this year's Personal Brand Week 2.0, PwC's weeklong virtual event geared toward helping college students make the transition from campus to career. Topics covered during Personal Brand Week 2.0 included "Building Your Network" – simple steps to building a strong and authentic network; "You Are What You Write" – the art of effective writing skills; "Your Online Image Makeover"– promoting your online brand; and "View from the Other Side: Getting the Job" – what recruiters look for in prospective hires.

An eBook compilation of Personal Brand Week 2.0's job-related guidance is available as a free download through PwC's Facebook page and career site: www.facebook.com/PwCUSCareers and www.pwc.tv.

PwC plans to hire approximately 10,000 people in the United States during its 2011 fiscal year -- a 60 percent increase over last year. The firm expects 6,000 of those hires will come from college campuses and 4,000 will be experienced professionals. For more information on internships and careers at PwC, visit www.pwc.tv.

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PwC firms provide industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to enhance value for their clients. More than 161,000 people in 154 countries in firms across the PwC network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. See www.pwc.com for more information.

© 2011 PwC. All rights reserved. "PwC" and "PwC US" refer to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

SOURCE PwC