Giving a Classification Talk

 
 
What is a Classification Talk?
 
Perhaps the best way to describe what s classification talk is, is to say what it is not.  
 
First, it is not an autobiography.  Avoid the temptation to share your life from birth to the present.  Think of this rather as an opportunity to attract someone to your chosen vocation.  Imagine you are mentoring a young person who may be interested in joining that field.  Focus more on what it takes to become a banker (or a barber, or a teacher...) and what the work environment is today.
 
 
 
How to Give a Classification Talk
 
When a lawyer, a coal dealer, a mining engineer, and a merchant tailor first met in 1905, they gave birth to Rotary and, by the nature of their diverse occupations, to the association's most distinctive feature — the classification principle.  Today, the classification principle remains a cornerstone of Rotary, promoting fellowship and service that is based on diversity.
 
By limiting active membership by classifications, each club becomes a cross-section of the business and professional life of the community it serves. Also, the classification principle makes sure that no one profession or business becomes the dominant force within the club.
Another benefit of the principle is that representatives of many fields are brought together, providing the opportunity for Rotarians to broaden their knowledge of the contemporary workplace. This, in turn, enables Rotarians to fulfill one of the basic obligations of Vocational Service— recognizing the worthiness to society of all useful occupations.
 
A way to share information about your vocation is to give a classification talk at a club meeting. The following guidelines are designed to help you give a good presentation.
 
Preparing the Talk
 
Obviously, the more inexperienced you are as a speaker, the more preparation you should put into your presentation.
Start by writing a comprehensive outline of all the points you want to cover in the order of their importance. Work your way from the general overall characteristics and activities of your career field to the specific duties involved in your particular job. Consider touching on the following:
  • A brief history of your career, including why you chose your particular business or profession.
  • The parts of your job you find most rewarding and most difficult. (Don't be afraid to express personal feelings; sincere emotion always increases audience responsiveness.)
  • Standards of practice within your field.
  • The ethical issues you face in your work.
  • The characteristics most needed for success in your business or profession.
  • The changes that technology, regulations, environmental factors, and other outside forces have generated in your field.
  • A forecast of employment opportunities in your field for the coming decade.
  • Educational requirements for entry-level jobs in your vocation.
  • The advice you would give to young people thinking of entering your career field.