Preparing Students for Entry in the Workforce
Complementary Persuasion for Schools and Universities
Entertaining and valuable insights into Persuasion, one of the most in-demand soft skills that also determines a student’s future.
- Let students be inspired by simple truths that power strategies used by Google, Allianz, Apple, Bose and others
- Conducted by Australia’s Cialdini Certified Trainer
- Ethical Persuasion insights from Dr Cialdini, endorsed by leading educational institutions like Harvard
- Can be connected with in-school projects associated with Language, Economics, Marketing or Business
GIVE STUDENTS A FIGHTING CHANCE
Patrick will donate his time to teach your students some much-needed persuasion science. Schedule a FREE Discovery call to discuss
Can we gift your students a critical skill?
Welcome and thank you for investigating this.
Regardless of which work students do in the future, young adults will be dependent on their persuasive abilities to achieve their goals. Persuading an employer to land that ideal first job and negotiate a wage will impact their entire life.
It would be my pleasure to present Dr Cialdini’s Ethical Science of Persuasion in one, two, or three entertaining sessions at your (business) school or university for young people ages 15 and up.
World Economic Forum, Forbes & Cashnet
Persuasion is the third most in-demand soft skill
In the ‘Future of Jobs Report 2025’, the World Economic Forum pushed the urgency for businesses to develop their team’s leadership and social influence (persuasion) skills as priority #3.
In a world where “employers expect 39% of workers’ core skills to change by 2030“, persuasion is the key interpersonal skill that makes employees (and students) more valuable and desirable.
In 2024, Forbes reported on a study done by Cashnet, which looked at 17 million job listings on indeed.com, and identified the 10 soft skills that had the greatest priority. Persuasion skills were also here in position number 3.
DR ROBERT CIALDINI
Undisputed Authority of Influence
When 7 million copies of a book are sold in 48 different languages and TOP CEOs like Warren Buffett describe it as the Best Business Book of All Time, then you know you are crossing paths with something important.
Dr Cialdini, wrote ‘INFLUENCE – The Psychology of Persuasion’ in 1984 and is praised by both the business and the academic community. His principles are taught or referred to by many universities worldwide, including Harvard (see our testimonials page).
INVITE A Cialdini Certified Trainer
Dr Cialdini is still available for speaking engagements at approximately USD 150,000, but Patrick van der Burght, his Cialdini Certified Trainer based in Australia, is passionate about helping younger generations globally. Don’t miss the opportunity to invite him to help your students succeed.
USING DR CIALDINI'S PRINCIPLES
Hundreds of Universities around the world refer to Dr Cialdini's academic work
Community Project – Setting the next generation up for success
Schools and University Ethical Persuasion Presentations FOR AGES 15 and up
Don’t let your students enter the workforce unarmed.
Students’ futures are affected if uneducated about ethical persuasion
Persuasion is an in-demand soft skill that keeps scoring in the TOP 5 on sites like LinkedIn and Forbes. The problem is that most people think that persuasion is a natural gift some people have. There is actually a science to how people are being persuaded and ethical use of this is the only way to generate long-term benefit.
Not only does business value this ability in employees, but it ironically has a dramatic effect on how successful job-applying candidates are in:
- Being invited for interviews
- Convincing employers they are the best choice, and
- Negotiate starting wages
All three will certainly impact the income achieved at the beginning of a career, reduce students’ chances of obtaining their ideal position and likely impact the course of their lives.
“As a conference interpreter, I have heard my share of speakers throughout the years. Patrick delivered a captivating webinar on Ethical Influence that blew my mind. Even as I was interpreting for him. I got so much valuable information from this 1.5 hour interaction. Thank you, Patrick for sharing your experience and knowledge with the world… I highly recommend giving yourself the opportunity to learn from him.”
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Increased fruit consumption in high school
Persuasion into healthier habits
The Principle of Social Proof motivated Dutch high school students to eat more fruit
Getting students to eat healthier may be a challenge in your school or university. An experiment done in a Dutch school in which the science of persuasion was used, may be interesting.
Students were simply told that other Dutch students like them were consuming fruit to stay healthy. The students assured that receiving this information would have no effect on them and that they were not going to eat more fruit.
Despite this, fruit consumption went up by 35%.
Cialdini Teachings Are Trusted By Leading Enterprises Around The World
ETHICAL INFLUENCE SKILLS
CRUCIAL WHEN INTERACTING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
Persuasion skills are important, both privately and professionally, whenever our success depends on the agreement of others. This goes well beyond just sales and marketing roles. Here are some examples where success depends on the ability to be persuasive:
- Reducing uncertainty: Convincing people of the merits of a proposal or idea, such as inspiring further education, rallying enthusiasm for a commercial or community project, or building the acceptance that we are a good candidate for advancement in a career or leadership role.
- Motivating actions in others like paying bills on time, cleaning up after themselves, doing their preparation/homework, treating others with respect, doing their exercises and much more.
- Creating strong and lasting relationships with friends, people in their network, future employers, potential and existing clients and others.
- Leading others effectively.
ETHICAL PERSUASION
Australia’s Cialdini Certified trainer is on a mission to educate students about persuasion and the Science of Human Decision-Making
With one, two or ideally three presentations over a period of time, Patrick van der Burght can amaze students and staff with the psychology behind human decision-making. This is an eye-opening experience that is both entertaining, highly valuable and life-changing.
Science and Practical Application insights
The science behind persuasion is fascinating and sure to entertain. Depending on the available time or the possibility of spreading content over 1, 2 or 3 shorter presentations, a mix of the following can be covered:
- The science of human decision-making
- The relationship principles: Reciprocity, Liking and Unity
- The certainty principles: Authority and Social Proof
- The motivation principles: Scarcity and Consistency
- Contrast – the Psychology of Perception
- Research examples
- Practical Application of Ethical Persuasion
- How to be ethically persuasive when applying or being interviewed for that dream job or higher education placement.
The presentations would aim to teach and empower immediate use of this information. They can be stand-alone presentations or tied in with some preparation or homework, associated with an existing subject students have, like English, Economics, Marketing or Business.
