What’s an elevator pitch? An elevator pitch is your 30-second commercial about your company/product/services/skills that you can share to introduce yourself and educate someone else about what you do. Having a good elevator pitch can help with your job search as another tool in your toolbox.
You want your elevator pitch to be specific, unique and represent what you bring to the table as an employee. Think about what sets you apart from others and what makes you a valuable asset to an organization. Follow these 4 steps to craft your perfect pitch.
Step 1: Be Specific
You need to be able to communicate the type of job you want. You can’t only say you are an engineer -what type of engineer are you and what industries do you have experience in? Explain it as if you were telling someone you didn’t know, so they can understand it. My daughter is looking for a summer internship in marketing and her pitch begins “My name is Sara and I’m looking for a 3-month summer internship supporting a digital marketing department within an organization with different product lines and offerings.”
Step 2: Write It Down
Writing it down forces you to think clearly about what you want to say. This is not only the time to make sure it’s grammatically correct, but also make sure it reflects your style and character. People want to get to know you, so infuse your pitch with your own personality. My sister was a professional clown when she was in college and she shared that fact in her elevator pitch. It definitely showed them she wasn’t your typical software engineer. And she didn’t want to work for someone who wouldn’t appreciate her unique style.
Step 3: Explain Your Value
When you explain that you’re a Window Washer, explain that you successfully cleaned your clients’ windows with 100% customer satisfaction and came in under budget. Similar to the action verbs that are recommended for use on your resume, these special describing words that make you stand out from the crowd should be integrated into your pitch.
Step 4: Practice, Practice, Practice
The hardest part of putting together your elevator pitch is practicing it. Say it out loud to your friends and family. The best way to get good at saying it and having it sound natural is through repetition. Practice in the car while you’re driving, when you’re making dinner, or during a commercial while watching a baseball game. Take the time to practice and it will help you reap the rewards.
Let us know your elevator pitch in the comments below. Did it help you land a job?
