What is your "elevator pitch?" You've probably heard of elevator pitches in the entertainment industry. An aspiring screenwriter or director finds themselves riding in the same car as a Hollywood bigwig, and they take those 30 seconds in the elevator together to try and sell them on their idea. A well-prepared elevator pitch can also help you with your career goals. Instead of selling a script, you're selling...you! Whether you're at a convention, a networking event, a party, or just in the same building as someone representing a potential company you'd like to apply to, you never know when you might meet a new contact or a new opportunity for yourself.
Think about the last time someone asked you, "What do you for a living?" Did you have a pitch ready to go, or did you simply tell them your job title and wait for them to move on? When you hear the question, it can be the invitation to give your elevator pitch. What will you say?
Of course, what you'll say will depend on what job you have and what job you might want. But no matter what you say, every elevator pitch should take on at least one of these characteristics:
- Describe the work you do and what you accomplish. It sounds so simple, but often it isn't. You want to present yourself as an achiever and a problem solver. But you also don't want to get bogged down in lingo and really technical jargon the listener won't respond to. If you can explain the work you do and the value you add to your company in one sentence, you have a good start to an effective elevator pitch.
- Tell your story. Why did you get into your line of work? What do you love about it? What do you want to accomplish in your career? Show your excitement and your passion for your work, and you're more likely to get interest back.
- Share an example of your success. The more engaging, the better! This can be where your pure storytelling instincts kick in. Did you solve an unusual problem? Were there any interesting situations along the way? Find the hook... but also focus on your strengths and problem-solving abilities.
- Tailor your pitch to the job you're interested in. This works really well if you're networking and you know a little bit about the people you're meeting. Maybe you want to move up to a larger organization. Or you might want to go to work for a non-profit. Build it into the story you tell and you can create a real conversation starter.
Find A New Career With a Well Practiced Elevator Pitch and Career Source of Central Florida
So your own elevator pitch may change often, depending on who you're talking to and what you want to tell people about yourself. But every elevator pitch should have these two things in common:
- Be brief. An elevator pitch should last about 30 seconds. When you write a resume, you don't put every responsibility you ever had at every job you've ever held, do you? It's the same with an elevator pitch. Just like they tell you in a public speaking class, be brief, be clear, and be memorable.
- Practice, practice, practice! Your elevator pitch isn't a place to wing it. Practice your pitch! Give it to friends or colleagues to obtain feedback. Work on it in the mirror at home. Your speech should be honed and tested and ready to go whenever you see a chance to give it.
Your elevator pitch works well to start off a job interview, too! Find your next job at Career Source of Central Florida.
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