Elevator pitch tips

You probably have heard it many times,"when looking for a job, you must have an elevator pitch." An elevator pitch or elevator speech-- for those who might need a refresher--is a summary of who you are and what you are looking for.  And although it comes in many flavors, an elevator pitch, for the purpose of this post, is aimed at showcasing you and your talents and experience as a potential employee.

The internet offers thousands of suggestions on how to develop and deliver an elevator pitch, so I won't repeat what it has already been said.  What I would do, though, is pinpoint a few obvious-- but often missed--tips about creating an effective elevator pitch.

Be Short.  Experts tell us that an elevator pitch should be about 60 seconds long.  Have you ever tried to speak non stop for a whole minute?  You can say a lot in a minute.  So, if the idea of doing a 60-second summary sounds intimidating, think in terms of sentences.  For example, let's start with six sentences.  The first two could introduce you (e.g. name, industry focus, major).  The next two could address your professional experience and interest (e.g. internships, previous work, accomplishments).  The last two could link your experience to the employer's current needs and suggest next steps (e.g. interview).

Be Clear.  Sometimes in trying to impress someone in the shortest amount of time, we  use fancy words that could become tongue twisters or make us sound fake.  Use common language.  Your goal is to help the listener understand who you are and what you can do for them.  Quantifying results is a always a winner (i.e. increased revenues by 30%, decreased expenses by 40%).

Be Sincere.  This is a tricky suggestion because the success of delivering a flawless elevator pitch relies on having spent time rehearsing.  Be aware.  I suggest to spend time rehearsing, but do not come across rehearsed.  You must sound sincere.  Rehearse to the point that you feel comfortable saying it to anyone in front of you.  But do not, please, do not rehearse it with the intent of memorizing every word.  If you forget one word and go blank, you are dead in the water.

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