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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Phone Interviewing Tips

This post was inspired by several comments triggered by a thread in the Latinos in College Facebook page.  The big take away:  phone interviewing requires a different set of skills than in person interviewing.  So, let's cut to the chase, shall we?

Getting ready for a phone interview follows the same process as an in-person interview:  Your goal is to come across as being the best candidate for the job and to be invited for a second interview.  The main difference between a phone and an in-person interview is how the applicant and the interviewer engage in the process.  In a phone interview, your voice is the way the interviewer will get to know you and decide if you should move to the next level.

Source:  Google.com

Most of us are very conscious of how we sound.  We think we sound too childish or husky or our accent is too strong.  One way to get ready for a phone interview is by practicing on the phone.  You could leave a voice message for yourself or someone else and replay to hear how it sounds.  If you are not happy with what you hear, do not despair.  Spend time listening to the news on TV or radio and imitate the pace and pronunciation of the reporters.  Focus on channels related to your area of interest (business, health, education), so you can practice the words used in your industry.  Another way is to warm up your vocals chords by humming.  Yes, humming is the secret weapon of professional speakers.  It is easy to do and it's free! If you practice these two techniques often, you will gain confidence in how you sound and present yourself on the phone.

Another factor to keep in mind when interviewing on the phone is the length of your responses.  Pause yourself when answering questions.  Do not ramble on.  Give the interviewer a chance to ask a follow up question. If you talk non stop, you will sound nervous and will appear that you are trying to make up for what you do not know.  Answer questions in two to three sentences. If you have more to say, you could ask,"would you like me to elaborate?" and wait for the interviewer's answer.

And lastly...remember to smile while you are on the phone (as several Facebook friends mentioned).  Believe or not it will make a difference!

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