Elevator Pitch: A Comprehensive Guide for Job Seekers

What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a concise summary of your professional and educational achievements, as well as information relevant to your abilities and career objectives. You use it for introducing yourself to others at social gatherings and career fairs, or for responding to the interview question “Please tell me about yourself.”

This opening sentence is probably going to be the initial impression you make on someone who might hire you.

so have a plan for what you want to say and be mindful of your presentation. You can do both of them by writing and practicing your elevator pitch.

How to Write an Elevator Pitch

Since each person has a unique history and set of experiences to share, no two elevator pitches are the same. Even though the content differs, they all have some things in common. Remain positive and concentrated as you start to build your pitch. Consider integrating the following:

• Name

The person you’re speaking with ought to know your name, particularly if you want them to remember you. Unless you’re in an interview or being introduced by someone, you ought to start with your first and last name, even if you’re wearing a name tag.

• Educational Background

Mentioning your educational achievements will demonstrate your qualifications to employers, who are generally looking for applicants with certain credentials. If you are still working on your program, it is OK. You can discuss what you’re studying and when you plan to finish your degree.

• Professional Experiences

Remember to talk about what you bring to the corporate landscape as well. If you’ve worked in the same field for years or are fresh out of school with an internship or two under your belt, listing your current job title and relevant professional achievements will show employers that you have work experience.

• Your Value

A good elevator pitch will demonstrate how you may benefit an organization. You can accomplish this by reviewing the job description that intrigues you and determining how your talents and experiences relate to the role.

What to Avoid in an Elevator Pitch

When done correctly, your elevator pitch will enable you to make a good first impression and stand out to employers. To do this, eliminate cliches, jargon, and anything overly personal. Here are some interview strategies to avoid:

• Cliches

Avoid using clichéd terms like “hardworking” and “personable.” Everyone uses those terms. Consider your words more carefully to pique their interest.

• Jargon

Jargon is found in many businesses, but you should avoid using it excessively in your elevator pitch. Think about your audience while deciding how much content to include. Are you speaking with a hiring manager or somebody from human resources? If so, use only the jargon necessary to show your expertise in the industry; they may not understand your language. You can be more specific when speaking with someone who works in your profession. 

• Personal Details

You also need to avoid being excessively personal in your pitch. You want to remain professional, thus steer clear of your personal interests and hobbies.

Other Useful Elevator Pitch Tips

Now that you know what you should and shouldn’t mention in your elevator pitch, you can focus on the actual speech itself.

• Make Your Pitch Adaptable

Your pitch’s content and delivery objectives should change depending on the circumstances. Your elevator pitch will change based on the situation and the motive you’re utilizing it.

If at all feasible, you should also aim to adapt your pitch to suit your employer, so each time it will probably be unique. You may make your elevator pitch more meaningful by learning about the organization’s goals and core principles.

• Make Your Pitch Adaptable

Your pitch’s content and delivery objectives should change depending on the circumstances. Your elevator pitch will change based on the situation and the motive you’re utilizing it.

If at all feasible, you should also aim to adapt your pitch to suit your employer, so each time it will probably be unique. You may make your elevator pitch more meaningful by learning about the organization’s goals and core principles.

• Be Mindful of the Nonverbals

Your body language is part of your elevator pitch. Your presentation will be strengthened if you project confidence and ease through your demeanor and pleasant mood. It’s not only about what you say; it’s also about how you approach people.

When meeting with a potential employer and making your elevator pitch, keep the following points in mind:

1. Keep your arms crossed
2. Avoid standing too close or too far away
3. Avoid smoking before the meeting
4. Have a professional appearance
5. Slightly lean forward
6. Make eye contact and remember to blink
7.  Give a firm, strong handshake.
8. Grin

Don’t forget to maintain a friendly appearance. Try your best to remain calm, even if you’re anxious, as your nonverbal cues may be able to tell you how you’re feeling before you even realize it.

Practice Makes Perfect

Make a list of the most important areas you want to include in your pitch. If you just have the points committed to memory, you’ll sound more authentic.

Allow it to flow; you must be able to simply participate in the discussion and allow it to unfold organically. If you rehearse too much, you may find it difficult to stay on topic when someone asks a question.

You may deliver your entire pitch at once during an interview, but that won’t always be the case. It may become a dialogue in which you find out more about the employer or business and they find out more about you.

To polish the details and increase confidence in yourself, you can rehearse the words you want to use in your pitch. You may hear yourself when you practice in front of a mirror or video yourself to see how your body expression comes across. This will allow you to make the required modifications ahead of time.

A career adviser can assist you in developing, modifying, and perfecting your pitch. Saying it aloud will become more natural to you if you practice with someone close to you, and it may also provide you with the confidence you require.

Final Thoughts 

An elevator pitch is essentially a 30- to 60-second “commercial” that showcases you. It highlights your skills, knowledge, and experiences. It narrates why you are the most qualified candidate for the position or the solution to an organization’s challenge. It’s an icebreaker, and if the person listening wants to know more about you, they will ask further questions.