4 Tips To Writing The Perfect Elevator Pitch (With Examples)
An elevator pitch, or also referred to as an elevator speech, is a short, roughly 30 second to a minute explanation/introduction of who you are and what you are looking to accomplish.
An elevator pitch can be used in many situations: interviews, networking, sales, or any time you are looking to present yourself, your product, or your company.
Interviewing and networking can be some of the most difficult interactions you have, but are also some of the most important. I don’t know about you, but my least favorite, yet inevitable question/ request I get in an interview or networking interaction is: Tell me about/ introduce yourself.
This is the moment you need your elevator pitch.
If you already have your answer planned, it will be easier to speak confidently. So here are 4 tips to help you write the perfect elevator pitch.
1. Know Your 3 W’s
Keep in mind the three things that any interviewer or potential network connection wants to know:
Who are you? What’s your goal in talking with me? Why do I care?
These are also the questions that your elevator pitch must answer.
This of course includes your name and any titles if you have them. You can include your university degrees or the most significant accomplishment in your career. The goal is to sell yourself as exactly what the other person is looking for. It is perfectly acceptable to brag about yourself in these situations.
2. Know Your Audience
Knowing your audience means you can turn the 3 Ws on them and ask: Who are you? What is you goal in this interaction? Why are you interested in me?
Your elevator pitch is likely to vary with the situations in which you use it, as different people/entities will be looking for different characteristics. Sometimes you won’t have time to reflect on who you’re pitching to, that is, when you end up in the true elevator pitch moment: running into the important person who could change your life/career in the elevator where you have only a few moments to convince them.
When you do have time it is a good idea to research who you will be pitching to, because even if you don’t use it in your elevator pitch, your interviewer will figure out what you know about them/the company.
3. Grab Their Attention
No one wants to hear a boring or robotic resuscitation of facts. Your elevator pitch is like the introductory paragraph to yourself, and just like an introductory paragraph, you need a hook to get their attention. Some people may do this with a joke or an interesting fact about themselves, or the moment itself may serve as your hook.
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4. Practice
Like anything, practice makes perfect. Memorize your elevator pitch and rehearse it aloud until you can say it comfortably and confidently. The more comfortable you are with speech the better it will sound. This will allow you to pull it out at any opportunity and hopefully nail that important meet que.
EXAMPLES:
Email Elevator Pitch:
Hi, my name is Hailee. I came across you when researching your coaching business online. I loved reading your story about studying in the UK, as I am on study abroad in London right now! I’m actually about to graduate from university with a marketing degree and was looking for some help getting a job. I have a 3.9 GPA and two marketing specific internships in digital analytics. My goal is to work at a marketing research firm. I think you might be able to help me in this goal. Would you be willing to chat over Zoom this week?
Networking Elevator Pitch:
Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Hailee. I just got back from studying abroad in London, England as part of my marketing degree at State University. I’m looking to get into the marketing research field after graduation. I have a few friends in that space and did an internship in digital analytics last summer and absolutely loved it. What about you? What do you do?
Interview Elevator Pitch:
Hi, my name is Hailee and I want to thank you so much for the opportunity to interview today. I am from a small town in Ohio and went to State University in the big city to broaden my horizons, meet new people and learn business. I majored in marketing after taking a few classes and interviewing a few professors and marketing professionals and found the use of marketing analytics in business decision-making really fascinating. That lead me to two internships in marketing analytics and a study abroad in London, England. I graduate in May and am ready to take all my experience I developed in the classroom, industry and from going abroad into this position. I’m super excited to be interviewing with you today and so look forward to our conversation!
Related:
How To Manage Your Time In A 30 Minute Informational Interview
5 Questions Job Seekers Should Ask Employers During Interviews
10 Perfect Questions For Young Professionals To Ask An Interviewer
Meet The Writer!
Hi! I’m Madeline Jefferson. I am a freelance writer, editor, and designer who has a wide breadth of experience and knowledge on many subjects including: fiction writing, religion, law, politics, history, literature, chronic illness, and mental health. I have a B.A. in Religion and Middle Eastern Studies from Washington and Lee University, and am beginning a Masters in Publishing through George Washington University. As a freelancer I offer services such as: blog writing, copywriting, ghostwriting, manuscript editing, and print and digital design. You can find me on: LinkedIn; Twitter, Instagram; and on my website: https://www.madelinejefferson.com/.
