The business world has seen tremendous changes over the last quarter century where trends in economics, technology, communication and entertainment has led to massive opportunities. Unlike previous generations, we now have the chance to leverage these opportunities and create new possibilities.
To leverage these possibilities starts with promoting ourselves and the value we offer to others. One of the most effective way to do this type of promotion is mastering the art of the elevator pitch.
What does an elevator pitch mean?
An elevator pitch shares your professional persona. It is a concise statement, under a minute long which tells an audience about your expertise, education and experience. It is used when introducing yourself to potential clients, employers or business associates for the first time, usually accompanied by a business card. Your elevator pitch can determine how people perceive your professionalism and value.
What should an elevator pitch include?
You often have a limited number of seconds to make a great first impression. Therefore, as your elevator pitch is usually your professional introduction, it is vital that it captures the essence of who you are in terms of your skills and qualifications without being repetitive or laden with unnecessary details.
You should first indicate the capacity in which you currently operate. For example, if you are a Human Resources Manager, financial consultant or sales professional, it should be at the opening of your pitch, so your audience gets a sense of which field your expertise lies.
State the number of years you have under your belt working in this position or field. This adds validity to your claims and prevents you from sounding overly boastful when describing your skills and accomplishments.
You do not need to mention every single accomplishment or skill you have earned throughout your career. Rather, focus on one or two that you particularly excel at and forms the foundation of what you do. For example, if you are a finance professional, you can mention that you have “a decade worth of bookkeeping experience with a keen eye for numbers”. If you’re field is more people-focused, such as human resources or customer service, you can share that you have “a passion for motivating and serving others”.
The concluding part of your elevator pitch should focus on what are your career goals. People commonly have ambitions of starting their own businesses, expanding their current client base or attaining senior management. Be sure to end your pitch with high intentions. People generally enjoy doing business with persons they perceive as ambitious and proactive.
When are elevator pitches used?
Commonly used at social gatherings usually formal or professional in nature, elevator pitches are frequently used when individuals are seeking to build their network, clientele or market their brand to capture the right audience and add lucrative contacts to their network.
Networking in the 21st century has also gone online on sites that provide business people with a professional platform such as LinkedIn, Facebook or even Instagram. Elevator pitches can frequently be found on these sites as an introductory way of meeting new people.
The most common place for elevator pitches are job interviews. Reason being, the very first question many interviews begin with asks for an introduction. “Tell me a little about yourself”, is usually asked to all jobseekers, both as an icebreaker and also as an elevator pitch because it allows candidates to sell their skills and experience using just a concise, introductory statement.
Elevator pitches are also found on job resumes at the very top where they give a brief insight into the qualification and career objectives of the applying candidate. On resumes, they are frequently referred to as ‘professional bios’ or ‘personal statements’.
How to write an elevator pitch?
Writing a pitch is a bit different from reciting in that you’re appealing to an audience member’s eyes when writing it as opposed to their ears when speaking it.
When writing an elevator pitch, it should be no more than a paragraph of four to six lines consisting of three to four sentences. Your audience’s attention span is even shorter online than in real life, so it is essential that you use simple language and state your points regarding your position, skills, and career goals clearly.
Particularly when writing, your pitch must be conversational in tone – how it would sound as if you were speaking to someone. Avoid complex words and phrases. Be relatable and authentic so your pitch resounds with people to get them interested in you. When writing your pitch, be careful with your language so as to avoid being too long or wordy.
What not to say during your elevator pitch?
Your elevator pitch is not the place to ramble or be too detailed. Sticks to your main points and keep it simple and short. Your entire work history, career goals or educational background is not needed here. You can save that for your resume or cover letter.
Similar to a job resume or cover letter, your elevator pitch should not adopt a cookie cutter approach. Rather, depending on the audience you’re addressing or the job you’re applying for, elevator pitches should be tailored to suit your audience.
Finally, it is essential that you practice your pitch when speaking. Lack of practice can make your pitch seem unreliable or lacking focus. Remember, this is your first impression. You want to practice your elevator pitch until it sounds natural – in your normal speaking tone so that it flows well and does not come across awkward or too rehearsed.
To continue the conversation and build on the relationship, always have your business cards handy to distribute when giving your elevator pitch to allow your audience to follow up with you in the future.
Elevator pitch examples
Internship level
I recently graduated from university with a degree in marketing communications. I been a part of the college newspaper team as a junior reporter, and subsequently, as the editor of the Health & Wellness section. I’m seeking a position that will capitalise on my journalistic skills and experience as an editor.
Mid-level professional
I have over decade’s worth of experience in legal research, working predominantly with small and medium enterprises. If your organisation is ever in need of an additional resource, I’d be grateful to provide my services.
New Entrepreneur
My name is ________, and after years of working at other accounting firms, I have taken the leap of faith and opened my own finance consulting firm. If you know anyone who’s looking for accounting or financial assistance, I would appreciate if you’ll recommend my services to them!
Experienced entrepreneur
My name is _________, and I run a construction company. It’s a multi-generational family business, and our unique expertise and customer service gives us our competitive edge. Not only do we ensure on-time completion, but my spouse and I personally answer emails, phone calls and interface with the client.
