How to prepare an effective elevator pitch
Imagine that you are an ambitious young individual ready to successfully complete your studies and start searching for the perfect job. You are attending a networking event at which the CEO of the company of your dreams will be present as well. This is your chance to introduce yourself and leave a positive impression, which might even result in a job offer.
But how would you do this, if you have less than a minute to introduce yourself as a suitable future employee? An elevator pitch is the best way to present yourself quickly and start an interesting conversation with your prospective employer. In this article, we provide you with four tips that will help you prepare an effective elevator pitch.
Pitch Vs. Conversation
Many people make the same mistake when preparing their elevator pitch. The point of an elevator pitch is not just to provide a short introduction about yourself, express your interest in working for your prospective employer and give them your business card. The point is to start a conversation. Your goal should be to engage your prospective employer in an interesting conversation, get the chance to ask them questions, answer their questions and make them willing to discuss with you career opportunities they might offer in the future.
Value Proposition
When you approach a prospective employer to pitch yourself, their main question will be: “Can this person help me?”. Therefore, your pitch should show who you are, and how your unique personality and experience could help your prospective employer. You need to show that there is a fit between your personality and the organization you are willing to work for, and why your work could add value to the activities of the organization. By the end of your pitch, your prospective employer should know whether they should keep you in mind for any future career opportunities they might offer. As a result, it is significant to identify the interests and priorities of your prospective employer and address them in your pitch.
Use Examples
Many people extensively describe their personal skills in their elevator pitch. Although employers are interested in learning about your skills, they prefer to see how these skills can be translated into practice. In other words, they need to see how your skills can benefit their organization and add value to its activities. Try to use examples from your educational and extra-curricular background that show how you developed these skills, or examples from your working experience that show how you apply your skills into practice. This will make you stand out from a “bunch” of people that seem to have similar skills.
Avoid Using Jargon
As Elissa Bertot mentions in her article “How to Write An Elevator Pitch: A Step-by-Step Guide”, “using jargon in your elevator pitch is lazy and selfish”. Some people believe that the use of jargon could make them seem more professional and experienced. However, the use of jargon might confuse your prospective employer and make them feel less interested in learning about your personality, skills and experience. Remember that your goal is to start a conversation with your prospective employer. It is suggested that you use simple words that will help your audience understand your points.
The bottom line is that an elevator pitch should not be confusing and should successfully project who you are. As a result, you might need to spend a lot of time to develop an effective elevator pitch that will help you show what your prospective employer could gain from your personality and experience. Since an elevator pitch is extremely important, it is worth taking the time to develop a pitch that will make your prospective employer remember you!
