APU Careers Careers & Learning

Going Up? Get Off On the Right Floor with Your Elevator Pitch

By Kristen Carterelevator-pitch
Contributor, Career Services

Whether you are actively job seeking or networking, it is important to have a prepared elevator pitch to communicate to your listener who you are and what you do. Even if you are one of those networking buffs that can rattle off a few clever statements and keep your audience engaged the entire time, it is still important for you to plan ahead of time what you might say. Here are some tips to keep in mind when perfecting your pitch:

  1. Keep it simple and conversational. Traditionally, most will refer to a good pitch as being 30 seconds in length. However, 30 consecutive seconds is quite lengthy. Instead, consider two concise sentences in which you introduce yourself and briefly explain what you do to get the ball rolling.
  2. Avoid labeling yourself. When asked, “What do you do?”, most naturally respond with their job title, which can be quite limiting. Since you are more than this label, you will want to answer in a way that provides a good understanding of what you do, yet invites the listener to ask more questions. At the same time, think about the connotation associated with your job title. While it may not be negative, people do make assumptions about certain career paths. Thus, they may think they understand what it is that you do based on your job title, but it is your goal to clear up those misconceptions.
  3. Intrigue your listener. It is important to build interest in order to continue the conversation further. If you share all of your information up front, you may be left with nothing more to say. Since you will want to avoid hearing crickets, share just enough in your opening statements, while not being too vague, so that people will ask questions to find out more about you.
  4. Tailor it to your audience. Who are you targeting? Are you trying to gain a client, networking for a job, at a neutral event with a spouse, or did you run into a former colleague? It is important to remember that one size does not fit all. For example, you would not want to share why you would be a good fit for a position if you are not actively seeking employment. Also, pay attention to non-verbal cues to determine if the listener is still interested in what you have to say. Body language can be very telling.

Following these tips will set you on the right path to giving the best pitch. Remember, you do not want to sound rehearsed and want to utilize everyday language. So, be intentional about practicing the content you would potentially be sharing and request feedback from those you trust. Lastly, always be ready to present your pitch since you never know who you might run into.

 

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