How an elevator pitch can help take your job search to the next level
How an elevator pitch can help take your job search to the next level
What is a personal elevator pitch?
Your personal elevator pitch is a brief summary all about you. As the name suggests, it’s about letting people know about you and your goals in the time it takes to complete the average elevator ride. When you deliver your elevator pitch, you’re aiming for your audience to get a clearer idea about:
- Who you are?
- What you do?
- What type of job you’re looking for?
Why do I need an elevator pitch?
You never know when you might meet a prospective employer or come across a potential job opportunity. So, having a well-thought out personal elevator pitch that summarises your credentials that you’re able to deliver at a moment’s notice can:
- Help boost your confidence when talking about YOU
- Allow you to quickly share your background, skills and experience
- Spark the interest of a potential employer
Writing your elevator pitch down can also help you use it across your online professional/job seeking profiles, such as your LinkedIn or SEEK ‘about me’ section.
5 tips for getting your personal elevator pitch just right, no matter what your story
No matter your story, everyone has something to offer a potential employer. The great thing about having a prepared elevator pitch ready to go is that you can also use it to gently ease yourself into a job interview if you’re feeling nervous or lost for words. Let’s take a closer look at how to craft an elevator pitch that helps you sell yourself in order to land you the right job!
1. Work out your goals
Taking time to think about the type of work you’re looking for will help shape your elevator pitch. For example, if you want to work in retail then some of the experience you’ve had to date will help convey why you’re right for a job. If you’re new to the industry then talk about your commitment to great customer service and your friendly, positive attitude.
2. Keep it short and sweet
Think about the time it would take you to ride in an elevator and keep your elevator pitch short and sweet. Start with the basics including your name and put together some simple facts about what you’ve done to date. Avoid industry jargon and don’t shy away from the facts that make you the person you are today. If you’ve had a career break or you’re new to the workforce, then you still have plenty to offer a prospective employer too.
3. Convince your audience
As soon as you’ve covered the basics about who you are and what you’re looking for then it’s time to include a compelling sentence or two that helps convince someone why they should hire you. There are all sorts of unique qualities that might help you sell yourself so just choose the one that you think is most relevant to your target listener, for example:
- An achievement in a previous role
- Relevant qualifications or training
- Any passions or interests
- A reason you’re keen to work – in a particular role – for a specific company, or – in your chosen industry
4. Include a question
An open-ended question at the end of your personal elevator pitch is a great way to keep the person engaged and start a two-way conversation. If the
opportunity presents itself, try adding in something that reiterates how keen and interested you, for example:
- Would it be possible to arrange a time to meet with you to discuss any job opportunities?
- Could you put me in touch with the person in charge of recruitment?
- Can I give you my resume?
5. Practice, practice and more practice
Remember that practice makes perfect so it’s important to take the time to run through your personal elevator pitch. You want your delivery to sound natural and convincing so don’t speak too quickly and remember to stick to your key points. The more you run through your pitch then the more confident and relaxed you’ll feel about what you have to say.
At the end of the day, you’re not looking to close a deal with your elevator pitch but spark enough interest to open some doors. You’ll probably tweak your elevator pitch along the way to tailor it to the job and employer you want to attract – and that’s okay too!
Want a great elevator pitch? You’ve come to the right place. For help creating a great elevator pitch that opens new doors, get in touch with the friendly team at CoAct today.
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