How to use an Elevator Pitch as Job Seeker

You know when you meet someone for the first time and you have to give a brief introduction, – mentioning your name, what you do, why you do it, what you like or don’t like – at some point it gets mundane and pestering at some point, doesn’t it? Sometimes, when you are particularly in the zone, the introduction is flawless. But then there are also times when it’s like a cat’s got your tongue and you become speechless because of your nervousness.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way you could make the introduction simpler and easier? Well, there is. It’s called an elevator pitch.

What is an elevator pitch you ask?

An elevator pitch, for a jobseeker, in particular, is when you make a short intro about yourself, your career and your future goals in 30 minutes or less. The idea is that you should be able to convey all necessary information during an elevator ride. It’s your selling point to pique the interest of the person you are trying to impress.

An effective and informative elevator pitch goes a long way in whether or not you catch the attention of the person you are talking to. It has to be short yet informative. It is the perfect solution for building your network in events and other gatherings. You see, first impressions last, we all know this. Imagine going to a job fair and you get tongue-tied when trying to introduce yourself. Now, that is not the first impression of you that you want people to remember. You want them to remember you as someone smart and professional. So, it doesn’t hurt to have your elevator pitch ready and handy.

In an interview, an elevator pitch will come in handy when the interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself.”

Here are 3 steps you should follow for an impressive elevator pitch:

Name, Designation and Experience:

You don’t necessarily have to give your long full name. Give them a name that can be easily remembered and will stick. “Dany” is so much easier to remember than “Daenerys Stormborn” don’t you think? Then, tell them what you do as in what position you hold.

“Hello, my name is Aurora. I am a graphic designer and I have been in the advertising industry for almost five years now.”

Areas of Interest and Skills:

Try to mention at most three of your skills and why you are interested in your field.

“I’ve always had a passion for art and illustration, which is why I chose this line of work. The last project I worked on was designing creatives for a month-long social media calendar for AKAL Infosys. I can get my hands on most of the designing software but I am particularly fond of Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW.”

Reason:

This is where you tell them what you want and why you want it.

“As I had to leave my previous company due to a family emergency, I have decided to return to work now that everything’s settled. I am ready to take on bigger challenges and grow professionally here at your fine establishment. “

Now, adding 1, 2 and 3, let’s see what we’ve got:

“Hello, my name is Aurora. I am a graphic designer and I have been in the advertising industry for almost five years now. I’ve always had a passion for art and illustration, which is why I chose this line of work. The last project I worked on was designing creatives for a month-long social media calendar for AKAL Infosys. I can work on most of the designing software but I am particularly fond of Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW. As I had to leave my previous company due to a family emergency, I have decided to return to work now that everything’s settled. I am ready to take on bigger challenges and grow professional here at your fine establishment. “

You can see how all the necessary details are provided and are to the point without exaggerating much about a specific point.

As long as you follow the 3 steps and make it short, your elevator pitch will help you in more ways than you’d imagine. Having the right answer boosts your confidence, which further helps you in acing the interview.

Good luck!