While you’re likely not riding a lot of elevators with other people right now (!), the practice of creating a summary statement that encapsulates what you want to do next and being able to say it efficiently so that others are inspired to help has many uses well beyond the elevator… Think: LinkedIn profile, resume summary statement, introductory emails or cover letters, even interviews, and more.
Even more, the exercise of crafting a go-to elevator pitch can frame your entire job search, and even your career break.
So what makes for a good one? A good elevator pitch makes sense, uses language that people understand, and has a point. It takes time and editing to write a good one. Here’s where to start.
1. Know your strengths. Write all of them down.
- Strengths
- Skills
- Experience
- Results
- Passions
- Value add
2. Know what’s next. What do you want to do?
- What are you seeking? (Company/Industry/Role)
- What skills/experiences are required?
- What skills/experiences do you have that support this direction?
- What are some common threads in your work history?
3. Know your audience. What’s in it for the listener? Remember what motivates companies:
- Make $
- Save $
- Save time
- Make work easier, more efficient
- Solve a specific problem
- Build relationships, brand and image with customers
- Attract new customers, retain existing customers
Write it all down, pull out the highlights, and start crafting your story. Then edit it to fit who you are talking to — a friend or a recruiter?
Need more help? Check out these do’s and don’ts, and we recommend watching this workshop: The Elevator Pitch and Personal Branding in the age of Social Media. It’s led by career coach Shannon Houde and will help you write an amazing pitch for yourself, and discern the good from the bad.
And some day, we will be with people in the elevator again. You never know who you could meet!
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