Honing Your Elevator Pitch

How can you make a good first impression in seconds?

Imagine trying to answer questions such as “What do you do?” and “What is your background?” in less than a minute – while giving an outstanding impression of yourself.

This is the premise the elevator pitch relies on. While mostly associated with entrepreneurs, elevator pitches can be used anywhere and everywhere.

Whether physical or virtual, formal events such as career fairs, networking sessions and interviews are where elevator pitches have the potential to be particularly effective, mostly because it presents you as a focused person unafraid of outlining your strengths. This might just be the edge you need to stand out from the crowd. Take note:

Contrary to most assumptions, an elevator pitch differs from a sales pitch.

An elevator pitch is designed to allow you to sell yourself to prospective employers in a short time while a sales pitch is a spoken description about a product or item you are trying to sell. Understand the two and get to know the difference.

60 seconds

A good pitch usually lasts around 60 seconds – a minute – but keep in mind that you shouldn’t just rush through and cram in as many words as possible in that time. Instead, choose your words carefully before including them in the pitch, and practise!

Summarise yourself

How do you summarise yourself when such a question is suddenly thrown at you? Many are left hesitant when they’re given the spotlight and the opportunity to talk about themselves.

Before you start working on your pitch, come up with a rough idea of the kind of topic you want to talk about.

For instance, if you’re interested in an engineering position, your theme should revolve around technical and numeral abilities, as well as the current trends on Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) or robotics.

Focus your topic on your modules studied in the classroom, your thesis if you had one, or even your internship and work experience, if any. Recruiters are very invested in your learning takeaways and hobbies related to the work you do. As such, about three-quarters of your pitch should be dedicated to your academic background and work and internship experience.

Remember: don’t pack all your points into a vague statement like the institution you studied in and where you completed your internship or worked! Rather, create a sentence or two about yourself and your background before elaborating on a few experiences – either personal or professional – to tell recruiters a little bit more about yourself.

Be brief but not boastful – your pitch should be like a teaser. Although the person you’re speaking to knows nothing about you, you’re not looking to tell them everything in a minute or less; you’re looking to pique their interest in you as simply and clearly as possible.

It’s also important to portray an image of a competent jobseeker, so clarify your goals and what you’re looking for in a certain company.

Practice makes perfect

One of the biggest factors in mastering a successful job pitch is how much practice you’re willing to put into it.

Practice talking to yourself before you go to bed, or during your lunch breaks if you have the time, and hear yourself out. Are you still stammering when you talk? If the answer is yes, go through your pitch again, and refer to a script if you have to.

It’s always better to find someone who is willing to help you identify errors and issues with your flow, so continue practising until you sound natural and not rehearsed. You could ask a friend or volunteer if they can simulate potential situations so you can practise and improvise if the situation ever calls for it. Some key elements:

• Keep it brief but detailed • Make it as clear and concise as possible • Be natural • Add quick anecdotes • Rehearse and practise • Adapt and customise your pitch according to the audience and occasion