CRAFTING THE PERFECT ELEVATOR PITCH

Catching the attention of recruiters with an engaging introduction is a great way to set up a successful and professional conversation.

Regardless of industry, when you meet someone new, chances are you will be asked the same basic introductory questions, such as “What do you do?” and “What is your background like?”. By coming prepared with an elevator pitch, this can be the best opportunity for you to leave a memorable impression.

This introduction is particularly useful when attending more formal events, such as career fairs, networking sessions or information sessions. By doing it right, it helps you start any conversation on the right foot and leaves your listeners with a good impression of you.

Keep it short and brief

Why is it called an elevator pitch? Imagine that you and a recruiter are riding an elevator to a certain floor. Before getting to your destination, you need to not only provide a quick summary about yourself, but in a way that engages your audience and leaves them curious to learn more.

Generally, these should not go on for longer than 90 seconds. It should be short enough to keep your audience’s attention, yet long enough to sufficiently introduce yourself.

On paper, 90 seconds sound like a lot, but in reality, it can go by in a flash. Hence, put in some considerable thought on what you want to say in that duration of time. Ultimately, the most effective way is to share the most important and interesting parts of yourself.

Remember, your goal is not to make them offer you a job right there and then — it is meant to hook their interest. This is only your first meeting, and overwhelming the other party with your entire work history is not a viable strategy here.

Give a quick summary

At a glance, this seems simple enough. Saying something like “Hi, my name is Julie, and I just graduated last month” counts as a summary, right? But think from the recruiters’ point of view – would you remember this specific introduction if what you heard all day were variations of the exact same thing?

With this in mind, plan out a theme for your pitch and stick with it. For example, if you are after a job in architecture, your pitch should ideally revolve around that industry.

Keep the pitch focused on the mostrelevantinformation,suchas your academic background, past work experience, current skills, as well as any specialisations or key strengths. If you are not sure about what to include, you could try listing them down, followed by shortlisting the items you absolutely want to mention in your pitch. Think of it like filtering the most important bits from your resume, and working from there.

But above all else, make sure your pitch is coherent and flows well – having strong points and anecdotes will lose their impact if they are just thrown around without any connections. This would likely leave your audience confused and perceive you as a poor speaker. Instead, treat your pitch like a teaser by making the other party want to know more about you. Impress them with a few good details about yourself and your work here is done.

Practice makes perfect

Theideaofpublicspeakingcanbe nerve-wracking, especially if you are self-conscious or introverted. After all, when the spotlight is on you, it can sound like a recipe for a mortifying experience. Do not fear. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect.

For one, you can ask your friends for help – not only can they serve as a mock audience, but they can also offer feedback tohelpyouimproveyourelevator pitch. There are also your Career Coaches if you want any additional assistance, and they can also help simulate potential situations so you can practice and improvise if you need to.

The key ingredients for a great pitch

• Keep it within 90 seconds

• Make each detail as clear and concise as you can

• Present it as naturally as possible

• Use relevant anecdotes

• Rehearse and practise often

• Make a few variations so you can use a customised pitch depending on the situation