The 60-second Introduction
or “Elevator Speech”
Dream. Plan. Achieve. SVC 2088 813-974-2171 Mon-Fri: 8-5 www.career.usf.edu
What is an “Elevator Speech?”
Brief personal advertisement 30 seconds to 1 minute Engaging and captivating
Uses for an Elevator Speech Any cold call opportunity Voice mail message Career Fair Receptions Interview introduction Conferences Any networking opportunity
Components of an Elevator Speech I am (personal introduction) My interests are (relevant to listener’s needs) I know about your organization (I have done my research) My skills/accomplishments are (I can do what needs to be done) I would like an interview/meeting/referral (I feel confident you will benefit from the meeting)
I am…
Name______________ Graduating with a ______degree in May from_________________ Looking for a position as a ________________
My interests are‌ Examples: developing marketing plans in the field of ___________ providing ____________service
I know you… Examples: I’ve researched your company and learned ____ You produce _____________ You are a leader in ________ You need _______ in your company
MyExamples: skills/accomplishments are… I excel at _________ I can bring _________ My previous supervisors have said I ______ I produced _______ I can deliver __________ In my last position I accomplished _______
I would like an interview/meeting/referral You must make a request at the end of your speech e.g. Do you mind if I connect with you on LinkedIn? Email you? Don’t ask for a position or about benefits You want to discuss further: your skills the company a project obtain career advice a referral
(I am) “Hi, I’m/this is Mary Smith. speech, I’ll be Sample elevator separated into Graduating from USF in May with a bachelors components degree in marketing and I have a real passion for the environment. (Interests) I love creating outside-the-box marketing strategies for new products, especially environmentally-sensitive ones. (I know you) I understand that your company has produced some new products that aren’t on the market yet. (My skills / accomplishments) Last semester, while interning for a local firm I created an aggressive marketing campaign for a new product, which improved their sales. (I’d like to meet) I’d love to talk to you about how I might be able to use the skills I've learned to help your company. Are you available for a brief meeting on Monday or Tuesday?”
Putting it all together “Hi, I’m/this is Mary Smith. I’ll be graduating from USF in May with a bachelors degree in marketing and I have a real passion for the environment. I love creating outside-the-box marketing strategies for new products, especially environmentally-sensitive ones. I understand that your company has produced some new green products that aren’t on the market yet. Last semester, while interning for a local firm I created an aggressive marketing campaign for a new product, which improved their sales. I’d love to talk to you about how I might be able to use the skills I've learned to help your company. Are you available for a brief meeting on Monday or Tuesday?”
Some Do’s and Don’ts Do: Rewrite your speech in order to sharpen its focus. Make it sincere and provide a glimpse into your personality. Speak confidently and enthusiastically. Practice your speech until you’re comfortable with it from beginning to end. Maintain eye contact with your listener. Prepare different versions for different situations. Don’t: Use more words than necessary. Include industry jargon or acronyms. Rush breathlessly through it. Make a “canned” presentation.
Resources References: http://www.quintcareers.com Networking for Job Search and Career Success: L. Michelle Tullier, Ph.D. Getting the Job You Really Want: Michael Farr