Anyone starting a company or trying to raise money has had to develop an “elevator pitch.” It's the short but highly informative description of the reasons you should get what you are seeking.
The entrepreneur is seeking money for a startup, along with expertise to develop a business plan and contacts to implement it.
The career changer or job seeker also needs an elevator pitch. It should not be the same story you told to get your last job. If it is, something is wrong. You have surely had new experiences that have become part of your story.
So what are the requirements of preparing the elevator pitch?
1. Identify your value proposition.
If you are a cook, that’s not enough. If you are an expert at preparing delicious food that is also healthy, then you are on to something. You could say: “I’m making the world safe for fat-free food.”
2. It is short and aligned with your personal brand.
Long is wrong. You will lose the listener’s interest.
3. It is focused on your goal. Explain that the evidence you are providing qualifies you for a specific job you are seeking.
4. Practice.
These 30 seconds to one-minute are crucial and could change your life. Surely you should prepare.
An elevator pitch is not a substitute for an entrepreneur’s business plan and it doesn’t replace the job seeker’s resume. It is the answer to many interviewers’ first question: “Can you tell me about yourself?”
The right answer is not only useful in job interviews but also at networking events, as the basis for a resume cover letter, and as the voice mail message you leave a recruiter.
The elevator pitch should take a minute to deliver and it should summarize your key professional strengths. Don’t get personal, just stay on message. You don’t want to memorize this presentation but you should be comfortable delivering it so it helps to practice.
Don’t use a template. There actually are some on the internet, of course. You’ve got to come up with this yourself or with some professional support. You need to answer the questions: 1) Who are you? 2) What do you do? 3) What proof do you have that you do it well?
Prepare and practice and you will succeed. Don’t memorize a list; try to tell a story. The pitch says enough to describe yourself as qualified and accomplished but the listener will want to know more. It can help you get the job. Here’s an example:
“I am a professional writer. I’ve written thousands of articles over the years and I’ve won the Los Angeles Times book award. I say this because writing is essential in a good resume. Many people will tell you they can help you with your resume, believing that writing a good resume is easy because it’s a relatively short document. But it’s also the only document that can improve your career. It needs to be well written. I can do that for you at ShimmeringCareers.com.”
Develop a pitch you are comfortable with. Try it out on friends. Then practice it over and over again. You can do it.