The Recruiting Blog of KG Workforce Solutions.
by KG Workforce Solutions
If you are in the market for a new job, you should be prepared to hear the question “tell me about yourself.” The question may come in a slightly different format, but the intent will be the same. The best way to answer this question is by being prepared and practicing in advance.
First, what is an elevator pitch? Simply put, it is a very brief narrative describing who you are, what you do, and in the case of an interview, either why you are a good fit for the job or the company. An elevator pitch is called that because it should be a response you can provide in less time than you would normally spend with a stranger on an elevator, about 30 to 60 seconds.
Second, how can you prepare an elevator pitch? The easiest way is to break it down into three parts:
This is probably the hardest part of the elevator pitch for people to create. Why? Because there are so many aspects of your life that make you who you are over the years. Keep in mind this pitch is designed for an interview. Provide your name, general job title or industry of expertise, degree or education attainment (depending on relevance), and one or two additional sentences about you professionally. The key here is to stay focused on your professional life, not your personal life.
Since you may have given your industry or job title already (in “who you are”), this might seem redundant. IT IS NOT. This is a critical part of your pitch where you have the opportunity to set yourself apart and be perceived as an expert in your industry. This part of your response should clearly demonstrate value to an employer. Be creative. When preparing this section of your pitch, think about what you do that makes you good at your profession.
The last part of your elevator pitch may vary depending on your circumstances and how much you already know about the company and job for which you are interviewing. This is your opportunity to plug yourself into the specific job or company culture or set yourself up to solve a problem you know the company is facing. Think of this as the closing statement of a sales pitch! Prepare a response that is concise yet targeted. Yes, this means you may need to customize this part of your elevator pitch for every interview!
So, now you know how to build an elevator pitch. Let’s look at an example:
I am Betty Smith, a marketing professional with a strong record of helping non-profits increase their brand awareness and fundraiser contributions. During my MBA program, I interned at a non-profit and loved the impact I made for the community and organization. That is what kickstarted my passion for specializing in non-profit marketing. I write creative and engaging content that resonates with my audience and encourages them to follow and interact in our content, instead of deleting or unsubscribing. I am excited about helping (Company) grow your donations and sponsor base and learning more about the marketing initiatives on your agenda. Can you elaborate on some of your marketing goals and challenges?
Consider the example above. The “who you are” is a very short snippet of your name with a reference to your profession, education, and quick note on how you got into the industry/profession. The “what do you do” is a very short explanation that does not just indicate you are marketing professional, but tells the manager what you are good at- that you can engage your audience for continued support and interaction. This demonstrates value, not just tasks. The “what are you looking for” quickly references your goals- to help this company grow their donation and sponsor base. Now, for this last part to be effective, you needed to know that growing their donation and sponsor base was a goal (either through research on their website, blogs, job ads, etc.). If you had not known that, you would have plugged yourself into the specific job or company culture, depending on what information was available to you. Wrap it all up with a call to action or engaging question.
Looking for more examples? Check out this post from Indeed.
So, you get the point on how to develop your elevator pitch. Below are a few important tips to effectively execute your elevator pitch:
Now that you know how to prepare your elevator pitch, get your pen out and get started.
For more job search tips, check out our other blog or social media posts (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter). There is also a great article from Forbes that can provide additional information.