Perfect your Pitch:  Using an Elevator Speech to

Impress

By: Brian Carhide & Sandi Ohman

The Elevator Speech• It is a quick introduction you could share with

someone you meet in an “elevator” to sell your capabilities- “Tell me about yourself” question/cover letter

• A 20-30 second advertisement about YOU and what skills, qualifications, and characteristics you will bring to the company

• Write it out, practice it OUT LOUD, share it with people you trust for feedback

• You don’t have to share the entire speech, or share it with every recruiter you speak to, but be prepared in case you have the opportunity

Elevator Speech: Videos

Career Byte:  Your INFOmercialCareer Spot:  The Elevator Pitch

Elevator Speech How to VideoFSU Student Example

Your Elevator SpeechKnow your audience• Research your audience

and customize your pitchKnow yourself• What are your key

strengths?• What adjectives come to

mind to describe yourself?• What is it you are trying to

“sell” or want recruiters to know about you?

• Why are you interested in the company or industry the person represents?

Outline• Who am I? What do I

do/offer?• What are the main

contributions I can make? • What is your USP (Unique

Selling Proposition)? What makes you different from the competition

• Application story/accomplishment

• ActionFinalize • Write it out so that it flows• Practice it OUT LOUD• Be Flexible

Source: Pepperdine University Business School

Elevator SpeechDo• Be sincere, conversational

& natural• Practice so you can stop &

re-start effortlessly and with confidence

• Make eye contact as you are speaking

• Project passion, but don’t talk too fast

• Give examples or use a quick story

Don’t• Sound canned & rehearsed• Ramble• Focus on just yourself,

rather include how can you benefit the employer

Do• End with an action call –

ask for a business card, review your resume, or an interview, if appropriate timing

ExampleI help small businesses and non-profits tell their story to the peoplewho need to hear it. You see, when someone knows our story, theycan’t help but like us, and we support and do business with thosewe like. So, together, we craft your story and start telling it to youremployees, the media, potential clients, and to the world. I know itsounds like marketing, but what makes me unique is that first andforemost, I am a storyteller. I also have a technical, art, writing, anddesign background which I combine to tell your story in a special,get-their-attention way. I recently completed a sixteen-pagepublication with an additional 15,000 copies that appeared in theMarch issue of Cleveland Magazine telling the stories ofCleveland’s community development corporations. They were sodelighted with the outcome that I am now in the process ofdesigning an extensive website for them.

Source: http://www.creativekeys.net/PowerfulPresentations/article1024.html10/31/2007

ExampleI help small businesses and non-profits tell their story to the

peoplewho need to hear it. You see, when someone knows our story,

theycan’t help but like us, and we support and do business with

thosewe like. So, together, we craft your story and start telling it to

youremployees, the media, potential clients, and to the world. I

know itsounds like marketing, but what makes me unique is that first andforemost, I am a storyteller. I also have a technical, art, writing, anddesign background which I combine to tell your story in a special,get-their-attention way. I recently completed a sixteen-pagepublication with an additional 15,000 copies that appeared in theMarch issue of Cleveland Magazine telling the stories ofCleveland’s community development corporations. They were sodelighted with the outcome that I am now in the process ofdesigning an extensive website for them.

Source: http://www.creativekeys.net/PowerfulPresentations/article1024.html10/31/2007

What you offer

ExampleI help small businesses and non-profits tell their story to the peoplewho need to hear it. You see, when someone knows our story, theycan’t help but like us, and we support and do business with thosewe like. So, together, we craft your story and start telling it to youremployees, the media, potential clients, and to the world. I know itsounds like marketing, but what makes me unique is that first

andforemost, I am a storyteller. I also have a technical, art,

writing, anddesign background which I combine to tell your story in a

special,get-their-attention way. I recently completed a sixteen-pagepublication with an additional 15,000 copies that appeared in theMarch issue of Cleveland Magazine telling the stories ofCleveland’s community development corporations. They were sodelighted with the outcome that I am now in the process ofdesigning an extensive website for them.

Source: http://www.creativekeys.net/PowerfulPresentations/article1024.html10/31/2007

Your skills and strengths

ExampleI help small businesses and non-profits tell their story to the peoplewho need to hear it. You see, when someone knows our story, theycan’t help but like us, and we support and do business with thosewe like. So, together, we craft your story and start telling it to youremployees, the media, potential clients, and to the world. I know itsounds like marketing, but what makes me unique is that first andforemost, I am a storyteller. I also have a technical, art, writing, anddesign background which I combine to tell your story in a special,get-their-attention way. I recently completed a sixteen-pagepublication with an additional 15,000 copies that appeared in theMarch issue of Cleveland Magazine telling the stories ofCleveland’s community development corporations. They were sodelighted with the outcome that I am now in the process ofdesigning an extensive website for them.

Source: http://www.creativekeys.net/PowerfulPresentations/article1024.html10/31/2007

This is an example of accomplishments/outcome

My Elevator Speech“My name is Sandi Ohman and I am the Senior Program Manager

in the Career Services Office at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I’ve worked for Embry-Riddle for over 10 years advising students and alumni from numerous degree programs, including Aerospace Engineering, MBA and the Aeronautical Science degree areas. Most of my job duties involve liaison activities between companies that recruit our students and alumni. From career development activities, including job search processes, resume development, interview preparation, and presentations, to working with recruiters and faculty to create career opportunities for students and alumni, I rely on strong communication, networking and interpersonal skills. These skills have been instrumental in helping me be successful in my career. I love what I do - making a difference in the lives of the people I work with and helping them find their way to the career that they will be as passionate about as I am about my career.”

My Elevator Speech – simplified

“My name is Sandi Ohman and I am the Senior Program Manager in the Career Services Office at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. As a program manager I help students and recent alumni open doors to their future careers. Utilizing communication, networking and interpersonal skills helps me to be successful in my career. I love what I do - making a difference in the lives of the people I work with and helping them find their way to the career that they will be as passionate about as I am about my career.”

What is missing from my pitch?

Basic Student Elevator Speech Script

Student: “Hello, my name is John Student.”

Recruiter: “Hi John, I am Connie Smith”

Student: “It is nice to meet you Ms. Smith. [Pause}I was very happy to see that company name was attending the Career Expo this year. I have been following company name for a long time. I am a junior in the _______ program at Embry-Riddle. I plan to graduate in May 2015. As an ____ student, I am interested in the work that company name is doing on the ______ project. I went to the company website and saw that you have an internship program. Could you tell me more about this program?”

Implementing

• Scripts – General & Detailed

• Practice with Peers

• Volunteers

Resources• http://www.quintcareers.com/elevator_speec

h_dos-donts.html• bschool.pepperdine.edu • Career Spots, ERAU CSO website,

www.erau.edu/career