Your Elevator Pitch
Photo by Hivan Arvizu
Delivering a succinct, 30-second to 1-minute summary of who you are and what you do is far from easy. I still fumble often because the message I like to use sounds weird if I say it to someone I just met in a casual, non-work environment.
You should be able to tell anyone - in the line at the grocery store, when picking up your kids at school, at a cocktail party, at a work conference, or at a startup pitch competition – what you do. Be careful of jargon because not everyone will understand it. You want anyone to be able to understand what you're saying.
Focus on mastering a few key talking points and then ways to customize your speech for particular situations. Keep in mind that you can say about 150 words in one minute.
In all cases, you need to clearly communicate your unique value in an understandable and memorable way, focused on THEIR interests or needs. That last part can be very hard to do.
Tailor it to the listener. You might want to draft and practice one version for someone you meet in a casual setting and one you meet while networking professionally. One of the best techniques I've found to draw someone in is to ask a question to start, especially if you're not sure that the person you're meeting would understand your field. For example, for me it may be something like: "You know how people hate writing their resume?"
No matter how you phrase it, I suggest that to hook the listener you lead with: 1) why you do what you do, 2) what excites you about what you do, and/or 3) the main impact of your work.
If you're an accountant at an event with only accountants, then you can get straight to what type of accounting you do and where you work.
I might follow my first question with: "I run a small business that helps people write their career narratives to get them out of a rut and into a job they love. My company asks questions to reshape resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles, arming people with the tools and confidence to make a change." This tells the person what I do and why it's important to me.
If you've worked for a well-known organization or partnered with one in your work and you're meeting someone in a professional capacity, it's worth a mention as you describe what you do. This may add credibility and increase the chance they'll remember you when you follow up later.
Currently job searching? If you're on the hunt, tell them that you're seeking a new role and what your ideal job is. In order to convey enthusiasm for your next step, share what excites you about it.