Perfect Your Elevator Pitch and Win a Free Business Suit

By Angela Cooley

Your "elevator pitch" is a brief summary of who you are and what you can do, and as the name suggests, it shouldn't last any longer than a standard elevator ride. Whether you're networking with industry contacts or you've finally reached the front of the line at that job fair booth, you truly only have a few moments to make a stellar first impression and hook that person in to want to learn more about you. So, what does it take to craft a great elevator pitch?

1. Be brief. Don't launch into a huge list of everything you've done and try to recreate your resume; an overlong spiel will make your audience wish you would stop talking, which is exactly the opposite of what you're trying to achieve. Keep it down to 60 seconds or so.

2. Play up your most relevant skills and experiences. If you're having a hard time deciding what you can say that packs the most punch, brainstorm and create a list of all the good qualities, skills, and experiences you have to offer. Then, it's time for the elimination round: cut the list in half. Get rid of redundancies and focus on the claims that have the most evidence to back them up (saying you're "motivated"  or "hardworking" isn't going to do any good if you can't think of an example of that trait in action). This isn't, however, just a platform on which to wax poetic about how awesome you are; make sure to convey how your skills can benefit the company.

3. Be flexible. Just like your resume, your pitch can (and should) be tailored to match your audience. Prepare a few different speeches for different situations, and if you know who you're going to be talking to, research the company and make sure to speak to the qualities they value.


4. Practice, practice, practice. Trot out your little speech as often as possible so it comes naturally, even when you're anxious. Try videotaping yourself so you can pick out nervous fidgeting or rushed speaking that you might not notice otherwise.

5. Don't fizzle out at the end. Concluding with "and, um, I guess that's it" isn't going to impress anyone. End your moment in the spotlight with a request to exchange business cards or meet for an interview, depending on the situation.

It's time to polish up those pitches! On Monday, February 21, Liberal Arts Career Week will kick of with an Elevator Pitch Contest in the Beering lobby. Entrants will pitch to our camera crew and videos will be posted to our YouTube channel for voting. The student with the top video will win a shopping session with JC Penney for a free business suit! Join us next Monday in the main lobby of Beering between 10AM - 12PM and show us what you've got!