You have 30 seconds. Go!

Carla Certeza

Let’s say you’re an intern at the company that you want to end up working for. You’re taking the elevator one day and who walks in but none other than the company’s CEO! Now is the time to use that elevator pitch that you’ve been practicing. Wait…you don’t have one? So instead of impressing the person you want to work for with an elevator pitch, you stand there trying to come up with something to say. Before you know it, the CEO walks out of the elevator: opportunity wasted. Don’t let this happen to you. Prepare an elevator pitch.

The objective of an elevator pitch is to pretty much impress someone in about thirty seconds. State who you are and what you do, but don’t flat out ask for a job. Just present yourself as an interested individual with impressive qualifications. You should also tailor your pitch to whoever you are speaking to. This is another reason why doing research on companies you want to work for is important. [Check out last week's post]. Figure out the most important points you want to bring up. Don’t overwhelm the person with so much information.

Once you know what you want to include in your elevator pitch, read it out loud and ask others for feedback. Then rehearse it, but be ready to think on your feet. The person may engage in conversation and ask you questions, so be prepared to stray away from your pitch. Don’t speak too quickly. Make it sound natural and have confidence.

Elevator pitches allow you to take initiative and put yourself out there. You might not want to bother the person, but if you are serious about what you want and believe that speaking to this person can springboard you in the right direction, go for it. At the same time, you shouldn’t overstay your welcome. Sometimes, people respond just to be polite. Keep it short and sweet. You’re on a mission. Get in, get out.

Keep in mind that you probably won’t be a priority, even if you might be the best elevator pitcher ever. Don’t expect a call from them the next day saying that you’re hired. Your goal is to make a lasting impression. Try to make yourself stand out. At the end of the day, you want this person to remember your encounter.