If you’re in the market for a new job or looking to take the next step in your career, it’s not just your resume that you should be polishing. Your ‘elevator pitch’ – a punchy sales pitch that sells your personal brand– must sparkle too.
Opportunities – to network, to discuss a potential job, or just to make an impression – can present themselves when you least expect it. This is why it pays to be prepared with some punchy messages that ‘sell’ what you’re offering.
A good elevator pitch tends to follow a pretty strict formula: it’s short (as in 15 seconds or less), it’s easily understood, and it focuses on the value you bring (rather than the rewards you seek). You can also include illustrative examples but only if they’re super short and will resonate with the listener.
Your elevator pitch should engage your ‘target’ and entice them to ask more. Avoid using technical jargon –you want your pitch to sound more like the start of a conversation and less like, well, a pitch.
Which of the following pitches do you think is more likely to captivate your listener: “I provide strategic advice around through-the-line marketing campaigns mainly in the FMCG space” or “I help big grocery brands find new ways to boost their sales.”
Once you’ve got your elevator pitch down, think about supplementing it with a concise – and diplomatic –explanation of why you’re looking for a new role. No matter how dire your current situation, you need to communicate why you’re looking to move on in a way that’s positive and professional.
Finally, don’t be afraid to test your pitch on (frank) friends. If they fall asleep or burst out laughing, you’re probably not quite there yet. If not, get it out there and get it working for you!
