No One Will Ask for Your Elevator Pitch

No One Will Ask for Your “Elevator Pitch” There is no such thing as  an  Elevator Pitch! The  â€œelevator pitch,”  also known as a 30-second commercial,  comes from  the  idea  that you should be able to deliver it between floors on an elevator. What you say IS  an important part of your networking process.  Usually, job seekers are coached to prepare their elevator pitch  before they attend a networking event, career fair,  or  job  interview. Everyone  should be prepared  with  an  answer  whether they  are  attending  a formal networking event or  just  going about  their  daily life. You never know when you’ll meet someone who can point you to your next job opportunity.  It’s  just as  important on social media venues such as LinkedIn, where you are striving to make a positive first impression AND be concise  yet  impactful. But here’s the problem I have with  an  â€œelevator pitch,”  especially for job seekers.    Whether you are at a job fair or networking event,  no one is  going to ask, “What is your elevator pitch?” Yes, you need to prepare one, but you also need to listen  carefully,  so you provide the right type of answer.  And you avoid adding  irrelevant  â€œfluff” to  your  answers. In reality, you need to prepare  TWO  elevator pitches, one for each of these questions: #1  Tell me about yourself. #2  What are you looking for? #1:   TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF. Here’s an easy-to-remember framework for your answer: First  two  sentences:  You  and your  educational background summary The purpose is to  help them warm up to you,  so  let your  personality  show  even though you  may be  nervous. Start with something personal such as  how you first got passionate  about  technology, where you or your parents were born, or  what languages you speak. Summarize your educational background. Hello, my name is _______________________________optional: if you have already made introductions, then no need to state your name  again. I have been passionate about technology since tell a  short(!)  story  _________________________________________________________________. I received  my degree at school in subject and really excelled in relevant subject. Middle  two  sentences:  Your professional background summary Keep the details of your professional background relevant to your audience. Whenever possible, use  metrics  to describe the scope of your prior experiences. For example, how many people did you supervise? What was the scope of  your  responsibility in dollars, size, etc.? My professional experience includes X years in the  ____________, responsible for X, Y and Z Y years as  a  _____. Any other relevant item: ________________________________________ Last sentences:    Why you’re here today This is your chance to bring it home! Pretend the other person is thinking, “Yeah, yeah, but why should I be interested in you?” Your answer is tailored to the audience. If you are at a job interview, you want to highlight why you are excited  about  this role. However, if you are at a job fair, you want to share what type of position you are seeking in their company. Be personable, high-energy, and connect with the other person with a smile. I’m here today because I’m very passionate about your title position and want to share my skills and learn more! or I’m here today since I’m seeking a position as a title in a technology company. Ending options: You don’t need an end…  you can simply  pause,  and they will take over. At an interview  or when networking:  May I ask you a few questions? (Have your questions ready.) At a job fair:  Once I identify great positions at your company, may I contact you  for  help  to  arrange an interview? #2: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? People want to help you. But they can only engage if you are clear and precise about what you are  looking  for. Bad answers  to this question: “I’m flexible; I can do a lot of things.”  (Hmmm, and that says what about you?) “Well, my background is in __________________________ and ______________________”.    (Did they really  ask this?  And  so,  what if you were a shoe-repair person?  They are  interested in your  next  step forward  not your last.) “I’m looking for an exciting position that leverages my background and where I can work with great people.”  (Sorry, this is NOT about you!) Good answers  to this question: “I’m looking for a data analyst position in  Chicago  with a large corporation in the technology industry.” “I am very focused on two types of career opportunities. One is  as  a business intelligence analyst in a large company in  Tacoma, Washington. However, I’m  also looking at opportunities in database administration at large tech firms in Seattle. Here’s a simple framework to help you craft your answer: I’m looking for a title position in city with a size company in the industry. Ending ideas: Could  you  recommendation any great companies I should look at? Do you know any technical recruiters in my target companies:  _______, ______, and __________? Answer both questions proudly and with confidence!   Make eye contact,  share a smile, and show your pride and passion. Join Dana  Manciagli’s  Job Search Master Class ®  now  and get the most comprehensive job search system available!