How to write the perfect elevator pitch

Writing and delivering a convincing elevator pitch is a hugely useful skill that can help you secure a job, expand your professional network, or help you get a promotion! Being able to sell yourself and your skills in a short space of time is a hard thing to master, so to help you out, we have put together a few top tips to help you ace your elevator pitch!

What is an elevator pitch?

Some of you may be asking what an elevator pitch is. An elevator pitch is essentially a 30 second sales pitch where you have the chance to sell your professional skills to a potential employer, mentor or colleague. Its name comes from the scenario of pitching in the short time it takes a lift to get to the top floor of a building.

Whether your industry involves sales or not, in an interview scenario or at a careers event, it can be really helpful to be able to quickly and concisely talk about yourself and your skills.

By learning how to approach, craft and deliver a great elevator pitch, you are setting yourself up for greater opportunities!

Our Top Tips

Be enthusiastic

First up, you have to be passionate and enthusiastic. No matter what the content of your pitch is, if you deliver it in a way that is lack luster, you are less likely to hook your listener. Focus on the things you love and your passion will shine through. Even if the listener doesn’t share your interests, if you are enthusiastic, you have a much better shot at being memorable and successful.

Make it short and concise

Remember, an elevator pitch should only last around 30 seconds max, so it’s important you keep it short and concise. Try to write out at least 200-300 words and make sure you talk about who you are, what you do, your experience, and why you are of interest to the person you are pitching to.

Showcase both hard and soft skills

Remember to highlight both your technical and soft skills to your audience. You could highlight some of the key skills needed for a particular role, or talk about certain projects you have worked on that demonstrate technical knowledge. When it comes to soft skills, it’s good to show your communication skills, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Speak slowly

Even though this pitch should be quick, it’s important to remember not to talk too fast. Relax, take a deep breath and try not to let your nerves take over. If you consciously slow down your speaking, you can help yourself appear and feel more in control, this also naturally draws in your listener and so they pay more attention to your words.

Do your research

Before you present an elevator pitch in an interview, or to a potential employer, you should do a little research about the company. If you can show that you have knowledge of business and can showcase what you can bring to the table, you’ll be more likely to succeed.

Make it adaptable

Depending on who you are pitching to, whether it be an employer, or a potential mentor, your elevator pitch will be slightly different. If you’re at a careers fair and have an interest in a certain company, it may be good to adapt your presentation to resonate more with their industry or a specific job title.

Practice

Always practice your elevator pitch before presenting it. You don’t want it to sound scripted, but it’s a good idea to have it written down, so you remember your key points and have practiced the timings. Try presenting it to family or friends and getting some feedback on the content and your delivery. This will be a great confidence boost and help you when it comes to the real thing.

End with a call to action  

Make sure you end your elevator pitch by giving your audience something to do with the information you presented. You could ask if you can add them on LinkedIn, exchange email addresses or schedule a further conversation. Depending on the goal of your pitch, decide what your desired outcome from the elevator pitch is ahead of time, and use that to create an effective call to action.

STEM Women Events

We run networking and careers events for students and recent graduates looking to start their careers in STEM industries. Our events are the perfect platform to test out your elevator pitch to recruiters from a range of top companies. We are hosting a number of events in 2022, please visit our events page for more information and register for you free ticket!

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