Just back from a trip to see extended family over the weekend. During one of our house calls, in a room full of aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews I was asked ‘what do you do?’…..
I was caught completely off guard, I know all about having Elevator pitch prepared but when I was suddenly in the spotlight I realised I didn’t have a few lines ready to trot out to succinctly explain what I’m up to these days. In this instance my lack of preparation didn’t matter too much, but if I had been meeting a potential employer or client, I don’t’ think my long winded unprepared answer would have given a great first impression.
In light of this experience, I thought I would provide my readers with a few tips to help you write your elevator pitch.
So what is an elevator pitch? It’s a short, persuasive speech that you use to generate interest in you or your business, and should last no longer than it takes to take a lift (aka elevator) between two floors (approx. 30 seconds).
Top tips:
- Identify your goal – what do you want your listener to know about you? What do you want them to remember most about you?
- Tailor it – rework your pitch for different audiences – how you explain what you do to a potential employer will be different to how you convey what you are about to the an old colleague you bump into on the street. Provide a general overview about what you do making sure to highlight your expertise and unique selling points.
- Practice and be enthusiastic – saying it out loud repeatedly will make it roll off your tongue easier when you need to say it for real. Being enthusiastic and genuine about what you are saying will make what you are saying more memorable.
In summary, an elevator pitch is a short, introductory statement that you can use to quickly explain to a stranger at a bus stop or future boss at an interview, what you do or what you are working towards in your working life. It’s an opportunity to promote your expertise, showcase your experience and will mean you will have a confident answer at the ready whenever you are asked “So, what do you do?”.