Create an Amazing Elevator Pitch: Where to Start
While finding a job after college might seem impossible, the truth is there are opportunities everywhere. In fact, finding the right position is only part of the challenge. You also need to be ready to act when the right set of circumstances appears. Having a killer resume and attention-grabbing cover letter is important, but it is equally essential that you have an elevator pitch locked and loaded.
An elevator pitch provides you with 30 seconds to make an impression. The idea is to set yourself up for success when meeting colleagues, mentors, recruiters, and potential employers. In less than a minute, you should be able to create a vivid picture of who you are, including your background, your goals, and the things that make you unique.
An elevator pitch should be fun. Don’t worry too much about perfection, and instead just focus on including some essential basics. To get you started, we’ve outlined a few easy steps to creating an amazing elevator pitch.
Elevator Pitch Basics: Start with an Introduction:
The best introductions are short and sweet. The idea is to break the ice while in a way that’s both engaging and energetic. The basic structure of your introduction should include your name, your professional focus, and a personal statement that aligns with your career goals.
If this sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t worry.
With Upkey’s free Gina module, with just a few clicks you can create a tight, effective introduction that will set up your elevator pitch so that it grabs attention and helps you stand out from the crow. With Gina, you’ll first start by reviewing some examples to come up with your own first sentence.
Clarify your “Why”
What drives you? Start with a personal list of all the things that motivate you to reach your goals. For example, perhaps you want to help your family or be a role model for your siblings. Maybe you want to feel healthy or make the world a better place.
Knowing your “why” and including in your pitch demonstrates that you know who you are on a fundamental level, and that confidence will translate to your audience. Start by asking yourself why you want to be successful in life and what drives and sparks passion in you. Reflect on what keeps you going. By including your why in your pitch, you deepen the persona you are projecting and elevate yourself as a candidate.
As you dive into the core of who you are, Upkey’s Gina module can help by guiding you through the process and supplying specific examples. Remember to clarify your goals and your target job. Do some research into the fields that interest you and write down the types of jobs you are interested in pursuing. Use this list as a starting point so that you can paint an even clearer picture of what drives you to succeed and what professional experiences seem the most fulfilling.
Hit Up the Experts
Ready to get started? We’ve created an entire Elevator Pitch Survival Guide. Click here to get a rundown of all of our tutorials. If you feel ready to plunge right in, Upkey’ Gina module can guide you through the process step by step. In 20 about 20 minutes, Gina will lead you through the creation of an attention-grabbing introduction, an interesting and effective body, and a show-stopping conclusion. Click here to find out more.
Happy pitching!
