- ELEVATOR PITCHAn elevator pitch is a brief way to professionally introduce yourself or your product to someoneprofessionally, usually spanning the amount of time you would have during an elevator ride.Learning how to create and deliver this simple and concise pitch can help you make the most ofeven a short amount of time.What is an elevator pitch?A personal elevator pitch is a quick professional summary that’s usually around 75 words (orroughly 30 to 60 seconds to deliver). Elevator pitches are sometimes thought to be specific to anidea or a product, but you can also use them to introduce yourself as a professional.How to write and deliver an elevator pitchComponents of an elevator pitchThe pitch begins with a hook to draw your audience in, veers into the value you offer, provides someproof to support your statement, and wraps it all up with a display of what makes you different.It’s relatively easy to incorporate these elements into a short pitch. The difficulty lies in choosing agood hook and phrasing your proposition in a way that appeals to the other side of the conversation.• The hook: This element doesn’t need to be fancy or complicated. Make it simple andget straight to the point. For example, if you’re pitching a time management tool,your hook can be a personal story like: “When I first started my business, it felt likethere was too much to do and not enough time to do it.” It can also be a statistic. Ifyou’re pitching an online collaboration tool, your hook can be something like: “73%of all teams will have remote workers by 2028.”• The value proposition: This is where you provide an overview of the value you’rebringing to the table. Discuss what you’re pitching and what it does, research yourlistener’s unique needs beforehand, and prepare a compelling argument for howyou can meet them.• The evidence: The person you’re talking to may be nodding, but that doesn’tnecessarily mean your point is getting across. Some proof of past success or statsthat speak to your success could make that nodding a lot more genuine.• The differentiator: Let them know that you’re different—that your product orservice isn’t just another iteration of what came before. You get brownie points fororiginality and not quoting any movies.• The call to action: Make sure you’re inviting your audience to take action. Theyhave all the details, and they might be interested. It’s time to bring it home with aclear call to action. Ask them to connect with you on LinkedIn, invite them for acoffee chat, share contact information, and make sure there’s an opportunity tofollow up on the conversation.• 1. Startup pitch example• Everyone’s got ideas for [shared goal]. But ideas aren’t enough.• We took [shared goal] and turned it into a reality.• We developed [solution] at [company name] that’s [list of qualities]. We made it possiblefor [target audience] to [shared goal].• What sets us apart is our [differentiator, followed by brief overview].• If you’re passionate about [high-level goal] and interested in [benefit of collaboratingwith you], let’s connect.2. Job seeker pitch exampleIt took me [period of time] to [achieve goal].It’s always been my priority to deliver [high-level result], but I want to put my [expertise] to usemaking [high-level goal/impact].At [company name], I [past experience] that [measureable results].I love what I do. But I [differentiator, high-level goal].If you’re looking for a [position/title] who’s [differentiator], let’s chat. I’m eager to explore how Ican help your organization achieve its [field] objectives.3. Networking pitch exampleI’m a [position/title] at [company name], and I’ve worked on [past experience].Over the past [period of time], I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse industries,from [industry] to [industry], and what truly excites me is [shared interest].I’m here to connect with other professionals who share my enthusiasm for creative andinnovative [field] ideas. I really want to explore new [differentiators and shared interests].Let’s connect on [communication channel]. I have quite a few compelling [field] resources toshare and talk through.Image descriptionThe structure of a 30-second pitch generally follows this pattern:1. Introduce yourself, as appropriate.2. Discuss your experience. …3. State a strength or skill the employer would be interested in.4. Follow that with an accomplishment (or two) that proves you have that skill.The four-step elevator pitch is explained in more detail below but essentially your pitch shouldanswer the following questions:• Who are you?• What do you do?• What do you want?1. Start by introducing yourselfAs you approach someone to pitch at an event, interview or anything in between, start with anintroduction. State your full name, smile, and add a pleasantry like, “It’s nice to meet you!”2. Summarize what you doThis is where you’ll give a brief summary of your background. Include the most relevantinformation such as your education, work experience and/or any key specialties or strengths. Ifyou’re not sure what to include, try writing down everything that comes to mind. Then removeanything that’s not critical to explaining your background and why you’ve got what youraudience may be looking for. Once you’ve got it down to a few points, organize them in a waythat makes sense in your story.Here’s an example:“Hi, my name is Sara Smith. It’s nice to meet you! I’m a PR manager with a special focus inproduct launches. Along with my seven years of professional experience, I recently graduatedwith my MBA from XYZ University, with a focus on consumer trust …”3. Explain what you wantThis step will depend on how you’re using the pitch. The “ask” of your pitch could be aconsideration for a job opportunity, internship or to get contact information. This is a goodopportunity to explain the value you’ll bring, why you’re a good fit for a job, or generally whatyour audience has to gain from your interaction. Focus on what you have to offer during thissection of the speech.Let’s go back to Sara’s pitch:“Hi, my name is Sara. It’s nice to meet you! II’m a PR manager with a special focus in productlaunches. Along with my seven years of professional experience, I recently graduated with myMBA from XYZ University, with a focus on consumer trust. I find the work your PR team does tobe innovative and refreshing and I’d love the opportunity to put my expertise to work for yourcompany …”Related: Interview Question: “Tell Me About Yourself”4. Finish with a call to actionYou should end your elevator pitch by asking for or stating what you want to happen next.Examples can include asking for a meeting, expressing interest in a job, confirming you’ve fullyanswered an interview question or asking someone to be your mentor. Remember: you’ve justmet this person, so make the ask simple with little required on their part.If they agree to yourrequest, thank them for their time and get their contact information. If they don’t agree to yourrequest, gracefully end the conversation by thanking them for their time and, if appropriate, askif you can send a follow-up email.Here’s an example from the pitch we’ve been building:“Hi,my name is Sara. It’s so nice to meet you! I’m a PR manager with a special focus in productlaunches. Along with my seven years of professional experience, I recently graduated with myMBA from XYZ University, with a focus on consumer trust. I find the work your PR team does tobe innovative and refreshing and I’d love the opportunity to put my expertise to work for yourcompany. Would you mind if I set up a quick call next week for us to talk about any upcomingopportunities on your team?”
