ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2006 > September > 26 > Entry
Got an Elevator Speech ready?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the most fundamental ways to market yourself or your business is to develop a polished ‘elevator speech’ that tells the listener who you are, what you do, and why that should be relevant to them.
The terms elevator speech, elevator pitch, or 30 second commercial are derived from the concept of generating interest in what you do in the same amount of time it takes to travel a couple of floors on an elevator with someone who is in a position to help further your goal.
It is a technique often used by entrepreneurs who are seeking potential investors, salespeople who are prospecting for new clients and jobseekers who are marketing themselves to a potential employer.
If you are actively engaged in a job search, having an elevator speech is critical to your success. If someone asks you what kind of job you’re looking for, what are you going to say? Now, let’s suppose you’re lucky enough to get an interview. When the hiring manager says, “Tell me about yourself,” what will you say? A smart jobseeker will, of course, smile and deliver his or her elevator speech without hesitation.
People tend to fall into two camps: Those who have a professional, yet conversational elevator speech and those who ramble on and on, almost thinking out loud. I’m sure I don’t have to explain which one will make the better impression. You will find that, like a resume, an elevator speech will always be a work in progress that you will adapt to a given situation.
For example, at a career fair, a jobseeker might say: “Hi, I’m Mary Smith and I’m currently working in the financial industry for a small, local lender. After rising through the ranks at my current company, I’m looking to transition into a mid-level management role at a larger institution. Who would you recommend I contact that might be able to share some insight regarding these kinds of opportunities?”
However, in a networking environment, the jobseeker would first want to build rapport before launching into the “Who do you know…” question, so she would ask the listener “What is your role within your organization?”
The possibilities for wording an effective elevator speech are endless. Just be sure to include basic details such as: who, what, where, when, why and how.
Does anyone have any great examples of an elevator speech they’ve heard recently? This is a great chance to get feedback on your current elevator speech! Let’s hear them!
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