The Perfect Elevator Pitch

 17th Mar 2022

“So, tell me about yourself?” Regardless of the business or sort of job you're interviewing for, nearly every job interview begins with this phrase.

Giving your best answer to this (tough) question isn't as easy as it may appear. You could make a bad first impression if you don't have a great "job interview elevator pitch."

So, what is an elevator pitch?

Your elevator pitch is a quick and effective approach to showcase your experience and qualifications with individuals who don't know you. Let’s discover how you can create a perfect elevator pitch in 4 steps:

1. Grab their attention: Open with a Hook! The first thing you must do is pique the audience's curiosity. This can be as basic as describing a problem or asking your listener if they are experiencing the same issue that your pitch addresses. Not only will this allow you to adjust to the question if it doesn’t exactly land, but it will also engage your listener through interaction. This also helps in assisting your listener become emotionally interested in what you're saying by making the problem explicit.

Pro Tip: Your introduction needs to answer two questions: How you add value, and how are you solving the problem. Try and link this to companies objectives. Remember to lead with most relevant experience and keep your language simple!

Example: “I help companies grow and scale by increasing their brand awareness and acquiring new customers.”

2. Showcase yourself through a story: A pitch does not give you a lot of time to speak, everything you say should demonstrate your passion and reflect some of your own characteristics and ideals. Make a relatable story that goes beyond a picture of who you are right now. Connect your story to your hook by explaining why you care about the issue and what you're doing to address it. Being a doer is an appealing quality, and by demonstrating it, you can keep your listener interested.

Pro Tip: Even if you don't have a lot of experience, it's crucial to emphasis on your solid skills and experience over soft skills. Make an effort to be both factual and succinct!

Example: “Let me tell you about the time I grew our subscribers by 30%.  I started out by……..”

3. Communicate what you bring the table: This is your opportunity to explain why you are the best candidate for the job. You might have not nailed your interview, but you can always communicate your knowledge, abilities and skills that you have to offer. By creating a vivid picture of what you are working towards can get your listener intrigued about what you can to bring on the table.

Pro Tip: Name your unique selling position (USP) by stating any skills and background information that makes you the best candidate.

Example: “ I know what you mean, when I was at [Company Name], we had 14 projects going on at once and it was my job to manage them all, so I’m used to the fast-paced life.”

4. End with a Call to Action: It is important to present your listener with a Call to Action with the information you presented. You can ask them to exchange contact information, send your CV/Portfolio or schedule a further conversation. Decide ahead of time what your desired outcome from the elevator pitch is and utilise that to develop an effective call to action, depending on the purpose of your pitch.

Pro Tip: Finish strong, bring the conversation back to the company and emphasis your personal interest in a certain aspect of the job – this will help you look enthusiastic about the position.

Example: “The role sounds perfect for me!  [Task] is my favourite part of my job at the moment and probably the bit I excel at the most so it would be great to expand my skillset in that area. Please don't hesitate to contact me at (insert phone number or email) if you need any additional information”

If you are still unsure about how to create a perfect elevator pitch, contact David Terry at david@pivotallondon.co.uk or 07554010308.