An elevator speech is, in other words, a brief and vital information about your business, products or services. It is often presented as face-to-face networking which lasts about 30 seconds in business settings.
The perfect “elevator speech” therefore presents a summary of who you are, what you do, and why you deserve a chance to prove yourself in that dream job.
From cocktail parties to job interviews, there are no restrictions on where you are allowed to reel off your elevator speech so far you are well-prepared. A warm smile and confident presentation could offer you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to being the right candidate. So, why worry about convincing a stranger—in 30 seconds—about what decades of experience and piles of certificates you have?
The truth is: preparing a perfect elevator speech does appear an uphill task, like a camel walking through the eye of a needle, but it is certainly achievable when you follow these simple steps:
- Know your job target. Unless you want to “beat about the bush” and miss a rare chance as Yogi Berra rightly said, ‘We must be careful…If you don’t know where you’re going, there’s no way you’re going to get there.’ Unless you’re able to explain exactly what position you want, no one can help you find it.
- Write it down. Your skills, work experiences, accomplishments and everything you would want a potential employer to know should be streamlined. Recheck the points and erase anything that’s not critical. A stitch in time saves nine.
- You must format the points according to these three questions: Who are you? What do you do? What position are you interested in?
- It is important that you desist from using industry jargon. Assume that your elevator speech has been prepared for a lay man, and make it easy for anyone to understand. Use of acronyms, urban terminologies and tech-speak are a no-no.
- Read out the elevator speech to someone who is capable is identifying the highs and lows, cross you t’s and dot your i’s, and practise until you achieve an all-positive result. According to Deborah Grayson Riegel, ‘Jobseeker’s major problem with elevator speech is how to fix it.’
The point is: writing is more formal than speaking, but finding the right balance will make yours stand out. Write, edit, rehearse, record yourself on video and hear yourself speak.
Here’s a sample elevator speech prepared by Meziesblog.com on request:
I am a professional civil engineer with 7 years’ experience as a site engineer and project manager. I run a private engineering firm which has effectively handled several project portfolios that I can forward upon request.
I currently study full stack web development at George Washington University Coding Bootcamp, Washington D.C. So, I am seeking career shift from civil engineering to web development.
I am a dynamic, self-motivated and goal-oriented team player looking for an opportunity to harness my skills for growth.
I have acquired knowledge in basic computer programming languages such as JavaScript, C+ and other tools, with high expectations of becoming a professional web developer.
I’d love to schedule an appointment with you so we can discuss further on a prospective business partnership.