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Elevator Pitch

Job Seekers: Why You Need to Create an Elevator Pitch

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At seminars and conferences, you’re guaranteed to be around recruiters and some of the most notable players in your industry. Crafting an elevator pitch helps prepare you for a great first impression—one that takes less than a minute and hooks the person you’re speaking with.

What Are Elevator Pitches?
Think about getting in an elevator with a recruiter and only having thirty to sixty seconds to show them why they should hire you. Your focus is on describing who you are, what’s unique about you and why the recruiter needs you. You’re doing all this while intriguing the recruiter enough for him or her to want further discussion.

Know Your Recruiters
You can’t use the same elevator pitch for everyone. Before you go to a seminar or conference, research which companies and recruiters will be there. Alternatively, grab a few minutes to look up a recruiter online before you make your pitch. When you approach a recruiter, greet them, and ask for a minute of their time. Name drop if possible—for instance, “Roger Smith at Company X says he loved working with you.”

Structure of a Pitch
Select the key points you want to make and how they relate to potential recruiters. How can you, the job seeker, benefit the recruiter or industry?

  • Describe yourself in one sentence, using numbers where applicable. Connect your abilities and experience to the priorities of the company or industry in which the recruiter works. For example, “I’ve worked at Company X for 10 years and currently head the ABC division. I’d love to work with XYZ company to boost its bottom line, too.”
  • Explain your unique attributes—for example, what strategies you used to boost profitability—and how you can use them to help the recruiter’s company or company base.
  • Close by handing the recruiter a business card. If circumstances feel right, suggest a meeting to further discuss a possible match.

Practice your pitch until you can recite it naturally. Don’t forget to rehearse several variations, and use the right one for the recruiter you see across the room.