The Elevator Pitch

 An elevator pitch is your professional self-introduction. The elevator pitch is also known as an elevator speech or opening statement. Your pitch should be brief and not exceed one minute. Ideally, your pitch should only be as long as a brief elevator ride, hence the name of the exercise. Once you craft and practice your pitch, you will be able to  deliver it with ease when you meet other professionals, as you are networking and introducing yourself during an interview.

Your elevator pitch should include the following elements: 

1. Who you are : in addition to your name create a descriptive phrase that describes you

2.  What you do: your current job/career or current aspirations, your skills and qualifications and additional descriptive phrases about you (think brag bites)

3.  Your value:  What do you bring to an organization or a potential partnership? What are your professional accomplishments? Why should someone care? Describe your value (again think brag bites)

To include when  meeting another professional: 

4. What do you want: a job, a career, to make a connection.

5. Ask for something: business card or social networking address

Tips for writing your elevator pitch

1) Write your pitch in a conversational tone. You want to feel comfortable delivering your pitch, so write it like you speak. You do not want your pitch to sound like something you are reading. 

2) Again, think of the length of an elevator ride, keep it brief, about 1 minute

3) Practice your pitch on friends and family AND in the mirror or practicing recording. 

4) Just like your personal mission statement, your pitch is continuously evolving. As you gain more professional experience, education and skills you will re-write your pitch to maintain currency and relevancy.