Crafting Your Why Me Elevator Pitch

Why Your Pitch Matters

You step into an elevator, the doors close, and the hiring manager you’ve been dying to impress is standing there. You’ve got 30 seconds to make them care. Most IT pros freeze or mumble something forgettable, blending into the noise of a thousand LinkedIn profiles. A sharp elevator pitch isn’t just a spiel, it’s your personal brand distilled into a verbal jab that lands. It’s not about listing your tech stack or certifications, nobody cares about your Python fluency until they know why you’re different. Your pitch is your story, your edge, the reason someone picks you over the other 50 resumes on their desk. It’s the spark that gets you a second look. Nail this, and you’re not just another coder, you’re the one they remember. If you don’t, you’re just another face in the crowd. Get it right, and you’re halfway to the job.

Building the Pitch Framework

Start with the problem you solve, not your job title. Nobody hires a network engineer just because you call yourself one, they hire someone who stops servers from crashing at 3 a.m. Lead with a quick hook: one sentence that shows you get their pain. Maybe it’s cutting downtime or securing data from the latest ransomware. Then, slide in your unique angle, what makes you the go-to person for that problem. Don’t say you’re passionate, show it with a specific win, like how you saved a project by automating a clunky process. Keep it tight, every word has to earn its place. End with a question to keep them talking, something like, What’s the toughest tech challenge you’re facing? This isn’t a monologue, it’s the start of a conversation. Practice it until it feels natural, not rehearsed.

Avoiding the Common Traps

Most pitches crash because people try to sound like a walking CV. You’re not a list of skills, you’re a problem solver with a pulse. Don’t ramble about every job you’ve had, nobody cares about your internship from 2009. Steer clear of jargon, it makes you sound like a robot, not a genius. And please, don’t try to be funny unless you’re actually funny, forced humor lands like a bad commit. Focus on clarity over cleverness, make sure they get your value in seconds. Test your pitch on a friend who doesn’t know tech, if they’re confused, you’ve already lost. Refine it, cut the fluff, and keep it under 30 seconds. A great pitch doesn’t just open doors, it kicks them down.

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Top Priority: Job Search Elevator Pitch

Hey there! Let's talk about crafting an elevator pitch that will make you the star of your local networking group. Because, let's be honest, if your pitch has a pitch problem, you won't make the impact you want. No one will rush over to meet you once it's over.

But imagine this: your elevator pitch is so good that people can’t wait to find you, introduce themselves, and network with you. Sounds fantastic, right?

So, you've read the basics of delivering a great pitch. Now, let's dive into building one that everyone will love. Here are six steps from a presentation I gave recently in Irvine, CA.

I'll guide you on what to include, and then I'll share my own example. Ready? Let’s go!

Step 1 – Introduce Yourself

Start with your name. Simple, but essential. People need to know who you are!

Step 2 – Positioning Statement

Share a positioning statement. In 4-6 words, define what makes you unique in the market. This is your hook!

Step 3 – Brief Career Summary

Give a quick career summary. Mention your last position, the industry you were in, and a key accomplishment or two. Keep it brief but impactful.

Step 4 – Work Philosophy

Talk about your work philosophy. Explain how you work and what reinforces your true value. This shows your approach and dedication.

Step 5 – Job Search Objectives

State your job search objectives. Be specific about your target title, function, industry, geography, and companies. Let people know exactly what you’re looking for.

Step 6 – How You Can Help

Explain how you can help others. Networking is a two-way street. Show them the value you bring to the table.

And there you have it! Your elevator pitch should take about 45 seconds. You can tweak it to fit into a 30 to 60-second window, depending on your networking group's guidelines.

Think you can build one of these? Lets Go!

---

Example:

1. Hi, I'm Bob.
2. Marketing Maven and Data Guru.
3. Former Marketing Director in the tech industry with a proven track record of boosting brand visibility by 40%.
4. I believe in data-driven strategies and creative thinking.
5. I'm looking for a Marketing Manager role in the renewable energy sector in the San Antonio area.
6. I can help your company harness the power of data to create compelling marketing campaigns.

Now it’s your turn! Go ahead and craft your pitch, and get ready to shine at your next networking event. Happy pitching!

When Elevator Speeches Don’t Work for You | FreelanceSwitch

Permit me to introduce you to my mouth, the black hole from which no elevator speech can escape.

For some reason, which is probably embedded in my DNA, I’ve never been very good devising short, catchy descriptions of what I do for and how people will benefit from it. It’s to the point where, if someone asks, I’ll say, “I mangle elevator speeches!” Or words to that effect.

This is a common affliction, and one that isn’t just limited to creative freelancers. A few years ago, I was listening to a radio comedy show that is famous (or infamous) for the host’s penchant for wandering around the theater and mingling with audience members. During one broadcast, the host encountered a dentist. When asked what he did for a living, the dentist said, “I’m a smile designer.”

I could have sworn that I heard that man grimacing over the radio. He was obviously uncomfortable using such clever marketing-speak to describe his profession.

What’s worse, the host and the rest of the audience found the concept of “smile designer” to be hilariously funny. I’m willing to bet that the dentist went back to using the D-word to describe himself.

Okay, so you’re not a dentist. And you don’t play one on the radio. But you’re still going to be faced with situations when catchy self-introductions are called for. How can you make them work for you? Here are three solutions:

1.  Don’t just rely on words. Fifteen years ago, I was a member of a women’s networking group here in Tucson. I was trying to get established in the web design field, and I’d heard that attending this group’s meetings would be good for my business. Well, to make a long story short, hauling a website into a meeting just wasn’t going to work. (After all, this was 1995.) But there was another member who did packaging design. And she had a habit of bringing jigsaw puzzle boxes to the meetings so she could use them as “show and tell” pieces. Members never failed to marvel at them.

Well, times have certainly changed, haven’t they? There’s nothing that forbids web people from holding up a smart phone or an iPad showing examples of the latest designs. Same goes for photographers. Why not share postcards featuring your latest corporate portrait work? You could also be like the guy who gave out mugs that likened a programmer to a machine that turns coffee into code. Whatever is in good taste that makes you memorable, right?

2.  Poke fun at the whole idea of elevator speeches. Join me in being a butcher of them. Or come up with your own satirical shtick. Be like American late night TV host David Letterman and create a Top 10 List featuring the Stupidest Elevator Speeches. (Smile designers, beware!) Instead of enduring an awkward introductory moment, you and your conversation partners can work on building that list.

3. Find an elevator speech therapist. Instead of trying to come up with your own elevator speech, have a friend or trusted colleague help you.

After all, those pesky “What do you do?” questions aren’t going away, so you might as well make your peace with elevator speeches. And, for a little bit of Freelance Switch help in this area, read Will Kenny’s article as you work with your elevator speech therapist.

Tip: Your elevator speech therapist should be clever, but not overly so. After all, you need to be comfortable with what you’re going to use. Otherwise, you’ll come across like that reluctant smile designer.

Here’s an example of just the right amount of cleverness: I have a highly unusual last name, one that’s a real challenge to say and spell. A former boss devised this handy guide: “It’s like ‘metallic’ except that you put an ‘R’ at the beginning and a ‘k’ after the ‘c’.”

I don’t know how she came up such a thing – it had never occurred to me. But “Metallic-Retallick” felt right from the moment I heard it – and that was 20 years ago. (Thanks, boss!)

via freelanceswitch.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Blue Collar Job Search: Your Elevator Pitch | JibberJobber Blog

This is a continuation of a number of thoughts I’m having as a work with a friend who is in a job search.  For the past four years I’ve thought about job search and career management for someone like me (white collar, executive, degreed + MBA, etc.), but I haven’t thought a lot about a job search or career management for a blue collar professional.  Previous posts include:

Blue Collar Job Search – How To Find A Blue Collar Job
Blue Collar Job Search – What Do You Want in a Job
Blue Collar Job Search – Identify Target Companies
Blue Collar Job Search – What Job Titles Do You Want?
Shame

Today we’ll go to the next logical place – how to communicate who you are and what you want to do to others.  The most common time you’ll communicate that is (a) when others ask how your job search is going, or (b) when others ask what you do for a living.

The reasons you have an elevator pitch (aka, Me in 30 Seconds) include:

• To develop/enhance your personal brand.  When someone wonders who they know who is expert in your space, you want them to think about YOU. This only happens if you help them know that you are the expert in that space.
• To help them understand what you want/need.
• To help them understand how they can help you (or at least start to think about it).

Today I hope to have a chat with my buddy and hear a few versions of his elevator pitch.  I’m guessing they will be about 25% good.  I’m biased and think that most elevator pitches can use significant improvement… I’m sure his will need a lot of help.

Can you state, in 30 seconds or less, what your brand/expertise is, as well as help me understand what you want and how I can help you?

This is NOT easy.  You get 30 seconds to wow or bore…. only 30 seconds to engage or turn off.  If you don’t put time and energy in the preparation, I’ll bet you will fail…

How are YOU doing on this?  Want to risk a bit and share your 30 seconds in the comments below?

via jibberjobber.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Giving Your Elevator Pitch During A Chance Encounter

Here’s something we’re all pretty good at doing.  Giving a prepared elevator speech.  Answering a question we know we’re likely to get.  I say “pretty good” because it is all relative.

Some are poorly built for “prepared” as the pressure to deliver that perfect answer builds over time.  And when you are called to speak.  When the big question comes that you’ve written a novel on, you freeze.  Or sound awfully rehearsed.  Not confident.

One of the keys, of course, creating a great elevator pitch.  One that you can deliver with confidence.

But today’s focus is on being ready for the possibility of a surprise opportunity.

You step on the elevator in an office building on interview day and come face to face with the CEO or another senior executive.  Of course you would have to recognize them first. And not over-react.

It could also be the department manager that you met briefly but have not interviewed with just yet.

So now you are actually on an elevator with a decision maker or influencer and you have 30 seconds.  Or less.  Now what?

Well, the reality is that 99% of us haven’t practiced this speech.  And it is unlike the one we practice in the mirror where we are sharing our background with a room of fellow networkers.  But I will say the correct approach here is like the one on one conversations we have at networking events.  The ones where we ask a few good questions, share a few key strengths and make sure that at least one memorable aspect of our lives is shared.

And there’s not much else you can do in 30 seconds.  The clock is ticking.

A few tips about taking advantage of the surprise opportunity:

1. Don’t delay.  If you truly have 30 seconds or less, don’t blow the first 10 seconds.  Try to engage immediately.
2. Don’t “chicken out”.  If you assume you’ll be bothering them with a conversation, you’ve already lost.  Of course, there are decent reasons to not interrupt (they are in another conversation, are on the phone or are otherwise overtly unavailable).
3. Be confident, friendly and respectful.  Someone they will see as worth their time.  Personally and professionally.

So, how do you fill up 30 seconds?  It goes fast!

First, introduce yourself and tell them why you are doing so:

“Good morning, I’m Tim Tyrell-Smith.  I’m interviewing today for the open marketing position.” (10 seconds including their response)

Second, ask a short, thoughtful question that shows you know something about the company or hiring criteria and can be answered in just a few words:

“Kim, what is the one key improvement you are looking for in the marketing department?”  (15 seconds including their answer)

Third, close with recognition of their time and the brief opportunity:

“Enjoyed the quick chance to say hello, Kim.  Thanks and hope to share my experience with you in more detail.  I grow brands and build profit with the best of them.” (5 seconds, a reinforcement of his desired improvement from above)

If you do it right, here’s what might happen.

• Your 30 seconds becomes five minutes as the conversation spills out into the lobby.
• A curious executive continues the conversation as he/she walks you to the HR department.
• You get a handshake, a smile and a nice story to tell in your interviews ( your chance meeting).
• An engaged executive comments to the hiring manager later about the the sharp candidate they met that morning.
• Nothing.  Unfortunately not every executive acts on an encounter like this.

The key is to make the interaction efficient, confident and conversational.

And whether you are on an elevator, an escalator or standing in line at the cafeteria.

Remember, time is short.

Photo Credit

via timsstrategy.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal