How to Write an Elevator Pitch for Job Search Networking

How to Write an Elevator Pitch for Job Search Networking Posted on July 16, 2018November 16, 2018 by Sarah Landrum The job hunt involves online searches, applications, and editing your resume and cover letter, but the search shouldnt end tzu siche. Developing your skills and networking are also vital partes of a successful job search strategy.While attending an event might make you squirm with anxiety, it offers a prime opportunity to build your network and your job search confidence and possibly an invitation to interview or share your portfolio. Thats why you should have your networking elevator pitch at the ready. Here are a few tips for building, perfecting, and owning your 30- to 60-second spotlight.What is an elevator pitch?Imagine walking into an elevator with the owner of your dream company. You have limited time to position yourself as invaluable to them thats why its called an elevator pitch.You must snag the attention and interest of a prospective employer, taking only 3 0 to 60 seconds to express your intent, skills, and unique attributes. Your goal is to convince this employer that you can solve one of their problems or otherwise contribute to their success with authenticity, expertise, and confidence.Making a belastunging, positive, and professional impression in this way shows you respect the employers time and responsibilities. Plus, youre mora likely to stand out and secure an interview for the position you covet.Think of an elevator pitch as a snapshot of your professional self and what you do. Its mora than a summary, and you shouldnt say it in a monotone voice like a bio listing publication credits. Whether you just graduated or are a seasoned professional, you possess accomplishments that reveal what you can offer in your next position.What goes into a successful elevator pitch?Opportunities to share your elevator pitch start with simple conversation or a handshake. The spotlight is on you once youve piqued their interest. Know the purpose behind your pitch, and build it by explaining who you are and what you do. Gain attention with a question or statement. Communicate your unique selling point and your goal. Leave with a card or meeting. Those are the elements of building a networking elevator pitch, but its easier said than done. Heres a breakdown of each part in further detail.1. An elevator pitch includes intentAs with a casual conversation, professional conversations center on connection. The difference is that youre doing the talking with the elevator pitch, and your intent must come through clearly. Its more than, I want a job at your company.Thats your goal. Knowing your goal matters, but what is the intent behind it? Whats at stake? This will guide your pitch creation.2. Who are you? What do you do?Briefly but cohesively explain who you are and what you do, but make sure you do so with excitement. If youre bored, theyre bored.Above all, be authentic.3. Hook them with your elevator pitchWho is your audience? What information, fact, or detail would interest them? What interests you? Hook them with a statement or question. Work it into your pitch. What sets you apart is an intrinsic part of your hook, which leads into your unique selling point (USP).4. Get in your USP ASAPAs soon as you hook them, dont hold back Go right for your unique selling point. Your USP communicates what makes you different and how you offer skills that solve a pain point that is unobtainable from any other resource. Your hook should flow right into your USP, but be careful with the conversation flow if you ask a question.5.If you pose a question, listenAn elevator pitch doesnt mean you drone on and on about yourself. If you pose a question as a part of your hook, be prepared to listen and actively respond to what the other person says. Its bad manners to pose a question without expecting a response and launch into the rest of your pitch. At that point, you might as well be selling snake oil.Actively listen. Create conversation. Your pitch becomes part of an intriguing and engaging conversation.6. Make Opportunities for Future ConnectionDepending on who you speak with and how the elevator pitch goes, consider how you will close. Youre not closing a deal. Youre making opportunities for future connection. Trade business cards or name cards. Ask for an opportunity to follow up.How to write an elevator pitchIdeally, your pitch should run about 30 seconds long, and your longest elevator pitch should only go for a minute. Thats a short amount of time to make an impression, but thats what it takes when competing against a large number of people.That said, youll start with much more content and switch the details around like putting a puzzle together. Youll find pieces work in certain discussions that dont work in others, and it may take trial and error to find what works best for you. Make friends with flexibility, and variate your pitch depending on the different people you meet.Your pitch isnt a s ummary of your resume remain relevant to keep them interested, and you wont be the one asking for a business card. Give them something to remember you by but dont ramble and dont push too hard. Be sure to prepare in advance, such as checking out who will be speaking, gleaning the event schedule, and arriving early to get acquainted with the environment.Jot down ideas as they come to you and piste on to your notes. Index cards are helpful, and you can move them around. You can also use an index card app to organize your pitch for effective storytelling with the options right at your fingertips.Practice with a friend over coffee, slipping in bits of your pitch into the conversation. Youll soon become a networking ninja with the ability to naturally and authentically variate and introduce your pitch into a talk even about the weather. Its important to utilize your pitch in this fashion because youre competing with others, and theyre all around you.Elevator Pitch ExampleNext time you find yourself on a 10-floor elevator ride with a leader you admire, dont let your nerves get the best of you. Remember these tips, and try something like thisHi, their name, I recognize you from place of employment and admire something specific about their work Im your name, a recently relocated teacher from town four hours from the closest big city.Im moving on from an incredibly rewarding but one of the toughest teaching assignments in my career. After the school district consistently placed in the lowest percentile for the last decade, I was brought in to help. The students didnt lack intelligence they needed resources Imagine outdated textbooks, a barren library with slow internet and an abysmal student to computer ratio in this age.So, I gathered concerned teachers and parents and petitioned the local government. We built a new computer lab, put computers in the library and updated textbooks. The dropout rate is now down, the students are scoring over 20% higher, and I aim t o bring that same enthusiasm and dedication to my next teaching role. Its amazing where we find ourselves. Id love to talk more specifically about those students and your school.Of course, this is just one example. Tailor it to suit your situation and skills, and the employer will hopefully offer you an interview or at least encourage you to apply for an open position within the company.Remember, lead with the essential information, stay authentic and go for the close and keep in mind that your goal is to create an opportunity for a future connection. Your perfected elevator pitch can help you make those connections and hopefully land you a great new job.Not quite ready for the face-to-face? Get started onlineThe Only Way Recruiters Will Find You on LinkedInLinkedIn Profile Writing GuideHow to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job A Great Profile is Not EnoughAdditional networking tipsHow to Create a Networking ResumeNetworking Your Way to a New JobMillennial career expert Sarah Landrum is th e founder of Punched Clocks, a career blog focused on helping you find happiness in life and at work. 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