It’s 9.30 AM. You’ve just sat down in a fancy, industrial-style meeting room that screams “successful startup”. A freshly brewed cup of coffee steams in your nervous hands. Then you hear the words:
“It’s very nice to meet you, Laura! Maybe we could start with you telling me about yourself?”
An elevator pitch (or elevator speech) is your personal brand statement. It’s a quick way to introduce yourself and the perfect answer to one of the most common job interview questions – “Tell me about yourself”.
While the name ‘elevator pitch’ may sound like it comes straight from the ‘80s, don't let the buzzwordy name fool you: a good pitch is a must-have for every millennial job seeker! It’s your secret weapon for your next job interview and it will separate you from your competition.
Luckily, crafting a speech that will wow the recruiter is pretty easy. To nail your elevator pitch, you just have to know the right tricks. And you guessed it - that’s exactly what we’ll cover in this post!
Ps. Don’t miss the cherries on the cake! As a bonus, we have some sugary elevator pitch examples waiting for you in the end.
Why you need an elevator pitch (even if you think you don’t)
‘Elevator pitch’ refers to a short introduction that you could deliver during a 30-second elevator ride – hence the peculiar name. Basically, it just means a short, rehearsed pitch that you can use when you introduce yourself to someone.
A well-prepared and powerful elevator pitch tells a story about who you are as a person and why you ended up applying for the job. It’s your unique selling proposition that will have employers fall in love with you in no time!
Improvising your way forward can work for some, but for most people, this will only result in an uninteresting story that fails to impress. But time is money. You don’t want to waste precious interview time on rambling about something completely irrelevant.
More importantly, first impressions matter. And what better way to impress the person you’re talking to than by introducing yourself with a bang?
In case you’re wondering: your story doesn’t have to fit in 30 seconds but try to keep it short and sweet. Otherwise, you’ll just end up losing the attention of the other person (it’s called a 30-second elevator pitch for a reason!).
The secret sauce of the perfect pitch
In the context of job searching, think of your elevator speech as your personal sales pitch.
It doesn’t have to be a sleazy, “Hire me because I can do anything” type of speech. It should just show that you are a likeable person and a potential hire.
Keep in mind that your interviewer doesn’t want to hear your entire life history. Neither is she interested in unrelated facts like your favourite ice cream flavour (unless you’re applying to become the HR Manager of a gelato factory - in that case, rave about Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough all you want).
She wants to understand what you can offer that is relevant for the position and why you’re interested in joining their company.
This doesn’t mean that your pitch should be a chronological description of your work history and job titles. The recruiter has read your resume or LinkedIn profile and is likely familiar with your professional experience. And if she isn’t, she will ask you about it.
So, what's the X-factor of a killer elevator pitch? A compelling story.
We all love a good story – that’s just how our brain is wired. If you tell a to-the-point and captivating story, you will have the interviewer hooked within minutes.
A few tips before you start
Your elevator pitch is about introducing yourself. But beware: don't make it all about you.
You are always delivering the pitch to someone: a recruiter, your future boss or someone else from within your dream company. You want to impress them, so make it interesting for them!
To do this, you must know the company inside out.
Research the company and its competitors. Find out everything you can about the company, what they do and why they do it. Gathering a lot of information will help you choose the right angle for your speech. This way, you will be able to include quirky details that are relevant for the job as well as the company that you’re targeting.
Also, avoid overused words like “detail-oriented” or “team player” and opt for more raw language. Most job seekers sound exactly the same because they say what they think they should say.
Don’t be that person. You have the right to sound like yourself!
If it helps, try drafting your pitch like you would speak. Then edit it so that it sounds professional enough but still feels authentic to you.
Fun details help keep your story interesting. Instead of simply stating that you're studying marketing, what about: “I studied astrology for one year before I realised that marketing would probably make a more viable career path than gazing stars”.
Finally, don't forget to back up your claims whenever you can. Numbers, other peoples’ opinions and examples speak louder than your own words ever could.
Don’t say “I’m very creative”. Say, “I guess I’m quite creative. My colleagues have said that they’ve never met anyone who can throw so many wild ideas and then test them so quickly. For instance, this one time…”
Components of a perfect pitch
The basics
Introduction - Before doing anything else, make sure to introduce yourself if you haven’t already. This is important especially if you’re presenting your pitch at the beginning of an interview. Don’t forget to express that you’re happy to meet the other person. Simple as that!
Background - Some advice state that you should dive straight into your captivating story. We believe that saying a word or two about your background can set a more natural tone for your pitch.
Let the other person know what you’re currently doing. If you work for a company that is not well known, say a few words about the company itself. This could be as simple as “I’m working as a Marketing Manager for XYZ. It’s a health tech startup in Stockholm that has recently raised 10M€ in series A funding for world domination.”
If you’re targeting a junior level role, just explain what you’ve studied and where.
#1 Hook
This is where you get to use your storytelling skills in the form of a short and interesting tale. Pick 1-2 details from your background that relate to the job and the skills that you have (or are willing to acquire). Then, tell your story.
It should mirror your relevant career interests and help explain why you’re interested in the job. The idea is to show the listener that this job could be a natural next step on your career path. Naturally, it should also grab their attention!
#2 Value proposition
After you’ve launched your pitch with a stunning start, it’s time to showcase your value. In essence, you’ll show the other party how they could benefit from hiring you. The best way to do this is to explain how you can contribute to solving their problems.
No one is recruiting unless they need something. You’ve done your homework and researched the company for their biggest pain points. Thus, identifying their needs and how you can meet them shouldn’t be a problem.
Let’s say you’re targeting a marketing position at a small startup. They likely need someone who has a basic understanding of marketing (or is eager to learn). That person should also be full of ideas and not afraid of trying different marketing tactics on a small budget.
Your task? To explain how you can fulfil this need!
#3 The praising punch
By now, you’ve established yourself as a likeable must-have expert (or soon-to-be-expert). What’s left is the final punch that will have the other party falling in love with you (if she hasn’t already!).
So how do you make the other party feel special? By complimenting them!
We’re not talking about buttering them up with statements like “I’ve wanted to work for you ever since I understood what the word 'accounting' meant”. Instead, you will make them feel special by telling them why you want to work for them.
Is it because they are the absolute forerunner in their field? Or because you’ve never seen employees as happy as their people on their cool Instagram stories?
Share the love in a way that feels authentic to you!
Writing your pitch
Now for the fun part: finalising your pitch!
Grab a notebook (or your laptop) and write down the key points that you want to include in your elevator pitch. Then write a quick first draft without being too critical. Once you have your draft ready, re-write it until you feel comfortable with your text. Use 30-60 minutes on this step.
To help you get started, we suggest using an all-in approach.
This means writing whatever the Eff you come up with. Now is not the time to be shy. Going gaga will also get your creative juices flowing like nothing else! Don’t worry – you can always edit (and tone down) your speech later.
Once you’re happy with your final draft, let it sit it for a few hours or overnight. This will distance you from the pitch and give you more clarity. If you don’t have that kind of time, don’t worry - even a coffee break will do.
Then, get back to your pitch. Read it and edit it once again. This may take up to one hour (or even more), depending on how quickly it’s taking form.
Work on your pitch until you feel that it checks the above boxes and, most importantly, sounds like you. Just remember - perfect is the opposite of done!
Delivering your pitch
You're nearly there! The final step is to rehearse your pitch.
Read your pitch aloud alone and if possible, to someone else. Memorise it. Don’t stop until you can deliver your pitch with confidence and clarity. Practice, practice, practice!
The idea is not to rehearse it so much that you sound like a robot, but to internalise your main message. That way, you will leave room for improvisation without having to stress over the details.
Also, keep in mind that there are dozens of ways to deliver a persuasive elevator pitch. If you’ve put the effort to craft a compelling story and rehearsed it so that you sound like yourself, you’ll be fine!
When it’s time to deliver your pitch, be bold and believe in yourself – if someone else can get the job, so can you!
Pay attention to your body language. Smiling can help you relax and it’s also one of the best ways to connect with people. Showcase that bright white smile of yours and remember to maintain eye contact with the person you’re talking to.
You’ve got this!
Elevator pitch examples to steal
To get you started, we’ve compiled three different pitches to inspire you. You would, of course, articulate each pitch in your own way, using your own tone and showcasing your unique personality.
Fresh out of law school
"Hi, my name is Laura. I’ve recently graduated from The University of XYZ, which is actually ranked as the best law school in Sweden.
[The hook] Unlike most of my fellow students, it took me a while to choose my career path. I’m a huge Suits fan, but that wasn’t what convinced me to become a lawyer. I’ve always had this huge drive to make a difference and I’m also quite analytical. When I was talking to a friend about my options, I suddenly realised that law could be a great choice.
[Value proposition] During my studies, I participated in a bunch of mock trials and courses in procedural rights. To quote one of my professors: “I’ve never met a student who is so eager to fight for her clients”. I guess I just have this huge drive to help people. I’m now looking for a job where I can put this interest into practice.
[The praise] Your firm is one of the hottest boutique law firms in Stockholm. I contacted one of your associates and she mentioned that you work very hard to keep your lawyers healthy and happy. I also know that you do some pro bono cases. This kind of ethical work environment is exactly where I’d feel at home!"
A few years’ experience in marketing
"Hi, I’m Laura – I’m a Marketing Manager for Unicorn which is a rising fintech startup in Helsinki.
[Hook] I always thought that I’d work for a major corporation and climb up the ladder. But after I graduated from XYZ, I found myself doing an internship at Unicorn. I was very impressed with their enthusiasm to make crazy things happen. Like in any small startup, I soon got more responsibility and became their Marketing Manager.
[Value proposition] Even though I’ve worked with a little bit of everything, and I’ve noticed that producing great content is what I do best. Now that I’d love to step into bigger shoes, I started researching quickly growing companies that might benefit from an in-house content producer. I found you and here we are!
[The praise]. You have a fascinating brand and I’ve been using your skincare products for a few years. Nothing would make me happier than to be a part of your growth journey and help you create amazing content that converts into new, happy customers."
Changing careers to HR and recruiting
"I’m Laura, a finance assistant at XYZ.
[The hook] I’ve been working in finance for the last five years. I’m great at pumping numbers, but I’ve always been fascinated about people. I’ve participated in several recruitments of new employees to our team. I’ve even started writing articles for an HR blog.
[Value proposition] With every day that passes, I’m more convinced that my heart lies in finding the best talent. My head is filled with big ideas about improving recruiting processes and my data-driven approach would probably be an asset in HR. So, I’ve decided to take the plunge and start a new career in recruitment.
[The praise] I’m seeking a company that wants to improve their candidate experience and values fresh ideas. I know that you have an exceptional company culture and work hard to find the best employees. We seem to share the same interests and I think we’d get along very well!"
Key takeaways:
Share the love