By: Lauren Hendrick
Elevator pitches are very important when trying to land an interview or a job. An elevator pitch is an introduction of who you are and the skills you acquire. It should be a short persuasive speech showing the best professional parts of yourself.
What not to include
Make sure you do not ramble on about yourself. Keep it short and sweet so they do not lose interest. The person you are talking to is most likely a very busy person, so respect their time.
Don’t include every little detail about your past jobs, or about the education you have received. Wrap up your experiences at these places in a sentence or two.
Try not to make your nerves obvious. This means don’t twirl and play with your hair, tap your foot or pull on your clothing. Stand tall and hold your head high with confidence you are right for whatever opportunity you are pursuing.
What to include
Think about an elevator ride. It’s usually never over a minute long, so make sure your pitch matches that time frame.
An elevator pitch should start with an introduction of who you are, what you’ve done and what you want to do. Give a summary of your education, background and work experience. Also, include any strengths and skills you have.
You should then start to explain what you want, whether it’s an interview, internship or job opportunity. Explain why you would like to work for their company.
Finish with giving them your resume and business card, and thank them for listening to you.
And the most important thing, remember to be yourself!
Now take advantage of these tips to create your own elevator pitch to use at the internship fair on Nov. 6.