What's an elevator pitch - and how will it land me great jobs?

Whether you’re at a networking event, an interview, or simply chatting with a new business acquaintance, having a well-crafted, ready-to-go elevator pitch can make a huge difference in how you’re perceived and the professional opportunities that come your way.

What’s an elevator pitch, you may be asking?

In this blog post, we’ll talk you through what one is, the typical structure, how to create one for yourself, and how to adapt it for verbal or written delivery.

What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a short, compelling summary of who you are and what you do professionally. It's delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator—around 30 to 60 seconds. Hence the name.

If you’ve been at work events and someone asked, ‘So, what do you do?’, you probably ran off a quick spiel about your title, the company you work for, and a few brief facts about your job.

That’s an elevator pitch.

The point is to communicate key information about yourself in a short enough time to grab attention, but not so long as to bore the other person.

A good elevator pitch usually contains the following elements:

Introduction: Your name and current role Value Proposition: A summary of what you do and how you add value Goals: What you’re looking for or hoping to achieve (Optional) Engagement: A hook to encourage further conversation or action (Optional)

The first two elements are always included. Goals and Engagement depend on the context and purpose of your elevator pitch.

We’ll discuss when these might be used below.

When and Where to Use an Elevator Pitch?

Elevator pitches are fantastically versatile tools that can be used in various situations:

• At networking events, to quickly introduce yourself to new contacts
• In response to the question, “Tell me about yourself” at job interviews
• When meeting potential clients, partners, or collaborators
• As a concise, engaging introduction when reaching out to headhunters or potential employers
• To introduce yourself before giving a presentation or speech

As it can be delivered either verbally or in writing, elevator pitches are super flexible.

Structuring an Elevator Pitch

You can remember the typical structure of an elevator pitch through this acronym: IVGE.

Remember, that’s:

Introduction (I): Your name and current role

Value Proposition (V): A summary of what you do and how you add value

Goals (G) you’re looking for or hoping to achieve (Optional)

Engagement (E): A hook to encourage further conversation or action (Optional)

Every elevator pitch contains I and V.

Goal

You might include a Goal (G) when you’re interested in a specific outcome, for example to communicate your expertise in a specific area, when engaging with someone who could benefit from this.

“I’m passionate about helping businesses to incorporate AI solutions into their employee training strategy.” “I have a strong track record in devising data-driven marketing strategies to help SMEs like yours to scale upwards.”

Engagement

The Engagement (E) element is for when you want to achieve a particular action, for example agree a meeting, land an interview, or connect with the person on LinkedIn.

“I’d love to keep in touch. How do I find you on LinkedIn?’’ “If you have time next week, I’d be happy to explain this solution over coffee.”

Verbal Elevator Pitch Examples

IV

"I'm Diane White, an Investment Manager at Clima Ventures. I specialize in start-ups and scale-ups, helping them navigate the complexities of investment and growth.”

IVG

"Hi, I'm Alex Johnson, a Senior Software Engineer at Tech Innovators. I develop AI-driven applications to transform the way businesses operate. My goal is to make operational processes faster, freeing up time for people to focus on skill growth, not wasting it on boring tasks that can be easily automated.”

IVGE

"Hi, I'm Maria Gonzalez, Marketing Director at Creative Spark. I work closely with educational institutions on their digital marketing and brand strategy. I’m responsible for creating innovative campaigns to help attract foreign students. I’d love to stop by your office to present my portfolio and share some client success metrics.”

Written Elevator Pitch Examples

The same elements that make a great verbal pitch can be adapted for written introductions, such as LinkedIn summaries, mini bios, email introductions, or cover letters.

IV

My name is Diane White. I’m an Investment Manager at Clima Ventures. I specialize in start-ups and scale-ups, helping them navigate the complexities of investment and growth.

IVG

I am a Senior Software Engineer at Tech Innovators. I develop AI-driven applications to transform the way businesses operate. My goal is to make operational processes faster, freeing up time for people to focus on skill growth instead of wasting it on boring tasks that can be easily automated.

IVGE

As the Marketing Director at Creative Spark, I leverage over a decade of experience in guiding educational institutions on their digital marketing and brand strategy. I am particularly responsible for creating innovative campaigns to help attract foreign students. I am currently looking for an exciting new career progression opportunity. I would be delighted to interview in person so that I can present my portfolio and share some client success metrics.

Tips to Craft Your Own Elevator Pitch

Depending on the context, and whether it’s verbal or written, decide which formula is best for your needs (IV, IVG, or IVGE).

Before getting started, make some notes on the following:

• What do you want to achieve with your pitch? Are you looking to network, land a job, or attract clients? Identify your goal.
• Who is your audience? Tailor your pitch to their interests and needs.
• Read it and say it out loud to check length: Keep your pitch between 30 to 60 seconds.
• Practise makes perfect: Rehearse your pitch until it feels natural and confident.

Using ChatGPT to Write Your Elevator Pitch

If you’re struggling to create your elevator pitch, you can use a tool like ChatGPT to help. Here’s a prompt to get you started:

"Please create a 30-60 second elevator pitch for someone named Your Name, who is a Your Job Title with Number years of experience in Your Industry. They specialize in Your Specialty and are passionate about Something Unique or Valuable You Offer. They are looking to Your Goal. Include a hook to encourage further conversation or engagement."

Conclusion

Having a short, ready-to-go elevator pitch is invaluable for a variety of professional contexts. It enables you to communicate your value quickly, clearly and concisely, making a strong impression on potential employers, clients, and networking contacts.

By regularly practicing and refining your pitch, it will sound natural and up-to-date.

Key takeaways

• An elevator pitch is a short, compelling summary of who you are and what you do professionally, delivered in about 30-60 seconds (i.e. the time it takes to ride an elevator)
• It typically includes an introduction, a value proposition, and optionally, goals and engagement hooks to encourage further conversation
• Elevator pitches are useful in a variety of contexts, such as networking events, job interviews, meeting potential clients, or reaching out to headhunters
• An effective elevator pitch can be easily adapted for verbal delivery or written formats like LinkedIn summaries, email introductions, and cover letters
• To craft your own pitch, consider your goals and audience. Keep it concise. Practice until it feels natural
• Use tools like ChatGPT to help create or refine your elevator pitch, ensuring it’s tailored to your unique professional story
• Don’t forget to update and practice it regularly to keep your elevator pitch relevant

For more insights, tips and strategies related to this topic, be sure to read our other articles: 6 Ways to Leverage Marketing Psychology in Your Job Search & 7 Ways to Build Your Professional Brand & Stand Out to Employers