The Elevator Pitch – A Job Hunter’s Secret Weapon

Many of us will have heard of an ‘Elevator Pitch’ as a key asset in the armoury of a sales person. In a few brief words an effective Elevator Pitch will define the unique ability of a proposition to deliver real and sustainable value to a potential customer.

A carefully polished and practiced Elevator Pitch will convey a compelling and memorable message that encourages the customer to take a desired course of action – and all before the mythical elevator, reaches the fourth floor!

So, if we can see the value of a professional, structured Elevator Pitch for a salesperson why isn’t it seen as a basic requirement for a job hunter?

Well, it should be, it’s as simple as that!

A job hunt is a sales campaign, or to be more specific a “Solution Sales” campaign. The job hunter is both sales person AND the ‘value add’ solution. On one hand that can be is challenging, but on the other hand it gives the job hunter one significant advantage – who could possibly know your solution, your ability to add value to an employer, better than yourself?

But very successful Solution Sales Professional will tell you the same thing – a successful sales campaign needs a detailed understanding of both the solution and the problem it is solving, consistent messaging, great collateral and an understanding of the buyers priorities and all of this, to be done successfully needs preparation.

And that where you Elevator Pitch comes in – and it comes in right up front in your job hunt; before you have written your CV (it will inform the process) and before you have identified target organisations or roles and before you start preparing for interviews

What An Elevator Pitch Is And What It Is Not

Your elevator pitch is not your autobiography, it’s an overview of who you are, what you do and how you can help the listener, how your solution (your skills, experience and approach) can add value to, and solve, the problems the listener is battling with.

It’s you selling yourself in a brief and concise manner, using a format that most people are familiar with. When properly done, the elevator pitch is a powerful tool that highlights your unique selling points and tells potential employers why they should hire you. It should be no longer than a typical elevator ride (about 30 seconds) or about 100 words.

Why do I need an Elevator Pitch?

Sure, the old adage that you never know who you may meet comes into play. The interviewer may walk you to the interview room and casually ask you “So, why are you here?’ – prompt your elevator pitch. You may be at a networking event when you are introduced to a potential target who asks what you are looking for – prompt your elevator pitch.

Great connections are made face-to-face, and are sometimes unplanned. In your job hunt you will be meeting potential employers, networking with various contacts and colleagues and striking up business relationships. Some of these meetings may be planned, some unplanned so you may only have a brief opportunity to start a conversation and make an impact. The elevator pitch prepares you for these opportunities and equips you with a powerful tool to get the most out of a chance meeting.

The opportunities may be varied and in different and sometimes intimidating circumstances – you need a carefully rehearsed, precise ‘pitch’ that you feel confident and comfortable delivering.

Is An Elevator Pitch Just For Face To Face Meeting?

Oh no.

An Elevator Pitch plays a much bigger part in your job hunt than just supporting unplanned meetings and pitch opportunities.

Once you have honed those100 words you have documented your core messaging every written and verbal communication throughout your job hunt. You have considered language and phrase options and landed on your perfect pitch. You have learnt to understand where your value to the employer lies and how to communicate it, simply and succinctly.

Consistent, intelligently crafted messages that are repeated, almost as a mantra throughout an assessment process, from application and CV to offer negotiation and close are incredibly powerful ….. if you get them right.

As with all things that are worth getting right, getting them right is a challenge and getting them right needs proven a framework to help structure your work.

The 7+3 ‘C’s Model For Creating A Perfect Elevator Pitch

I have worked with hundreds, if not thousands, of job hunters over the years and one of the very first things we always do is document the Elevator Pitch, practically before anything else.

At I Got Hired™ we have developed the 7+3 ‘C’s Model. A simple structure that defines the creation of a pitch that will support generic messaging AND the all important face to face encounter.

The first 7 ‘C’s apply to both purposes, while the last three just apply to face to face pitches.

So, a powerful Elevator Pitch needs to be:

Concise - Make your point early and make it clearly.
Clear - The pitch should be easily understood and not filled with acronyms and
Compelling – Sell yourself as a solution to a potential problem.
Credible - Spell out what makes you qualified to do what you do.
Conceptual - Don't go into too many details.
Concrete - The pitch should be tangible and easily grasped by the listener.
Consistent - All versions of your pitch should have a consistent message.

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Customized - Tailor your pitch to suit the audience, when you have an audience
Conversational - Keep it casual (not too pushy) – its a conversation not a presentation
Call To Action - Its not always about asking the audience to act – sometimes you’re just asking for permission to act yourself

At the end of the pitch, you’ll want the listener to think “how can I employ this person?” One way of doing this is to encourage them to contact you, give you their business card or to book a meeting right away.

However, the ‘Call To Action’ can be just as powerful if you are asking for their permission to act;

“Could I drop you my CV by email this evening”

“Would it be OK if I call you tomorrow to discuss this further”. etc etc.

Having a great pitch in writing is only half of the battle – now yopu have to make sure your delivery is as strong, powerful and natural as your carefully chosen words

Now that you have put your pitch together, it’s time to rehearse. Do it to your friends, in front of a mirror, on your webcam and don’t stop until you are not only happy with your delivery but COMFORTABLE with it too. You can’t afford to freeze at the all important moment

Now you can deliver the perfect pitch when you really need it.

Conclusion

A well crafted elevator pitch will come in handy in an interview or a chance meeting with a potential employer or when making a speculative telephone enquiry.

We have found over the years that following this approach and spending a few hours crafting, editing and refining your pitch can be the most important time you spend in your job hunt.