When you’re networking or engaging with other professionals who might present valuable opportunities, time is of the essence. There simply isn’t enough room for a long-winded introduction. That’s why it’s crucial to have a personal elevator pitch ready to roll—a concise yet impactful summary that showcases your professional brand and leaves a lasting impression on the people you meet.
Crafting Your Personal Elevator Pitch
In general, an elevator pitch refers to a short but powerful speech that aims to persuade others to embrace a new concept or invest in a new product. But when it comes to individuals, such as yourself, a personal or professional elevator pitch is all about promoting you as the product or service.
Think of it as your chance to shine and demonstrate your skills, highlight your experience, and give others a compelling reason to buy into you right away.
To create an effective personal elevator pitch, follow these three key steps:
Step 1: Describe Yourself in Two Sentences
When it comes to an elevator pitch, time is of the essence. After all, the name itself is derived from the notion that your speech should be short enough to deliver during a standard elevator ride. So, while you want to provide a strong sense of who you are, it’s important to keep it concise. Don’t worry—you’ll have plenty of time later to dive into more essential details if all goes well.
For now, focus on crafting two sentences that capture your professional identity. A good approach is to mention who you are, who you serve, and how you serve them.
For example: “Hi, I’m Jane, a digital marketing specialist with a passion for helping small businesses grow their online presence. I leverage my expertise in SEO and social media to drive targeted traffic and increase brand visibility.”
Step 2: Highlight Your Three Greatest Strengths
Next, it’s time to showcase your strengths to the person you’re conversing with. Pick three strengths that are relevant to their needs and interests. These strengths can be technical or soft skills, and they don’t necessarily have to be directly tied to your current job. We all possess a range of transferable skills from various areas of our lives. The key is to choose strengths that align with what you hope to achieve through this connection.
For example: “I am someone who establishes rapport easily, fostering productive relationships with clients and colleagues. I especially excel at coordinating cross-functional teams, ensuring smooth project execution and on-time delivery. And, I have a keen eye for data analysis, enabling me to make informed decisions and optimize marketing strategies for maximum ROI.”
Step 3: Mention Your Two Most Important Accomplishments
Finally, share two accomplishments that you’re particularly proud of from your educational or career journey. These accomplishments can include awards, recognition, significant projects you’ve led, or problems you’ve successfully solved. Compile a list of your achievements and select the two that had the most impact or are most relevant to your current goals.
Make sure to include a brief explanation of the results of your accomplishments as well.
For example: “Most recently, I’ve successfully spearheaded a social media campaign that resulted in a 30% increase in engagement and a 20% boost in conversions, generating substantial revenue for the company. I’ve also received the ‘Outstanding Marketing Professional’ award for a particularly innovative marketing campaign, which achieved a record-breaking open rate.”
Remember, while we would all love to have meaningful one-on-one interactions with our new connections, a well-crafted personal elevator pitch can lay a strong foundation and ensure that others remember you. And that’s half the battle when it comes to forging valuable professional relationships.
Overall, your personal brand can help you to stand out and step out in your career. Leveraging your unique passions, talents, and values, you can create a powerful narrative that showcases who you are and what you’re capable of doing. Learn more about creating and using your personal brand to your advantage in our event, “The Power of Personal Branding: Ignite Your Success.”
