Allison Harper

One of the hardest things to do when you’re looking for a job is to sum up who you are and what you want in a brief conversation. But it’s also one of the most important things to practice if you want to capitalize on both official and unofficial networking opportunities. Whether you’re attending a professional event or a job fair, or simply chatting with another parent as you drop the kids off at soccer practice, it’s crucial that you be able to tell people your story clearly and concisely. Generally, you should be able to give your pitch in about the time you’d spend talking to someone during a ride in an elevator, about 30 seconds.

The first step in crafting your elevator pitch is to think deeply about what you want in the near and far future. See our past post, Crafting Personal Vision and Mission Statements, for specific advice. The general format is to sum up what you’ve done, what you are looking for now, and what’s positive about this endeavor. Don’t be discouraged if this takes a lot of effort to get right. Advertising executives know that one of the hardest things to do is to distill a message into a short communication. Once your pitch is crafted, it will seem natural and effortless, but there is a great deal of work that has to take place ‘backstage’ before you present it to your audience.

When mixing with groups of people at networking events or parties, it’s best to be up-front about the fact that you’re currently seeking employment. After all, job seeking is just part of your career path, and everyone else has to deal with the same thing sooner or later. When someone asks what you do, you can respond, “I’ve just graduated, so now I’m in the thick of the job search,” or, “I’ve worked in advertising for a number of years, and now I’m actively looking for a position in marketing.” The other person will inevitably respond with more questions, and you then have the opportunity to clarify what specific positions you’re applying for. This is when your preparation pays off. If you’ve clarified your vision and mission, assessed your strengths, and researched the field of companies and careers, you will be able to answer in a confident, simple way.

As you study these sample elevator pitches, think about how you might condense what you’ve done, what you’re best at, and what you want:

“I majored in finance in college, then did some internships in politics, and now I’m looking for a position in the staffing industry. I feel lucky to have had the chance to work on Capitol Hill, but I also realized that wasn’t the path for me. I’m interested in using my communication skills in a job where I get to interact with a lot of people, and even help them on their career paths.”

“I’ve spent the last twenty years working in real estate finance, from investment banking to developing properties, so I have a great deal of experience on all sides. What I’m most interested in now is using my skill set to assess real estate deals for a Private Equity firm. I enjoy using my expertise to create value in the real estate industry.”

“I began my career as an administrative assistant, then spent time raising my family. Now I’m refocusing on my career and looking for an administrative position that’s fairly flexible. I’ve done a lot of research to get up to speed on all the tools available today, and I know with my knowledge of contact database apps I can do great work for a company, even from home.”