Header LogoHeader LogoHeader LogoHeader Logo

  • Work with Ronda
    • Job Seeker
    • Career Coaches
    • Organizations
  • Workshops
  • Speaking
  • My Career Design Studio
  • Contact
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Articles
Blogposts
Book Reviews
Career Decision-Making
Career Design
Career Tip
Career Transition
Finding The Right Career Fit
In the News
Interviews
Job Interview Preparation
job search
Job Search Resources
Job Search Strategies
Making a Difference
My Career Design Studio
Networking
Online Self Assessments
Resource Article
Resource Video
Resources
Resumes
Salary Negotiation Strategy
Types of Jobs
Uncategorized
Your Career Design Studio

More results...

7 Reasons Why Career Design is More Effective than a Traditional Job Search
November 27, 2017
6 Steps to Building Your Community
December 4, 2017

A Winning Elevator Speech is Simply Talking about What you Want

The elevator speech gets a lot of emphasis as a needed tool for job seekers and business owners alike. However, I think that the elevator speech has become a thing to have and not a process to go through. These elevator speeches (rarely given on elevators, by the way!) help you to think through your strengths, your contributions, and what you need from your community in a few simple sentences. They should take the time it takes to travel from the lobby to the top floor of a tall building (…or the time it takes to go from the lobby to the third floor in a slow elevator).

The elevator speech isn’t something that you memorize word-for-word, but is rather a series of points, ideas, and action items that you want to have in your back pocket. You can use this “speech” while networking, in a job interview, in your LinkedIn profile, or in emails when you’re asking for an informational interview. The reason you don’t want to memorize it word-for-word is so that you can customize it for your audience. It is the distillation of how a person can help you in a memorable few sentences with a clear, specific request.

Here are the components of the elevator speech:

  • Start with who you are and what you do. If you are looking in a new field or changing careers, still introduce yourself as if you have the job or business that you want. After all, you are a social worker even if you’ve just graduated from school or a social entrepreneur even if you’re still working on your business plan. You want people to associate your name with the job or business you want. Keep this simple: “Hi, I’m Maurice and I’m a conflict mediator.”
  • Next, what is your specialization, your passion, your unique ideas, or whatever sets you apart and explains what you want to do? If you can frame this in terms of solving problems, so much the better. “I’m certified in communications and conflict resolution and I’m particularly passionate about working with administrators and teacher unions who have come to an impasse.”
  • Then, introduce what you want to contribute, i.e., what you’re looking for. “I’m currently looking for a job in the HR department of school district.”
  • Finally, what kind of support do you need: “Do you know of anyone I could talk to?” Have several of these requests handy in case they say “no” or the request simply doesn’t fit. “What would you do if you were me?” “How did you get started in your field?”

Most likely, if you’ve written this out, you’ve ended up with something that sounds stiff or too formal if you say it out loud. So, practice a few times until you find something that sounds like you. Before going to an event or gathering where you’re planning on networking (or community-building!), modify your elevator speech so that it’s relevant to the people you’re going to meet and say it in front of a mirror a few times beforehand until you feel completely comfortable introducing yourself to new people. Oh, and if you ever use an elevator speech in an elevator, leave a comment below. I’d love to hear about it!

Share
12

Related posts

right career fit
January 9, 2021

The Importance of Finding your Right Career Fit


Read more
new year new career New Years resolution, new career, Facebook Groups, LinkedIn
January 1, 2021

New Year, New Career! How to Keep your Resolution for a New Job in 2021


Read more
celebration marketing
July 10, 2020

How YOU Can Make a Difference


Read more

Search Our Site

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Articles
Blogposts
Book Reviews
Career Decision-Making
Career Design
Career Tip
Career Transition
Finding The Right Career Fit
In the News
Interviews
Job Interview Preparation
job search
Job Search Resources
Job Search Strategies
Making a Difference
My Career Design Studio
Networking
Online Self Assessments
Resource Article
Resource Video
Resources
Resumes
Salary Negotiation Strategy
Types of Jobs
Uncategorized
Your Career Design Studio

More results...

Learn More

Download Brochure

Work With Ronda

    • Job Seeker
    • Career Coaches
    • Organizations
    • Become a Partner
    • Become an Affiliate
    • Schedule a Free Consult
    • CareerDesign.Studio

Search Our Site





Generic selectors

Exact matches only


Search in title


Search in content



Search in posts


Search in pages

Filter by Categories

Articles


Blogposts


Book Reviews


Career Decision-Making


Career Design


Career Tip


Career Transition


Finding The Right Career Fit


In the News


Interviews


Job Interview Preparation


job search


Job Search Resources


Job Search Strategies


Making a Difference


My Career Design Studio


Networking


Online Self Assessments


Resource Article


Resource Video


Resources


Resumes


Salary Negotiation Strategy


Types of Jobs


Uncategorized


Your Career Design Studio

More results…

Join Our Community

  • Create Your Calling Community
  • Connect on
  • Connect on
  • Connect on
  • Connect on
  • Follow Us on
  • Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts

  • An effective job search during Coronavirus Pandemic is enhanced by these five tips
  • The Importance of Finding your Right Career Fit
  • New Year, New Career! How to Keep your Resolution for a New Job in 2021
  • The Rising of The Curriculum Vitae- Full History
  • Resume Pitfalls- 5 Things You Should Avoid Doing

Follow Us

Be the ChangeFollow

Be the Change

bethechangeccBe the Change@bethechangecc·

15 Jan

#FridayFunnies #NewYears #CareerGoals #NYEGoals #NoGoals

Reply on Twitter 1350058158669049857Retweet on Twitter 1350058158669049857Like on Twitter 1350058158669049857Twitter 1350058158669049857
bethechangeccBe the Change@bethechangecc·

14 Jan

Finding a new job or career in times like this can feel daunting, but really there is huge opportunity if you can pivot and see this time as an opportunity to find a better career fit than the job you’re currently in or recently lost.

Reply on Twitter 1349801413514309634Retweet on Twitter 1349801413514309634Like on Twitter 1349801413514309634Twitter 1349801413514309634
bethechangeccBe the Change@bethechangecc·

13 Jan

“About 30% of executives taking new jobs fail to figure out the company’s culture correctly & end up leaving soon,” said Peter Crist, chairman of executive-recruitment firm Crist/Kolder Assoc. The job market isn’t red hot any more, but still great info https://buff.ly/2tXmPNE

Reply on Twitter 1349455510651727872Retweet on Twitter 1349455510651727872Like on Twitter 1349455510651727872Twitter 1349455510651727872
bethechangeccBe the Change@bethechangecc·

13 Jan

When thinking about taking on a new career consider support groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. Some suggestions for utilizing this and other tactics to meet your 2021 goals can be found here: https://buff.ly/391Ezbd

Reply on Twitter 1349398811953819650Retweet on Twitter 1349398811953819650Like on Twitter 1349398811953819650Twitter 1349398811953819650
bethechangeccBe the Change@bethechangecc·

12 Jan

Research by Gabriele Oettingen suggests that achieving goals is a four-part process. Learn a bit about this process and how to set career goals for 2021 here: https://buff.ly/391Ezbd.

Reply on Twitter 1348969990758821888Retweet on Twitter 1348969990758821888Like on Twitter 1348969990758821888Twitter 1348969990758821888

Load More…

PRIVACY POLICY | Copyright © Be the Change Career Consulting
Another WordPress site created and hosted by Analytic Design and Mosaic Data Services

      Interested in FREE career advice and worksheets?

      JOIN THE BE THE CHANGE COMMUNITY