The 60-second Introductionor “Elevator Speech”

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Brief personal advertisement

30 seconds to 1 minuteEngaging and captivating

What is an “Elevator Speech?”

Any cold call opportunityVoice mail messageCareer FairReceptions Interview introductionConferencesAny networking

opportunity

Uses for an Elevator Speech

I am (personal introduction)

My interests are (relevant to listener’s needs)

I know about your organization (I have done my research)

My skills/accomplishments are (I can do what needs to be done)

I would like an interview/meeting/referral (I feel confident you will benefit from the meeting)

Components of an Elevator Speech

Name______________

Graduating with a ______degree in May from_________________

Looking for a position as a ________________

I am…

Examples:

developing marketing plans

in the field of ___________

providing ____________service

My interests are…

Examples:

I’ve researched your company and learned ____

You produce _____________

You are a leader in ________

You need _______ in your company

I know you…

Examples:

I excel at _________

I can bring _________

My previous supervisors have said I ______

I produced _______

I can deliver __________

In my last position I accomplished _______

My skills/accomplishments are…

You must make a request at the end of your speech

e.g. Do you mind if I connect with you on LinkedIn? Email you?

Don’t ask for a position or about benefits

You want to discuss further: your skills the companya projectobtain career advicea referral

I would like an interview/meeting/referral

(I am) “Hi, I’m/this is Mary Smith. I’ll be

Graduating from USF in May with a bachelors degree in marketing and I have a real passion for the environment.

(Interests) I love creating outside-the-box marketing strategies for new products, especially environmentally-sensitive ones.

(I know you) I understand that your company has produced some new products that aren’t on the market yet.

(My skills / accomplishments) Last semester, while interning for a local firm I created an aggressive marketing campaign for a new product, which improved their sales.

(I’d like to meet) I’d love to talk to you about how I might be able to use the skills I've learned to help your company. Are you available for a brief meeting on Monday or Tuesday?”

Sample elevator speech, separated into components

“Hi, I’m/this is Mary Smith. I’ll be graduating from USF in May with a bachelors degree in marketing and I have a real passion for the environment. I love creating outside-the-box marketing strategies for new products, especially environmentally-sensitive ones. I understand that your company has produced some new green products that aren’t on the market yet. Last semester, while interning for a local firm I created an aggressive marketing campaign for a new product, which improved their sales.

I’d love to talk to you about how I might be able to use the skills I've learned to help your company. Are you available for a brief meeting on Monday or Tuesday?”

Putting it all together

Do: Rewrite your speech in order to sharpen its focus. Make it sincere and provide a glimpse into your personality. Speak confidently and enthusiastically. Practice your speech until you’re comfortable with it from beginning to end. Maintain eye contact with your listener. Prepare different versions for different situations.

Don’t: Use more words than necessary. Include industry jargon or acronyms. Rush breathlessly through it. Make a “canned” presentation.

Some Do’s and Don’ts

References:

http://www.quintcareers.com

Networking for Job Search and Career Success: L. Michelle Tullier, Ph.D.

Getting the Job You Really Want: Michael Farr

Resources