Have you ever found yourself sharing an elevator with an important person who could boost your career—if only you knew just the right thing to say?
Probably not.
But luckily, the concept of an “elevator pitch” doesn’t require you to actually be in an elevator. The idea is that you should plan ahead for any unexpected moment when you need to share your concept, plan, or business quickly.
How does it work, what makes a good one, and should you really have your own? Let’s take a look at how to write an elevator pitch you can then use to open doors for your career, whether or not you’re in an elevator.
What Is an Elevator Pitch?
The basic concept is easy to grasp: An elevator pitch is a short speech meant to convince someone your idea or brand is worth their time.
The idea behind the “elevator pitch” name is that elevator rides tend to last less than 30 seconds, so your pitch should, too. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re really under the time constraints of an elevator. If your pitch goes much over 30 seconds, the person listening will probably lose interest.
Keeping it short also prevents you from rambling on in your nervousness, burying the point of your pitch under too many words. When you need to impress someone fast, having a short, prepared speech helps ensure you don’t get in your own way.
Different elevator pitches can have different purposes. For example, if you’re a freelancer, your pitch should be all about who you are and what you do best for clients. If you’re launching a company, your pitch should focus more on what your company does, and who it’s for.
However, no matter what the details are, your pitch should always cover this: “Here’s what I can do for you.” The person listening doesn’t just want to know where you went to school and how many career accolades you’ve racked up. They want to know why they should care.
