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Elevator Speech Tips

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Photo by db Photography | Demi-Brooke

But, it is something that job seekers stress about a lot. Hopefully these tips can make it easier.

 

  • Know Your Goals — It’s very important before you sit down to write your elevator pitch that you understand what your goals are for creating it. One goal is to get your foot in the door of a potential employer.
  • Answer the Right Questions — When creating your elevator speech you’ll want to answer the who, what, when, why, and how of what it is you do or want to do in a positive manner.
  • Tell What Makes You Unique — Your elevator speech must describe what makes you unique. What about you is different from others who want to do the same job that you want to do? Be specific about your skills and knowledge that make you the best person for the job.
  • Demonstrate Your Value — How do your skills make you valuable for the position that you want? Write down a few job positions that you’d like to have and match them with your skills to help you determine your value for various types of jobs.
  • Show Your Enthusiasm — Definitely be very positive and upbeat about what you’re saying. You don’t want to appear timid or lack confidence in your ability to do what you want to do. Be firm in the notion that you can do what you say you can do.
  • Listen to Others — Once you’ve given your elevator speech, be quiet. You’ve been given two ears and one mouth for a reason. The more you listen to others and comment on what they’re saying, and pull information from them, the more positively they’ll remember you.
  • Adjust for The Audience — While you can have a basic elevator speech, do adjust it for various audiences. Your message is the same, but how you deliver it should be determined by who the audience is.
  • Practice — Nothing is ever perfected without practice. No matter who you are, practice will always make everything better. Practice it on your friends and family, and find plenty of settings to deliver your elevator speech in. You’ll get better as time goes on.

 

As you create and practice your elevator speech, don’t be afraid to tweak it and change it. Try to stick to no more than 35 to 40 words. Sometimes it helps to write an entire cover letter for the job you want, and then take information from there to slim it down to the length of a proper elevator speech.


Now be honest… is the resume and cover letter you’ve been submitting for jobs getting you noticed? Are you receiving invitations to interview? If you answered “no,” we should talk. Contact me by phone: 1-866-562-0850 or email: info@topresumewriting.com for a NO COST, NO OBLIGATION 15-minute consultation. 

Kimberly Ben is a multi-credentialed Professional Resume and LinkedIn Writer and Job Search Coach. She has written hundreds of resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and other career communications for multiple career industries and professions. Kimberly’s extensive education, training, and experience have resulted in a clear understanding of current hiring best practices and the most effective job search techniques, branding strategies, and insight on what it takes to gain the competitive edge and impress employers in a challenging job market.

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