Does your elevator pitch have the personal touch?
Creating an elevator pitch scares most people. But I’ve uncovered a powerful secret – the personal touch. Adding it will not only make it easier for you to create your pitch, but it will also make it easier for others to remember you.
What do I mean by the personal touch? Here’s an example.
“Hi, my name is Julie. I am looking for an internship in the food industry. As a kid I loved cooking with my grandmother. I wrote down all of our favorite recipes. This year, I published it as a holiday gift for the whole family. My grandmother cried. Hearing you speak about your work at the Food Network today inspired me. I’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. Are you open to a short informational interview?”
You don’t have to put on a show. Just be yourself and share your story.
Recently I spoke to a group of students from American University visiting NYC (#AUNYCTrip). I kicked-off their trip sponsored by the AU Career Center with a key-note speech focused on networking strategy and making authentic connections. I shared with them Julie’s elevator pitch with the personal touch and had them write their own versions. After writing for a few minutes, several volunteers shared their stories. After each pitch, I asked the audience what they heard. In every case, it was the personal detail that stuck. Not the person’s major or their litany of qualifications but his/her personal story. When we finished the room was abuzz with energy. We were not only getting pitched, we were making real connections.
Answer these questions to add the personal touch to your elevator pitch:
–-What’s your name? What do you do or what do you want to do?
–What life experience led you to do this or want to do this?
–What do you want the audience to do to help you?
Too often I find people leave out important details when telling their career stories. They downplay successes because they don’t want to brag or they’re too busy recounting their “hard skills” to share the heartfelt reason they have this career aspiration in the first place.
In today’s world where information is easy to find, the way to stand out is to be authentic.
I was put on the spot by the students and asked what my elevator pitch was. I immediately thought of the real reasons I do what I do…
Hi my name is Maggie. I’m a Life Purpose and Career coach. My Mom went back to medical school when I was 6, my sister was 5 and my brother was 10. I learned firsthand that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Today I help others Soul Search, Research and Job Search into their dream careers. If you want to make a career change, contact me.
There’s no need to stammer the next time someone asks, “What do you do?” or “What do you want to do?”
Answer the questions above and you’ll create your pitch. Share it in the comments below and you’ll not only inform us of your interests and talents but you may just make the real connections necessary to reach your career goal.
“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Carl W. Buechner