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How to craft an unforgettable elevator pitch So, there you are, stuck in the elevator (literally) on your way down to the lobby, as the CEO gets in. Yes, the CEO, as in your boss’ boss’s boss’s boss (and then some bosses in between). And there’s also the opportunity of a lifetime to show yourself as the totally unforgettable employee who single-handedly marketed herself into executive management between the 42nd and the 40th floor…Or to just stand there and melt into a puddle of self-consciousness and over-polite, non-memorable side glances…

I have to admit, I was that woman shrinking in the corner of the elevator on the way down to the lobby of the John Hancock building. Yes, the one staring at her immaculate Nine West pumps as the big partners stepped in, wishing some really annoying fly could come in and distract everyone else from the tension I single-handedly created. Except the John Hancock elevators are uber-sanitized and there is no chance in corporate hell for a single fly to stroll in…And at the time neither was there a chance for me to stand out without a well-crafted elevator pitch…

How to craft an unforgettable elevator pitch

 

But really what is an elevator pitch?

It’s nothing else but a short, well-prepared, and concise way of marketing yourself. It’s only a few sentences long, yet when well done, can pack some serious punch into your job search and career growth. A well-crafted, powerful elevator pitch can land you a job, accelerate your career growth, and make you seriously unforgettable. It can also get you from struggling entrepreneur to striving startup owner, just like that, within a few powerful words… A not-so-well crafted one can embarrass the living hell out of you too, but we won’t go there today…

Fast-forward a few years (and a few jobs) later, while I try to bury some of these shy young associates’ memories in the foggy depths of my professional mind, here are a few lessons I’ve learnt about crafting a seriously unforgettable elevator pitch that makes you noticed by your boss’s boss’s boss’s (and their bosses):

  1. State your professional identity, NOT your title! Do not start with “I am a Manager of Operations”, for instance. Instead, start with “I create”, or “I teach”, to position yourself as an expert in your field.
  2. Define your expertise. These would be the skills and competencies you make use of in your work.
  3. List your super powers! What makes you unique? Why are you different than everyone else in your field (in a good way, please don’t state your ability at building paper planes)? Talk about your particular technical knowledge, advanced certification, or networking connections, or special approach to a problem.
  4. Define your dream work environments. This would be where you have worked (and enjoyed), or where you would love to work in the future.

Reflect on each of these to build a compelling elevator pitch. Remember, it shouldn’t be longer than 30 to 60 seconds, and should sound effortless and conversational. Always look at the person you’re speaking to in the eyes, and deliver your message with as much confidence as you can muster.

Are you ready to craft your elevator pitch?

The Corporate Sis.