What’s an elevator pitch, you ask?
Well, picture you’re in an elevator with the boss of your dream job. You’ve got their undivided attention for the time it takes to get to the top floor. How do you sell yourself quickly and make the kind of impression that lands you the job?
THIS is where your elevator pitch comes in.
It’s a summary to describe you, your experience, and your goals in an engaging and motivational way.
The team at Nutrien Ag shares how you can start!
Okay, So WHY Do You Need an Elevator Pitch?
Having a solid elevator pitch means you aren’t put on the spot or become nervous or tongue-tied when asked to talk about yourself.
You can feel confident in the information and comfortable covering the main points you want someone to know about you in a professional context. You can use your elevator pitch in an interview setting or when networking and meeting new people for the first time.
Creating one takes a little practice, but it’s worth having one. You’ll find it comes in handy in lots of places.
What Should You Include in an Elevator Pitch?
To capture your target audience’s attention, an elevator pitch can include a concise and efficient summary of your career history, skills, knowledge, and experiences.
It’s a great way to reflect on your skills and strengths – what do you want someone to know about you?
Here are some questions to think about – spend some time jotting down your answers:
- What are your strengths?
- What can you bring to the role?
- What sets you apart to stand out from the pack?
- Why are you the best person for the role?
- What qualifications do you have that will help you be successful?
How to Create Your Elevator Pitch
As we’ve mentioned, it does take some practice! But just like writing a resume, you’ll find it easier once you get into the swing of it.
Here’s a look at how we suggest creating your elevator pitch:
1. Define Your Personal Brand:
- Reflect on how you want to be perceived professionally.
- Consider how others currently see you and gather feedback.
- Use online questionnaires or seek feedback from peers, family, and colleagues.
2. Craft Your Elevator Pitch:
- Start with a brief introduction, including your name and current role.
- Highlight your unique skills, strengths, and attributes that define your personal brand.
- Incorporate relevant previous work experience to showcase your expertise.
- Clearly state your career goals or objectives to provide direction.
3. Keep It Concise and Engaging:
- Aim for a pitch that can be delivered in about 60 seconds (the length of an elevator ride).
- Grab attention with a compelling opening statement.
- Focus on the most important aspects of your brand and career objectives.
4. Practice and Refine:
- Practice delivering your pitch until it feels natural and confident.
- Seek feedback from trusted peers or mentors and make necessary adjustments.
- Continuously refine and tailor your pitch based on audience and context.
5. End with a Call to Action:
- Conclude your pitch with a clear call to action, such as requesting a follow-up meeting or exchanging contact information.
- Leave a lasting impression by expressing enthusiasm and confidence in your abilities.
Remember, your elevator pitch is a dynamic tool that evolves with your personal brand and career aspirations.
How Long Should Your Elevator Pitch Be?
Ideally, you want this to last a few minutes at most.
Remember, whoever you’re pitching to doesn’t need to know every detail; this is an icebreaker or opening to get the audience interested.
It demonstrates that you’re confident and willing to put yourself out there.
How to Perfect Your Pitch
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
Yes, you may feel silly doing this to no one (or in the mirror!), but the more you say it, the more you get used to the information. With practice, it won’t sound scripted when you need to use it.
Friends and family are also a great sounding board – plus a good confidence boost!
When to Use Your Elevator Pitch
At the next work get-together, seek out someone you haven’t met yet and try it out.
You will find that it’s an icebreaker, prompting others to start talking about themselves, or you might find a common ground they can relate to and help further the conversation.
No one will turn their back on you or be rude, and hopefully, they will be interested in learning more about you, your skills and your experience.
Remember, this pitch will change and adjust over time but will be easier to adapt as you go on.
So go on, get out there, and learn about yourself and where your career can head with a simple conversation!
Find Out More
Reaching every corner of Australia, with a team of 4,000 experts working with farmers to solve challenges, Nutrien Ag Solutions is a globally backed business with a local focus.
Working to provide everything farmers need to grow our world from the ground up, there’s a huge world of careers to explore with Nutrien Ag!
Get started on their employer profile at Explore Careers today.
