If you have spent any time searching for a job, you have probably heard the term “elevator pitch” at least once. While the terminology might be a bit outdated, the core concept is still effective. An elevator pitch is a brief speech that highlights what you can bring to the table as a possible employee.

This is a great way to introduce yourself to employers in busy settings, like job fairs or chance meetings. Pitches like these should be short enough to not break the flow of conversation, but long enough to get the details across. While professional interviews will look for a more expanded look into your experience, elevator speeches can serve as a self-reminder of the values you want to focus on.

Entry Level:

Entry level candidates are usually new graduates or employees with no professional experience. A entry-level candidate should make sure that their pitch focuses on who they are and their ambitions to move forward. At this stage, employers are looking more at the individual person than their experience. Here are some examples of what to focus your speech around:

• Character: Talk about yourself and your ambitions in the proposed field. You want to let your target know that you are going to be dedicated and hard-working to make up for the lack of experience.
• Schooling: If your field requires schooling, be it higher education or trade school, be sure to mention that. While it may not be professional experience, it shows that you are familiar with that field’s lifestyle and, for whatever pros and cons it comes with, you plan to pursue it. This makes employers feel secure in investing in you.
• Certifications: Many opportunities do not require certifications, but having them is like starting one step ahead in a race. While it may look like a single line on your resume, an un-needed but relevant certification shows employers that you have already gone above and beyond to prepare for this career.

Intermediate Level:

Intermediate job opportunities look for candidates who have professional experience but not enough to be a leader in their field. This level of an opportunity is usually filled by moving a long-term entry level employee up, so an elevator pitch could be used in a very literal sense in for this position:

• Understanding Your Field: Those going for intermediate level jobs want to show that they have a keen understanding of their field. If you are in a highly specialized field, this is the time to use field-specific jargon. In this instance, using that type of language correctly can show comfort and familiarity in the field.
• Independence: At this stage, highlighting you independence is paramount. Employers love to see candidates who continue to provide value without being micromanaged.
• Leadership Opportunities: Employers will not usually be looking for candidates to have extensive leadership experience at this time. That being said, leadership experience, like training new employees, can be used to show others that you are comfortable teaching and leading others.

Management Level:

Very rarely will you have to use an elevator pitch for a management level opportunity. These usually require multiple rounds of in-depth interviews. So why do we cover it? As stated before, pitches like these are a great thing to have in mind to remind you of the details you want to be sure to talk about.

Crafting an elevator pitch for a job interview at a management level is a bit more difficult, as you likely have extensive experience by now, but taking a few minutes to make one and memorize it could keep your from panicking and blanking out during the interview.

• Project Management: By now, it is likely that you have worked on or managed several projects. If your projects are known by name in the industry, name drop them as part of your pitch. If not, give a short description of your title in the project and the project’s outcome.
• Where You Heard of the Opportunity: An odd one to use in such a short time span, but a great way to open up the conversation into common connections. Here, you should name the opportunity and let them know if you heard it from one of their personal connections. If you found it online, do not be afraid to mention that you were looking actively for a role with them, as it means that you were deliberately looking instead of mindless scrolling.
• Ideas for the Future: You will want to have a more detailed follow-up description for this, but mentioning ideas for the future is a great way to get across that you are in it for the long haul. Employers are looking for quality candidates who will bring experience and fresh blood to the management side when hiring for higher roles, so be sure to let them know that you are their candidate!

If you are interested in getting a new opportunity, then be sure to reach out and apply to our job page or send in an updated application here! We will help you craft the perfect pitch and find you the best opportunities to use it in!