An 'Elevator Speech' is a quick, 30
second synopsis of your skills and qualifications. This is best
provided in relation to the needs of the employer, if that is known.
They are useful at events such as career fairs, or for situations
where you get just a few seconds with Manager.
Since the purpose is to elicit further
interest, and answer the question “What can you do for me?”,
elevator speeches should not be canned and well rehearsed. Instead,
they should be flexible, and have a more natural 'let's chat a
moment' tone.
To generate an effective elevator
speech, you have to know something about the listener, and you must
absolutely and honestly understand your strengths in relation to a
variety of employer needs.
In a
career fair setting, it is easy to get this information. They put up
displays and banners. They hand out flyers and trinkets with their
slogan. They might have a flat panel display of their company
mission. If nothing else, you can simply ask them what they are
looking for. Even the Central Intelligence Agency Recruiters will
tell you. A smile, a compliment, and a specific question all go a
long way. “(Smile with appropriate eye contact) Hello. Initech
here seems like a great company. What is your need?” They will
proceed to tell tell you, and you listen carefully, comparing their
needs with your strengths.
Perhaps
they say “Initech is a growing, dynamic company which has assumed a
market position because we partner with our customers to help them
find the most affordable and efficient solutions to their needs. We
are recruiting 15 people for our local expansion, and we need people
in Project Management, SQL Programming, Accounting, and Customer
Service”. At a career fair, you can take bullet point notes-for
gosh sake, you have a portfolio that you are carrying your resume in.
They will be complimented that you care about what they are saying.
Your
response will be greatly enhanced because you have a little list in
your notes of 7 or 10 of your best selling points, and you can pick
out three that relates to what they just told you. Let's pretend
that you are a Customer Service type, and your strengths are: ability
to upsell; conflict/complaint resolution; keyboarding speed, a good
speaking voice; active listening; and a few others. Try this
elevator speech response:
“That's
great. That sounds like the kind of place I can use my customer
service experience at. I like that you partner with your customers
because I have been successful in listening to clients, and
increasing their orders by offering additional products and services.
Initech also seems to be a place that values efficiency, and I am
very quick and accurate on the keyboard. I also take pride in my
ability to positively handle customer complaints, and find the best
resolution possible to their problems. What is the next step in the
hiring process?”
You
are just having a conversation, and it is guided by the framework of
your notes. You have in front of your the three things they said
they needed, and you fill in your response with three things you have
that match. You also started and ended the conversation with a
question about them.
The
above are the underlying concepts. Here is the step by step:
- Smile with appropriate eye contact.
- Ask for specifics about THEM
- Reply conversationally with your selling points in relation to #2
- Ask for the job, or at least for more information.
Good Luck and Best Wishes,
Chris
Links to my work, “Beyond a Career
Crisis”:
Kindle Edition
Paperback Edition
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