What's an elevator pitch, and how can it help your career? An elevator pitch is a quick synopsis of your background, experience, and purpose. The reason it's called an elevator pitch is that it should be short enough to present during a brief elevator ride.
This speech is all about you: who you are, what you do, and what you want to do. Here's a little template for you to use as a starting point. Make sure you change it up to fit your experience and career goals!
Pitch Template
Hello, my name is ____. I'm a ___ (year) completing a degree in _________ (fill in major) at the University of Texas at Austin. I'm interested in careers in _____ (job title and/or industry). I've been involved in ________ (relevant experiences from your resume) and I've developed skills in _____. I've also had an (internship/job) with ______ (company) where I discovered I really enjoyed _______. Can you tell me more about _______ (something you're interested in)?
Tips for a Strong Pitch:
- Keep your elevator speech short and sweet, aiming to deliver your message in 60 seconds or less.
- Say who you are, what you do, and what you want to achieve. Your goal is to focus on the essentials.
- Be positive and persuasive with your limited time. Focus on what you want to do, not what you don’t want to do.
- Deliver your speech to a friend or record it, so that you can be sure that your message is clear. The more you practice, the better your speech.