Your Personal Pitch
Are you a job hunter? Do you want to change the industry?
in this case, you need your Personal Pitch to shine in the interview and get the life you deserve.
What is a Personal Pitch
A Personal Pitch gives a concise overview of our experience and skills as a candidate. We should aim for it to be about a minute in length and focus on the 3-5 key messages we’d want someone to remember. We use Personal Pitch when speaking about our career or aspirations, which is an effective way to demonstrate our professional aptitude, strengths, and skills.
What is an ’Elevator Pitch’
We use ‘Elevator Pitch’ in the same way. Imagine that we are in an elevator with a hiring manager of a company we would love to work for, and we have the length of the elevator ride to convince them to give us an interview. So, we have 30-60 seconds (roughly 75 words) to provide a clear, concise, and impactful overview of ourselves.
Why do we need a Personal Pitch?
Every job hunter should have a tremendous Personal Pitch. Here are some key reasons why:
Catch someone’s attention and stand out from the crowd of potential candidates
Reassure them that we have the skills they need
Help them understand our motivations for change
Show our commitment to your new industry
Everything we do has to be better than a candidate with industry experience
Where to use Personal Pitch
There are many uses for personal pitches including:
In a Cover Letter: Use your elevator pitch as a way to either help you brainstorm the main points you want to touch upon in your letter, or use it within the actual text of your statement as a way of starting off strong.
During an Interview: Often hiring managers will ask you to tell them about yourself during an interview. Having an honest, memorable, and well-thought-out answer can capture their attention and show that you know the value you can offer their organization.
At Networking Events: You’re likely to meet dozens if not hundreds of people at networking events, and having an authentic statement about yourself at the ready can help break the ice when starting a conversation.
On Social Media: Use your pitch to help build your personal brand on LinkedIn and on other professional networks.
How to Write an Excellent Personal Pitch?
Structure: Finish in 30-60 seconds and 3-5 key messages - 75% from previous experience and career history, and 25% population for the future.
What to Say
Your elevator speech should be brief
You need to be persuasive
Share your skills
Be positive and flexible
Mention your goals
Know your audience, and speak to them
What Not to Say
Don't speak too fast.
Avoid rambling.
Don't frown, or speak in a monotone way.
Don't restrict yourself to a single elevator pitch.
Key Takeaways
KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET
Your Personal Pitch is a sales pitch. Be sure you can deliver your message in 60 seconds or less.
FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIALS
Say who you are, what you do, and what you want to achieve.
BE POSITIVE AND PERSUASIVE
Your time is limited. Focus on what you want to do, not what you don’t want to do. Be upbeat and flexible.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Deliver your speech to a friend or record it, so that you can be sure that your message is clear.
Final Stage
Record a Personal Pitch and say it out loud.
It seems strange and awkward, but it works - the more often we say our Personal Pitch, the more natural it will sound and the more confident we will present it.
Elevator pitch examples
Context: Seeking a job opportunity
Job Title: Communications
