How to Prepare an Elevator Speech for a Job Interview

Sell yourself in sixty seconds or less.

When entering an interview it is important to feel confident in your ability to sell yourself. This being said, there may not always be a lot of time to express all of the points you think the interviewer should know. An elevator speech is how you would pitch yourself if you had to convince someone to hire you in the length of time it takes to ride an elevator.

Instructions

1. Highlight the items on your resume that are the most applicable to the job description. Select items from different areas of your resume, such as work experience, volunteer experience, and hobbies, that have a link to the job for which you are applying.

2. Make a list of characteristics you possess that would help you succeed at the job. Cross reference this list with the job description of what the employer is looking for. Focus on similar characteristics, but do not use the wording directly from the job description, in order to present a more genuine reflection of your personality.

3. Begin your elevator speech with something that will interest and impress the interviewer. Refer to your highlighted resume and choose the experience which is the most applicable to the job as a way to open your speech.

4. Briefly summarize your educational background. Include only the essential information, such as your degree or specialization. Include one to two of the other related experiences you selected from your resume to show your appropriateness for the job.

5. State why you are the best candidate for the position using the characteristics from your list and the job description. You must be able to tell the employer why they should hire you over someone else, and why you would excel at this particular position. The goal is to differentiate yourself and be memorable to the interviewer.

6. Time your elevator speech. An elevator speech should always aim to stay below sixty seconds. To gauge the length of your speech while writing, be aware that an elevator speech generally falls between 150 and 225 words.

7. Practice your elevator speech multiple times before the interview. Repeating the speech enough times to secure it to memory will give the delivery more confidence. It is also a good idea to practice questions related to the contents of your elevator speech, as the interviewer is likely to ask follow-up questions.

Tips & Warnings

• Although it is good to have a generic elevator pitch prepared, customize it for each interview to achieve the best results.

References

• CBS Money Watch: The Art of the Elevator Pitch
• Bloomberg Business: The Perfect (Elevator) Pitch