Reference no: EM133527059

Case: An elevator pitch serves as a concise and memorable overview of who you are, what you do, and how you can assist the listener. It is a way of selling yourself in a brief manner while staying true to your own personality. The truth is, everyone needs an elevator pitch because we all encounter situations where we meet new business contacts, such as industry conferences, networking events, seminars, or even in elevators at hotels. Having an elevator pitch prepares you for these encounters and equips you with a powerful tool to make the most of chance meetings.

To create your elevator pitch, you should first understand its purpose. In the context of Professional Selling, the purpose of this elevator pitch is to sell yourself and secure a job interview. Whether it's a company you are interested in or a prospective employer of your choice, you must clearly articulate the value you can offer and back it up during the meeting. Asking yourself a few questions and providing answers to them is a good starting point for constructing an effective pitch.

Here are the questions you can ask yourself:

What value do I provide?
How do I provide this value?
What makes my offer unique?
Who is my target market?
To craft your elevator pitch, you can follow a four-step process:

Step 1: Begin with an action phrase that avoids using a noun. You want to avoid being labeled and put into a box, so focus on conveying what you do rather than simply stating what you are.

Step 2: Add a one-sentence statement about what you do or what you can do. Highlight how you help people or businesses.

Step 3: Provide a statement about the specific impact you create. If possible, offer a concrete example that demonstrates how people benefit from utilizing your process. Examples are highly valued by companies.

Step 4: End with a call to action. Request a meeting, an introduction, or suggest a coffee or lunch discussion. Be specific and make sure to include a clear call to action in your elevator pitch.