Written by Eve Weiss

Elevator pitches are extremely crucial to have in your back pocket in case there is an opportunity that arises out of the blue!

In this edition of the blog, I am going to be covering the following topics:

• How to prepare an elevator pitch
• Why are these pitches so important
• How to be in the moment
• How to close your pitch properly
• How to use feedback positively
• Reflection on how elevator pitches have helped me grow as an individual

Preparation for your elevator pitch

To start, I wanted to give you all a brief explanation of what an elevator pitch is and how important they are. Your pitch should be about 30 seconds long, and it should briefly describe who you are as an individual and what you have to offer! Take time to brainstorm your skills and how you can stand out to someone you just met.

Here are some ideas to think about when brainstorming:

• Am I responsible?
• Am I willing to adjust to change?
• Do I always try my hardest?
• What prior experience do I have?
• Show that you are genuine
• Show that you are truthful
• Show how you are willing to learn more every day

I will give you all an example of what my elevator pitch looked like when my class and I practiced with some very successful businesswomen this past semester:

“Hello, it is so great to meet you (name). I am interested in hearing what your thoughts are on something. My name is Eve Weiss and I am a junior at the University of New Hampshire Paul College School of Business & Economics majoring in Business Management with a minor in Sales. One major takeaway that I have learned about myself from attending college, is that I am a supportive peer. As a successful businesswoman yourself, what do you find is the most important trait to have in your business within the sales aspect? Thank you for your time, it was great talking with you (name).”

After reading my elevator pitch above, you can see how it is a brief introduction of yourself and some key qualities that you have to offer!

Why it is so important to have an elevator pitch

It is crucial to have an elevator pitch in your back pocket because you never know who you could cross paths with. Whether you bump into the CEO of a company that you have always wanted to work for, or a manager of a different store that you are interested in, having a pitch prepared will help you greatly. Hopefully, when the person you pitched to walks away from the conversation, they remember your name and something that makes you stand out such as being respectful or responsible.

How to close your pitch effectively

As you begin to wrap up your pitch, you want to have a question to ask that person before go your separate ways.

Here are some examples of questions to ask the person you are speaking with when wrapping up. This helps to give them the opportunity to speak and share their opinion.

• “Do you have any suggestions on the next steps I should take?”
• “Is there any chance that we can exchange contact information?”
• “What are important traits that you look for in a potential employee when hiring?”
• “Do you have a LinkedIn account, if so are you willing to connect with me?”
• “How long have you been in this industry?”
• “What motivates you to wake up and go to work every day?

Be in the moment

It is vital just to relax and be in the moment when this situation occurs.

Also, have an idea always in mind for what’s most important to share because you could bump into someone at any time during any given day.

So, take a deep breath and just be truthful!

This might not be for everyone, but if this helps you, you can act as if you are speaking with a friend, of course, be professional, but this can help lower your stress levels!

Use feedback as a way to better yourself

From my previous experience, feedback only helps improve yourself!

Respectfully listen to what someone has to say and be appreciative of their advice and notes.

A brief reflection on how elevator pitches help you grow individually

Elevator pitches help you grow as a person because over time your pitch will change for the better. As you get older, you achieve more goals, which you can share with others to help make you stand out.

Elevator pitches can help your confidence levels, the more you pitch, the more confident you will feel!

I hope this blog was helpful to you all! Have a great day and good luck with your pitches!

Image Source: https://ventures.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2024-01/02-preparing-elevator-pitch-what-is.png