You can think of an Elevator Pitch as a “mini persuasive speech” with the persuasive goal of selling yourself (or your product, business, etc.) to a potential employer (or investor). It’s all about telling them who you are, what you strengths/background/skills are, and the type of career/position you’re looking for.
The name comes from the idea that if you happened to be in an elevator with a person who could change the course of your career for the better, you’d have limited time to speak with them before those elevator doors open and they’re gone. Usually, elevator pitches range from 30 seconds to about 2 minutes. For this assignment, you’ll create and deliver a 1-minute pitch to a (hypothetical) prospective employer.
Everyone should have an elevator pitch tucked in their back pocket, because you never know when an influential person will step into your life! When the opportunity presents itself, it’s always best to be as prepared as possible, because it could change the course of your career and your life!
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“Nobody cares about you, your brand, or your company. You’re irrelevant…until proven otherwise” is a famous quote by Steve Woodruff. An elevator pitch is a concise and persuasive summary of a product, service, or idea. It is designed to be delivered when it takes to ride an elevator, usually around 30 seconds to two minutes. The purpose of an elevator pitch is to grab the listener’s attention and create interest in the product, service, or idea being presented. According to Margherita et al. (2021), an elevator pitch is a powerful tool that can effectively communicate the main benefits of a product, service, or idea in a short time. It can be used in various settings, such as business, personal or professional contexts. An effective elevator pitch can help create interest and generate leads for a business or personal project. Margherita et al. (2021) also stated that to create a successful elevator pitch, it’s essential first to identify the key message you want to communicate. This message should be clear and concise and should highlight the unique features or benefits of your product, service, or idea. It’s also important to consider your target audience and tailor your pitch to address their specific needs and concerns. This paper discusses the characteristics and importance of an elevator pitch.
The first characteristic of an effective elevator pitch is conciseness. According to Palmer et al. (2019), an elevator pitch should be brief and to the point, conveying essential information about the product, service, or idea clearly and concisely. The listener should be able to understand the main benefits of the product, service, or idea within the first few seconds of the pitch; This is important because, in today’s fast-paced business world, people have limited time and attention to devote to new products or services. Thus, an elevator pitch should be concise.
The second characteristic of an effective elevator pitch is relevance. According to Palmer et al. (2019), an elevator pitch should be tailored to the specific audience, addressing their needs and concerns. This helps to create a sense of relevance and importance for the listener, making them more likely to pay attention and act. A relevant pitch to the listener is more likely to be remembered and acted upon. Thus, an elevator pitch should be relevant.
The third characteristic of an effective elevator pitch is memorability. According to Palmer et al. (2019), an elevator pitch should be memorable so the listener will remember the product, service, or idea after the pitch. This can be achieved by using powerful and descriptive language and highlighting unique features or benefits that set the product, service, or idea apart from others in the market. A memorable pitch will stick with the listener, increasing their chances of taking further action. Thus, an elevator pitch should be memorable.
An elevator pitch enables one to deliver time-effective communication. In today’s fast-paced world, people are constantly bombarded with information and have limited time to listen to pitches. According to Shi et al. (2018), an elevator pitch allows you to quickly and effectively communicate your key message concisely and compellingly, making it more likely that your audience will retain the information and act. Thus, an elevator speech enables one to deliver time-effective communication an elevator pitch enables one to provide time-effective communication.
An elevator pitch enables one to create a positive first impression. According to Shi et al. (2018), the first few seconds of an interaction are crucial in creating a positive first impression. An elevator pitch allows you to quickly convey your value proposition and key selling points, making it more likely that your audience will be interested in learning more about you or your company. Thus, an elevator pitch enables one to create a positive first impression.
An elevator pitch is good for networking and finding business opportunities. A well-crafted elevator pitch can open doors to new business opportunities and help establish valuable connections. According to Hanna (2019) elevator pitches are often used in networking and business settings to introduce oneself or one’s company to potential investors, partners, or customers. Thus, an elevator pitch is good for networking and finding business opportunities.
In conclusion, an elevator pitch is a powerful tool that can effectively communicate the main benefits of a product, service, or idea in a short time. An elevator pitch can help create interest and generate leads for a business or personal project by being clear, concise, and memorable and tailoring the pitch to the specific audience. An elevator pitch is a powerful tool that can effectively communicate the main benefits of a product, service, or idea quickly. To be effective, an elevator pitch should possess the characteristics of conciseness, relevance, and memorability. An elevator pitch can help create interest and generate leads for a business or personal project by being clear, concise, and memorable and tailoring the pitch to the specific audience. An elevator pitch is valuable for quickly and effectively communicating your key message, creating a positive first impression, and opening doors to new business opportunities. Investing time in crafting an effective elevator pitch that communicates your unique value proposition and key selling points is essential. The ability to deliver an elevator pitch effectively can be the difference between success and failure in today’s fast-paced business world. This will help you stand out and make a lasting impression on your audience.
Hanna, M., & Hanna, M. (2019). The elevator speech. How to Write Better Medical Papers, 45-46.
Margherita, A., & Verrill, D. (2021). Elevator Pitch Assessment Model: A Systematization of Dimensions in Technology Entrepreneurship Presentations. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 64(4), 304-321.
Palmer, J., Owens, S., & Doubleday, R. (2019). Perfecting the ‘Elevator Pitch’? Expert advice as locally-situated boundary work. Science and Public Policy, 46(2), 244-253.