What is an elevator pitch? Why is it important for my job application?
Generally, an elevator pitch is a short and persuasive speech to introduce yourself, your product, or your company. The ‘elevator pitch’ name implies that your short speech should be presented during a quick elevator ride: 30-seconds long at maximum.
The elevator pitch is important to quickly spark an interest in who you are and what you do. In the case of a job application, the elevator pitch is exactly the answer to the “tell me about yourself” interview question.
Utilising an elevator pitch for a job application is uncommon in Malaysia. Most fresh graduates apply for jobs online, so why is it relevant to you? The answer is simple – An elevator pitch can be used for multiple scenarios. For example, practising your elevator speech can be useful when answering the “tell me about yourself” question, or even be used in your video resume.
Another example is that JobStreet recommends applicants to write a simple and concise pitch (300 words) to inform the hiring manager on why they’re right for the job. It is an opportunity to show that you are interested in the job and you are taking it seriously.
Here’s how to write the perfect elevator pitch
1) Make it short, simple and concise
The JobStreet example above recommends a maximum limit of 300 words for your elevator pitch. However, 200 words are enough for a 30-second pitch (refer to our example below).
We definitely don’t recommend writing a whole essay for an elevator pitch. Make sure that your pitch is able to deliver the essence of who you are, what you do and why you matter to the company – keep it short and sweet!
2) Show that you have done your research
Be sure to leave an impression that you have read the correct job postings and are responding to a specific job. A big turn-off for the hiring manager is if your elevator pitch is too general and unrelated to the job posting. Personalisation is key.
Show that you understand what the company does, its corporate values and its business model. It would also be advantageous if you could show that you are knowledgeable in their industry. Lastly, explain why you are a perfect fit for the team, department and company.
3) Show that you are good at what you do
Don’t be shy! This is a huge opportunity to enhance your pitch and truly shine. List out your career achievements and try to ensure that they are relevant to the current job application.
Whether you have doubled the sales figures, reduced employee turnover by half or increased market awareness through social media campaigns, showcase your abilities and why you are the best.
If you are applying for jobs that are more technical such as a copywriter, fashion designer and software engineer, show some samples of your work by including the links in your pitch. Let your work speak louder than your words.
4) Showcase your technical and soft skills
Remember to highlight your technical and soft or intangible skills in the elevator pitch as well. Technical skills include tools, software or computer literacy skills such as AutoCAD, Office 365, Adobe Photoshop, Freshsales and more.
Meanwhile, soft or intangible skills refers to inner skills such as leadership skills, project management, communication skills and much more.
5) Include your value proposition
Companies prefer candidates who are able to offer superior value to their organisation by solving their existing problems. Provide examples of how you solved a similar issue in your past experiences, or even share knowledge and ideas that will help to improve the company’s current product offering.
Try to identify their challenges and make an offer to solve them in your elevator pitch. Again, it is important for you to do your research before you include the value propositions.
Elevator pitch examples for a job interview
“I’m a Digital Marketing Intern at ABC with a creative approach to problem-solving. I coordinated the entire process of creating marketing materials in our company from concept to execution and control.
Together with our Engineering team, we devised a comprehensive strategy to reduce unproductive costs and increase efficiency. Our strategy helped us to complete 12 annual projects on time with over 10% of cost reduction.
I’m also exceptionally skilled in SEO and SEM, data analysis, content marketing and social media marketing. I take pride in my adaptability in terms of constantly evaluating emerging technologies, identifying trends and optimizing performance based on the insights.
I understand that ABC is currently looking to expand its product offerings to the XYZ market in the near future. I believe that my experience and expertise is a great addition to your company to achieve outstanding milestones in the XYZ market”.
Conclusion
An elevator pitch is a great addition to a cover letter and a video resume. With a proper elevator pitch in hand, you will be well-prepared to answer the “tell me about yourself” question and leave a positive first impression during a job interview and even during networking events.
Thanks for reading our guide on creating the ultimate elevator pitch for fresh graduates! Read the Chinese version: 毕业生自我推荐(Elevator Pitch)讲稿指南 (附上5个贴士)
