Elevator Speech 101

You cannot underestimate the importance of the personal elevator speech – whether you’re making the jump from campus to career or a seasoned professional. After all, it’s the two to three minute piece of messaging that, effectively, communicates who you are and why a company should hire you.

So can you recite your elevator speech right now? If not, don’t fret. According to Lead Recruiting Specialist Elizabeth Quancard, Deloitte Services LP, the elevator speech is helpful to make a fantastic first impression. Here are some things to think about as you create your first elevator speech or for those looking to refine their current one:

1. Keep your elevator speech under five minutes. Paint a picture of your career journey thus far for the recruiter and interviewer. Some of the best elevator speeches are the ones that bring the resume to life as a discussion document. Highlight key positions of responsibility or positions that enabled you to learn, grow and develop. Express any key milestones in certain jobs that help convey why you are the candidate to consider.
   
2. Your elevator speech may set you apart from other candidates. Quancard says the clearer and more articulate you are in delivering who you are and why you want a certain position, may result in your name being placed at the top of the call back list for a second or third interview.
3. Leave the jargon for the team who interviews you. When speaking with the recruiter, it’s best to use general terms -- do the same when preparing your elevator speech too.
4. Sound interested and energized by the opportunity to interview. Don’t recite your elevator speech so it doesn’t sound canned. Be fluid and dynamic in your communication style.

Just like resumes evolve and grow over time as an individual changes roles or companies, so too should your elevator speech. There’s no time like the present to get a jump start on yours today or to refine the one you created a few years ago.

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