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What's your personal elevator pitch?

9th May 2017
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CABA provides lifelong support for past and present ICAEW members.

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What's your personal elevator pitch?If you've had any dealings with the world of business, you've probably come across the term elevator pitch. This is a short overview of a business, product or service - the name originates from the idea that you'd have about a minute or so to capture someone's attention if you were in a lift with them.

But elevator pitches aren't just useful for businesses. They can be helpful for individuals too, particularly those who are looking to further their careers (think of it as a TV advert where you sell yourself in as short a time as possible).

In fact, a great personal elevator pitch is an ideal tool for anyone who wants to introduce themselves in just about any situation where there's very little time to make a good impression. You could call it a distilled version of you, the essence of who you are and what you have to offer.

There's no fixed length to an elevator pitch. Some people say it should last for just 30 seconds (that's roughly the equivalent of 100 words), while others argue it can go on for longer (usually up to 2 minutes). There's also no fixed method of composing an elevator pitch. But here are some tips that could help get you started.

How to begin

The most important part of your elevator pitch is the opening line. This should be the thing that hooks the other person in and makes them want to find out more about you. And usually the start of your pitch states who you are and what you do. Keep your description short and snappy - add an interesting fact or anecdote if possible - and avoid jargon and buzzwords.

The best elevator pitches are natural and conversational in style, so try to avoid formal language. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson - who knows a thing or 2 about business pitches - offers this advice: “The first step towards delivering a great pitch is to keep it human, since far too many presentations and speeches can turn artificial and wooden quite quickly. Let your passion shine through by being yourself and allowing your points to come across naturally. Use humour to connect with your audience and demonstrate your creativity.”

Next steps

Your elevator pitch is your chance to shine, so add a sentence or 2 about what makes you good at what you do, what you can deliver or what type of problems you solve, and how you help other people/businesses/organisations. Don't forget to mention your skills, especially those you excel at. But that doesn't mean simply reeling off a list of your accomplishments. Instead, try to keep your pitch lively and interesting.

At this point you may also want to talk about what makes you special and different. What sets you apart from others and makes you and what you have to offer so unique? What can you do for the person you're pitching to that they need?

Finally, don't forget to include what you want to happen next - for example, you may want to request another meeting to talk further, or give the person you're pitching to your contact details.

Commit to memory

Once you've composed your elevator pitch, try practicing it on friends and family and notice how they react. Try not to rush and talk too fast when you deliver it, and be yourself - remember, how you say something is just as important as what you say (try not to sound pushy or aggressive). Your body language is important too, so practice in front of a mirror as well as on other people. The more you practice, the more natural your pitch will look and feel.

And remember, you don't have to memorise your elevator pitch word for word. In fact you may want to vary it depending on the situation - this can be helpful, as it prevents your pitch from sounding too planned or prepared.

If you want help with identifying what sets you apart from others, join us on our free Develop your personal brand course. You can complete the course at 1 of our venues in a day, or take the online version if you want to progress at your own pace.

Meanwhile if you need help with your career - whether you're currently employed or just looking for a new challenge - why not make use of 1 or more of our confidential free career development services.

For advice and information call +44 (0) 1788 556 366 or chat to an advisor online 24 hours a day.

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