Arvind Mallikarjuna ⋅ Fremont, CA Siemens ⋅ 9 years experience

Without seeing the elevator pitch i cannot really comment, but i will say this:

One of the best elevator pitches happen unplanned, so have a few versions in your mind and keep revising them and one fine day it will spontaneously come out and make a good impression!!

If you want to have a more impact-full and inexpensive way to spread the word " add a line from your elevator pitch to your email signature and if people are reading the email they will give you a compliment or a comment and you can practice whenever someone starts a conversation with your signature. Always use your friends and colleagues to provide feedback on your elevator pitch so they can help you out.

My 2 cents!
Arvind Mallikarjuna
gupta305@gmail.com

Fouad Malik ⋅ Los Angeles, CA ⋅ 7 years experience

Please send me your elevator pitch. Also, please let me know brief description of your background and the position you are seeking. Thank you.

Andrew Lewis ⋅ Alexandria, VA U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant ⋅ 8 years served

That makes a lot of sense, Craig - thanks.

Craig Bush ⋅ Boston, MA IBM ⋅ 11 years experience

Andrew,

One piece of advice. Don't do a pitch cold. What I mean is in your elevator pitch, you should have a variable sentence or two for what that company does and why they would value a position in it, and then you have a segue into why your experience is relevant.

By adding context to the pitch you look like you know what you are doing. Pitches are a little like playing jazz music. There's some improve necessary to add context, and sometimes that information comes in real time. I would practice with friends and strangers.

Craig

Dennis McIntyre ⋅ Oakdale, NY Allscripts Health Services ⋅ 32 years experience

I will help anyway way i can if you need it.

Thank you for your service to our country.

Andrew Lewis ⋅ Alexandria, VA U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant ⋅ 8 years served

Katherine,
Thank you! I'm going to send you an email this morning. I've received some great feedback so far and I look forward to hearing from you also as I continue to refine my pitch.

Fouad Malik ⋅ Los Angeles, CA ⋅ 7 years experience

Know objective of your elevator speech. Are you trying to solicit business or seek a job etc. "Elevator speech is concise, carefully planned and well-practiced description about you that any one can understand in the time it will take to ride up in the elevator".... Accordingly, after an elevator speech is written, it should be practiced (preferable) in front of a mirror or with someone. It should be between 30-60 seconds. It should be simple enough for other person to understand. It should start broad (so they know depth of your qualifications and experience) and then become a bit specific (to show you know the subject-matter). It should cover following:

1. Who are you (Introduction- Name)
2. What are your qualifications (Past experience first and then education/ certifications)
3. What you do? (Present)
4. (a). What you are seeking (future) and (b). WHY (not necessary always)

*HR/ Hiring Managers look at past to predict future. As you talk about your present and past, they will automatically begin to think what you are capable of doing in future
*Do not talk about any thing personal
*Very brief or very long elevator speech may indicate lack of preparation

As you continue to practice your elevator speech more, you will be able to adapt it to the person you are meeting or role you are seeking.

Andrew Lewis ⋅ Alexandria, VA U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant ⋅ 8 years served

Thank you both for your feedback - I will send both of you a copy of my rough draft. Arvind, the tidbit about adding a line to an email signature is new to me, but something I'm going to explore. Thanks.