Elevator Speeches

What is an Elevator Speech?  The basic introductory message when networking, interviewing for a job, graduate school, or other related areas  It is your opening statement in telephone contacts with employers  The foundation for your ‘Tell me about yourself’ answer  If you stepped on an elevator and had seconds to tell someone about yourself, this is the prepared speech you would give

The Goal of an Elevator Speech  Your goal is to create a second commercial selling yourself to your audience  This extemporaneous speech should be fully prepared and practiced, and should sound conversational  It proves why you are qualified for a certain situation  Ex: If you are interviewing for a teaching position, you would include relevant information that would help prove you are qualified to teach

Things to Include in an Elevator Speech  College you attend/attended, what you are majoring in, and when you plan to graduate  Relevant courses, assignments, internships, jobs, volunteer work, organizations, clubs, hobbies, sports, and travel experiences that are relevant to this speech (don’t tell us you like long walks on the beach)  Specific examples of assignments, activities, or events that relate to what you have accomplished in the field you wish to go into after graduation  Enthusiasm, if you appear unenthused, you will not get hired!

Things Not To Include  None professional related items (That one time you went with your friends to that concert and saw some people doing marketing…)  Non-professional language and slang terms, such as cool, dank, “the work I did for that company was cray, OMG”  Assignments or events you worked on before college; high school activities are awesome, just not for Elevator Speeches  (Special Circumstances may be okay if you are, for example: applying to a Turf Grass Management position and helped build and establish a community garden for your Eagle Scout project)

Example Elevator Speech  I am a senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in Spanish next spring. While completing an internship at the UNCW Marketing and Communications Department this past spring, I gained valuable work experience in editing and writing press releases and articles for the media. I am also an active member of the UNCW Surfrider Chapter, and have recently been appointed the Public Relations Chair. As Public Relations Chair I have created flyers for events and meetings that Surfrider has hosted. I also serve as a volunteer teacher for an educational program that UNCW Surfrider created, which focuses on teaching children how to protect the beaches and coastal communities. After graduation I hope to pursue a career in Public Relation, where I can utilize the knowledge I have acquired through my internships and Surfrider duties.

Example Elevator Speeches 

Dress to Impress  When presenting an Elevator Speech you should be dressed appropriately  Business casual or suits are appropriate; no jeans, workout clothes, jogging suits  Don’t show a lot of skin, wear crazy tall heels for ladies, tennis shoes, or flip flops  Have a signature piece, Ex: Turtle Earrings  Stand out, remember your style!