By Communication Consultant Xinyi Cui (Accounting and BIS, ’22)

No doubt you have introduced yourself several times recently. It’s not very difficult to first say hello to a new acquaintance or to introduce ourselves at the start of a new class. We usually share our name, major, and where we live. Maybe we share some details about our hobbies or interests. But when we walk into a career fair or attend networking events, an introduction is not that easy. We need to be ready to talk briefly but specifically about our experiences, knowledge, skills, and interests. Creating and practicing an elevator pitch is an important part of our preparation.

Usually the elevator pitch takes about 30 to 60 seconds. Though brief, it shapes our audience’s first impression. Therefore, understanding our audience’s expectations is important, what do they want to know about us? What can interest them and how can we persuade them?

The best approach is to tell stories that convey our relevant experiences and skills. However, consider the audience and pay attention to the words we use. Sometimes the listeners may not know the specialized terminology, abbreviations, or concepts that we have studied, so it is important to keep it simple and focused.

A common situation for networking is that we are not looking for a specific position; thus, we want to show our flexibility. A good approach is to be open-minded about requirements like willingness to travel, salary expectations, and so on.

At the end of the pitch, do not forget the goal. Let your audience know you are looking for opportunities! Try not to limit your goal to a single, specific role since the elevator pitch will apply to many circumstances. Your audience might know of an opportunity that would be a great fit for you even though you hadn’t heard about it before.

Take a look at the example below:

“I am a junior majoring in supply chain management and environmental science, while working as a reporter for the college newspaper. With the goal of promoting sustainable lifestyle, I focus on introducing different environmental issues and identifying opportunities of possible innovations in our daily life at Lehigh. After serving on the committee that designed the most recent sustainable and healthy food initiative on campus and helping to organize several conferences, I am looking for a supply chain internship that will give me the opportunity to focus on sustainability. I am especially interested in emerging technologies, such as block chain and NFT, that can guarantee sustainability at every level of the supply chain.”

It answers some basic questions including who you are, what you have done, what is your goal and what you are looking for. Like the resume and cover letters, we have to read and edit this short paragraph again and again to make it appropriate for different situations so that it is never outdated.

Last but not least, keep practicing. Be ready with your pitch whenever the right opportunity presents itself. If you need help creating or rehearsing your pitch, visit the Rauch Center for Business Communication and our communication consultants will help you better prepare for your networking opportunities.

Get information and resources about our center at The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communication.

Parts of this article were adapted from the following sources:

Doyle, A. (2021, January 27). When and how to use an elevator pitch. The Balance Careers. How to Create an Elevator Pitch With Examples (thebalancecareers.com)

Frost, A. (2021, May 25). 12 elevator Pitch examples to inspire your own. HubSpot Blog. 12 Elevator Pitch Examples to Inspire Your Own (hubspot.com).