Write your own Elevator Speech! - Make a connection in 30 seconds or less

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Read pages 1 and 2
  2. Complete sections A – E found on pages 3 and 4.

Developing a 30 Second Commercial

A 30-second commercial is a brief statement of what you consider yourself to have become at this stage of your life. You can use it to introduce yourself to employers at job fairs or respond to that interview icebreaker, “Tell me about yourself.”

To develop an introductory statement that you can use in a variety of settings (waiting in line at a coffee shop, sitting next to somebody on an airplane, sharing an elevator with somebody at work, participating in an interview), think about the following

Structure

A “commercial” is essentially a thirty-second monologue describing the benefits of buying a particular product or service – YOU.

Purpose

Your commercial enables the listener to become aware – relatively quickly – of specific, unique, and impressive attributes you can bring to the position.

Advantage

You come across more poised and confident simply by opening with your commercial.

Uses

  • At an interview – in answer to the question – “Tell me about yourself.” Designed to position yourself and sell your most marketable skills
  • In a cover letter – to highlight your background and key abilities.
  • Professional, social, organizational meetings – when you are asked to introduce yourself.
  • Serves as a summary of your background, strengths and accomplishments
  • Allows you to customize your pitch for the target audience
  • Leaves a lasting impression

How to Develop a 30 Second Commercial

  1. Make a list of your strengths. List as many as possible. Choose three or four strengths that you want to include in your commercial. Create specific examples of your strengths.
  2. Mention your education, work experience, and special skills.
  3. Add a closure, unique to each situation, where you state one solid reason that you’d be a good fit for the targeted company/job. What is there about the background you’ve described that makes you uniquely qualified to solve problems for this company?
  4. Practice, practice, practice. Deliver your commercial to a friend, a mirror, or anyone who will sit still for 30 seconds. Critique yourself and ask others for advice on how to improve your commercial.
  5. Stay flexible. You’ll want to be able to modify your commercial depending on the situation.

Key Items to Include

  1. Number of years of experience in a particular area
  2. The kind of experience (marketing, customer service, office experience)
  3. Key skills and tasks, such as organization, attention to detail and people skills
  4. Personality traits and characteristics that make you unique
  5. Familiarity with industry jargon
  6. Most important thing that you want the employer to know about you

How to Pitch your Commercial

  • Use crisp, concise, and memorable language-- not over-detailed and rambling statements.
  • State the position you are seeking.
  • Sell your professional abilities and experience.
  • Emphasize your individual strengths and links them to the perceived needs of the employer.
  • Use descriptive statements of your acquired skills and abilities.
  • Emphasize key words; slow down when making a key point
  • Smile when you give your pitch
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm
  • Practice, practice, practice!

EXAMPLE OF HOW TO WRITE A 30 SECOND COMMERCIAL

A - Who am I?

Example: “Hello, my name is… and I’m a student at Centennial Education Center. I am earning an Executive Secretary/Administrative Assistant State Certificate. I also just completed a course in “Understanding Real Estate.”

Use this area below to write your answer.

B - What is my objective?

Example: “I am interested in supporting an office operation in the area of commercial real estate.”

Use this area below to write your answer.

C - What are my strengths?

Example: “My education taught me the computer skills, customer service skills, and employability skills needed to step into a position that will support the management, staff and customers of an organization. In addition, the course I completed in “Understanding Real Estate prepares me for an office position in a real estate company. My strengths include time management, dependability, positive attitude, flexibility and a self starter.

Use this area below to write your answer.

D - What is my passion?

Example: “I want to make a difference by supporting the staff and customers in a real estate company in order to make the experience of purchasing and selling real estate a positive experience from start to finish.”

Use this area below to write your answer.

Please remember to personalize your speech for the situation and person to whom you are speaking.

E – Summarize sections A – D

HINT – Copy and paste your answers from sections A – D into section E.

Example of an elevator speech when answering the “tell me about yourself” question in an interview, at a party, at a job fair:“Hello, my name is… and I’m a student at Centennial Education Center. I am earning an Executive Secretary/Administrative Assistant State Certificate. I am interested in supporting an office operation in the area of commercial real estate. My education taught me the computer skills, customer service skills, and employability skills needed to step into a position that will support the management, staff and customers of a commercial real estate organization. In addition, the course I completed in “Understanding Real Estate prepares me for an office position in a real estate company. My strengths include time management, dependability, positive attitude, flexibility and I am a self starter. I want to make a difference by supporting the staff and customers in a real estate company in order to make the experience of purchasing and selling real estate a positive experience from start to finish.”

Elevator Speech: Write Your Own – Worksheet1