One of the most important tools in your job search is your “elevator speech.” Here’s the idea—you get on an elevator with someone you don’t know, and you’re holding a copy of your resume. As the elevator doors close, the other person says “What kind of job are you looking for?” At the same time, she pushes the elevator button for the 8th floor.
What would you tell her, since you only have 8 floors to answer her question?
At first, this might seem a little unrealistic—how many times are you holding a copy of your resume, and how many strangers actually talk to you on the elevator? Still, some of the best career opportunities come when you least expect them, and when you have very little time to respond. Consider these scenarios:
- I ran into a high school friend at the local bookstore. As we flipped through the CDs on sale, I told him about a couple of students of mine who are computer geniuses. He mentioned he was working on a computer project, and asked if I could e-mail their contact information to him. I sure did—that afternoon.
- I then went to the checkout area to wait for my family, and I ran into a family friend. In about 20 seconds, he told me he was looking for work in two specific parts of the country. I put an announcement on my social networking site, and in 24 hours, I received a solid lead and a Web site he could explore.
That’s two pretty strong career connections that happened, all while shopping!
The elevator speech is a great way to summarize your career interests, your job experiences, and your excitement about what lies ahead. One of my students had a speech that went something like this: “I’d like to work with a non-profit company that helps people read and write in English. I had three internships in college where I taught English on three different continents, and my four years of work in college at an $8 million business has shown me the corporate side of the business world.”
That’s a great speech. It talks about what they’d like to do, and mentions four different experiences they’ve had that prepare them for the work they want to pursue—all in about 20 seconds.
Here’s another example: “I’d like to work as a buyer in a retail clothing chain. My uncle owned a small department store, and I’ve worked there since I was 10. My business and art degrees helped me build on that interest, and I’m hoping to try out my skills in a bigger city than where I was born.”
This one works well, too. It addressed professional background, training, and a desire to relocate, all in a nice, neat package.
When you practice your elevator speech, try it first by writing it down when you’re on the run—on the train, or between appointments. Read the message to yourself as you time yourself, making sure not to go over 20 seconds, and making sure you don’t rush…
…and whatever you do, DON’T say too much. An elevator speech that’s too vague doesn’t give a clear idea of what you want, and a speech that’s too detailed can leave the listener looking for an escape hatch! Two solid sentences that convey your interests, goals, and experience will work, and gives your audience time to ask that magical question, “Do you have a card? I’d like to talk to you about this.”
Now that’s a floor everyone wants to go to.
