First Impressions - How To Deliver A Professional 30-Second Elevator Pitch (Page 4 of 6) in pdf

HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR PROFESSIONAL PITCH

Step 1: Who You Are

I am a(n)…

This can be your actual job title or a descriptive term for your occupation. Examples include: Financial

Advisor, Attorney, or Artist.

Ivy Tech tips: Begin with your name followed by your actual job title or a descriptive term for the

occupation for which you are seeking employment. You could also incorporate information about your

education here. For example, you might say, “I am Jenny Jobseeker, an Accounting student at Ivy Tech

Community College…”. If you have both education and relevant experience, you could mention both

your professional title and educational pursuits. Also, don’t forget to open the entire introduction with a

firm handshake.

specializing in…

This is a short phrase that makes your title or occupation more specific. An artist may specialize in portraits, or

an Attorney might specialize in employment law.

Ivy Tech tips: To further elaborate on your education, you might add some of the higher level program

courses that you have completed. So, Step 1 might look something like this, “I am Jenny Jobseeker, an

Accounting student at Ivy Tech Community College where I have completed coursework in Income

Tax, Payroll, and Cost Accounting.”

Step 2: What You Do

Write a single sentence that describes what you do and be as specific as possible so people can really picture

what you mean. For example, a Financial Advisor who specializes in retirement planning might say something

like, “I worry about your retirement so you don’t have to”.

Ivy Tech tips: This may require more than a sentence but no more than three sentences. If you are

continuing to focus on your education, you might address your balance of work and school, your

academic accomplishments, and any relevant activities. To continue with the example above, Step 2

might look like this, “I am presently employed part-time as a customer service representative at XYZ

Company where I practice strong communication skills daily. I also carry a 3.8 GPA and am active in

the Student Government Association at Ivy Tech where I serve as the Treasurer. My goal is to begin my

career as a staff accountant to make the best use of my skills and education. ” In other words, what do

you do now and what is it that you have to offer the employer in terms of job function or contribution?

Step 3: Why You’re the Best

Write a single sentence that lets people know why you should be their “go to” person. Provide a concrete

example of something that sets you apart from other people in your field. For example, our Financial Advisor

might say, “Many of my clients are able to retire early based on the success of the investment strategies that we

develop together.”

First Impressions - How To Deliver A Professional 30-Second Elevator Pitch Page 4