freelanceswitch.com: When was the last time you’d heard that phrase? I hadn’t heard it in years, until a recent assignment for a magazine article led me to sit in on a local networking meeting. As I took my seat, the woman I was sitting next to drew me aside.
8 comments:
Elevator speeches. The awesome and dreaded project senior year. Its a great project. Nerve racking to think that you have to sum up who you are, what you do, and the skills you have in 30-60 seconds. I wish that we did the elevator speech earlier in our education. I should just develop one on my own. An elevator speech doesnt give you just the basis for a quick encounter, but it could be how you explain yourself in an interview. Having more then one elevator speech for different individuals is a great idea. Flexibility is key, espcially with resumes, selling yourself, and finding that new and exciting job.
That was AJ C. ^ It wouldnt let me enter my name
Elevator speeches. The awesome and dreaded project senior year. Its a great project. Nerve racking to think that you have to sum up who you are, what you do, and the skills you have in 30-60 seconds. I wish that we did the elevator speech earlier in our education. I should just develop one on my own. An elevator speech doesnt give you just the basis for a quick encounter, but it could be how you explain yourself in an interview. Having more then one elevator speech for different individuals is a great idea. Flexibility is key, espcially with resumes, selling yourself, and finding that new and exciting job.
This concept does not seem out of date to me. It actually seems very relevant. I don't think "elevator speeches" will ever stop being used. These are the perfect way to pitch yourself when you only have that 30-60 seconds to do so. I am interested in hearing about the project that AJ speaks of. I also feel like it would be a good idea to always have one ready, but I like that we have then as senior year projects to prepare us for life after college. I also agree with having multiple elevator speeches to fit the situation. This seems like something I should start doing!
Agree. Elevator speech will never stop and even becomes more and more important. i don't know the situation in the US, but in China, preparing one or more elevator speech is in the top 5 of the job seeker's To Do List. it is really difficult to show yourself in 30-60 seconds and takes a much longer time to prepare it. i think the most important part of elevator speeches is not telling them how good you are but is telling them how you appropriate for this job. So it is necessary to prepare one elevator speech, but it is also very important to prepare more speeches in case of meeting with different people for different jobs.
I agree with everyone else who posted above, and found this article really interesting. It sort of shocks me that elevator speeches are beginning to be deemed obsolete. Although I think elevator speeches can definitely be useful, they must also be done tastefully. The author of this article says that you should start your elevator speech by "subtly" throwing in an impressive accomplishment, such as going to Harvard. Although this is impressive, I think it could come off as if the person is simply just showing off (which some may think is the point of an elevator speech in the first place.) However, I think elevator speeches are important because they are not just a chance for someone to "show off" their experiences, but also to show a little bit of who they are as a person, which, to me, is equally as important as an Ivy League name.
This is something I definitely have a hard time with; if I need to talk about my ideas, my work, myself, I often ramble and look back and realize that most of what I said was superfluous. I had never heard the term elevator speech before, but I love how perfectly it fits its description. I agree with the article that it must be useful to always this type of short self-presentation ready at any time; it definitely demonstrates the preparedness and professionalism that could land you a much-needed meeting or a job.
I think this is definitely a useful tool for anyone starting out in the real world after college. Our jobs are all about making connections so the more we give our elevator pitch, the better. I think it's easier said than done to pretty much put yourself out there to anyone who will listen, but learning to take rejection is part of the game. I'm sure it must get easier the more we say it, or the more desperate we become for a job. I don't see the elevator pitch becoming obsolete at all. I think it is a quick and easy way to sell ourselves. You never know who you may be talking to so why not be prepared to sum up what you have to offer anytime, and anywhere?
The Elevator Speech inspires a terror in me not felt since I was ten and told I had to go the dentist. Important though it might be, the idea of having to sell myself out-of-the-blue likely to a complete stranger makes my stomach tighten.
That said, how do you advise people how to make an elevator speech catered to themselves when you have no idea who they are or what they do? This article is necessarily vague and I think that's where a lot of my fear of this speech comes from - the vagueness of all I've heard and read about it. While it may be impractical, I still want a stepping stone; something like a template I can start with and then tailor to me. Likely though, that would also sound canned and not be very helpful.
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