How to create an effective elevator pitch for IT-Jobs

Career AdviceCareer

Although there is a high demand for tech workers, it is still beneficial for you to develop an elevator pitch to land your perfect job.

Elizabeth Burgos received a compliment from another passenger about her T-shirt that read: I am Woman, Hear Me Code, while standing in line to board her flight.

"She was unaware of my profession or who I was," said Burgos, a talent acquisition manager for tech teams at Walmart.

The passenger gave a formal elevator pitch, introducing herself as a Java engineer and telling Burgos about her current company and her goals. She then asked to connect with Burgos. Burgos told the passenger that she worked at Walmart and the two exchanged contact information. The conversation led to a job interview where she was hired.

"Elevator pitches are beneficial because they provide an opportunity to network and make connections,"

What is an elevator pitch?

A professional introduction of myself that includes the type of work I do and, most importantly, the impact I have made. An elevator pitch should last no more than one to two minutes and should be interesting enough to make the listener want to know more about you or your product.

Why do you need an elevator pitch?

"As a tech candidate, you are likely to be contacted frequently by recruiters. However, you must still make an impression. A good elevator pitch is a great way to accomplish this," said Sasa Ferrari, vice president of talent acquisition for San Mateo, California-based AI company Momentive, formerly known as SurveyMonkey.

It is important to have an elevator pitch ready at all times because you never know when you will meet your dream recruiter.

Breaking the ice

When someone takes the initiative to ask about your occupation, that provides an opportunity to give a brief overview of what you do, also known as an elevator pitch.

When attempting to give your elevator pitch to another person, how can you break the ice so that they will be more receptive? Icebreakers are a great way to get to know someone or break the ice in a group setting.

"Inquiring about the technology we are using is a great way to start a conversation," said Igor Grinkin, DevOps manager at Newfront Insurance. The most important thing to remember when giving your elevator pitch is to come across as confident and professional.

"Having a great personality goes a long way. You want to work with people who are pleasant. If you have a great personality and can hold your own, then the opening line is not as important," Grinkin said. Arrogance can destroy it all, though.

"It is surprising how many people come up to me and say 'This is what I have done, what do you have for me?' without introducing themselves properly," said Drake Ong, head of tech recruiting at social media company Reddit in San Francisco.

What makes an elevator pitch good?

The important thing is to try and have a conversation with him. Not a monologue.

Important components of a one-minute pitch

• Don't talk too fast
• Spit facts
• Give them your full name
• Provide your job title
• Be confident
• Mention your future goals
• Try and end with exchanging contacts
• Practice your pitch beforehand

"If you are able to generate interest and demonstrate that you are curious and work diligently, as well as having certain motivators, then it is highly likely that they will say 'let me know if there is anyone I can introduce you to in my network, or if you would like me to notify you if a role that interests you becomes available," said Paige Costello, product lead for Asana.

What is far more interesting to hiring managers and recruiters than the "why" is the "what" – for example, what makes you passionate about this type of work, or what impact have you had with the work that you do, Costello noted.

"It is important to provide context and explain the reasoning behind your actions as this will be more memorable to those you are speaking with than simply listing the names of the companies involved," she advised.

Creating a memorable experience with your elevator pitch when talking to hiring managers and recruiters can lead to a job in the future.

This was the case for Ong, who met a potential candidate five years ago at a technology conference. This candidate was excited and passionate when talking about a visual AI and predictive analytics project. Ong was impressed.

"We didn't have a role that fit their focus at the time, but I always kept them in mind for future opportunities," he said.

Pitches for meeting random people

"I have found that in many social gatherings, people will give me a one line response when I ask them about their occupation," said Ferrari. "This does not leave me very impressed or excited to want to set up an interview with the individual because they have not given me anything to make me curious or excited."

It is important to be able to deliver your elevator pitch confidently in a variety of settings, including when there are distractions such as at a party, conference, or trade show. The pitch should be interesting and offer information that will make them want to ask questions or give advice. "The goal is to get them to engage with the content, not just shake your hand and say it was lovely meeting you," said Costello.

OFF-CHANCE ELEVATOR PITCH

At the conclusion of the event, you find yourself standing next to a talent acquisition manager while you both consider which sandwiches look appetizing. He asks you: “What do you do?"

Don’t Do This: “I’m X, lead UX designer on the iWatch. What do you have for me?”

Do This: "My name is X and I am the lead UX designer for the iWatch. It's nice to meet you. I noticed that you don't appear to be wearing a watch, but you do have a phone. It was my passion to marry these technologies to make them more personal and accessible. This desire led to a three-fold increase in iWatch sales. What design challenges does your company face? Would you need someone with my skills to address them?"

Pitching for a specific target

If you attend a conference with the hope of meeting specific people for job hunting, your elevator pitch should be revised to reflect the individuals you plan to meet.

Know your audience.

It is important that you research the company and position before attending the event and speaking with the hiring manager or in-house recruiter. I read that your company is committed to XYZ and I really appreciate that because ABC.

"An effective conversation is two-sided," Ferrari explained. "Once you establish that, you can deliver your pitch in a way that comes across as sincere and honest."

After your elevator pitch, it is advised that you exchange business cards and then email them the next day with your resume. "I find that when I receive a resume, I am able to picture the person who it is coming from. This helps me much more than receiving a cold call email, which I would most likely ignore," Grinkin said.

I'm a big fan of your software and I'm hoping to meet hiring managers from your company at this conference.

Creating an elevator pitch for a job interview

By researching the company you can make your elevator pitch much more impactful for your job interview. They're only hiring this person because they think they can fix the problem. You need to convince them that you're the one for the job.

Your superpower is what makes you unique. Use it to your advantage! "Your superpower is what makes you unique and different from everyone else," Ong said.

Articulating your passion, expertise and the impact it has had on your work in a clear and concise way is essential to nailing your elevator pitch.

An elevator pitch for a job interview is your opportunity to sell yourself and stand out from the competition.

"If you want to be successful, remember to pick a story or two that aligns with your superpower and practice telling it," Ong said. "Lastly, humility goes a long way—don't be afraid to call out the areas that you're working on. It will show your ability to self-reflect and learn as you grow."

Pitching at an interview

You have a UX interview at an e-retailer company that is struggling to enhance its design for the shopping season for the holidays. The interviewer says: “tell me about yourself."

Don't do this: "For the past five years, I have worked as a UX designer at Company X, during which time I added interactive features to their retail site."

Do This: For the past five years, I have been a UX designer at Company X where I had the opportunity to do some amazing work, including introducing an interactive feature that allows customers to virtually try on clothes. This increased sales by 70%.