Imagine this: You step onto an elevator and somehow find yourself standing next to a recruiter from your dream company or college. You have about sixty seconds to make the moment count – what do you do, what do you say?
Introducing the Elevator Pitch: a way to quickly introduce yourself and communicate who you are, your goals, and your strengths, while making a connection with the other person. Sometimes it’s referred to as the “hook” to getting a conversation started, and most importantly, getting them excited about you. Keep these tips in mind when crafting your elevator pitch:
Think – Who Is Your Audience?
Make sure what you are pitching aligns with the audience you are trying to reach and your goals. For example, your experience in coding may not be as relevant to a role in sales than it would be as a developer. Keep in mind, your elevator pitch will change as you grow older, gain more experience, and develop new interests.
Length – Keep it short!
They are called elevator pitches because they are short speeches that shouldn’t take longer than an elevator ride. The more you practice your elevator pitch, the more natural (and easier to remember) it’ll feel when it’s time to share. Use a laptop, phone, or device of your choice to record your pitch. Play the pitch back to yourself and adjust your recording based on your speed, enunciation, volume, and tone. Ask a trusted friend or family member to listen and give you constructive feedback.
Creating an Elevator Pitch
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get started! There are five key components of a great elevator pitch, but don’t worry, we’ll go through each one and share examples. Feel free to download the Elevator Pitch Outline Handout located at the bottom of this page and follow along with your answers.
Elevator Pitch Examples:
| Section | Description & Example |
|---|---|
| Who Am I? | Before they hear about how awesome you are, they should have some idea about what you’re up to right now, and what your name is. Start with something like: “Hi, my name is _______. I’m a junior at Hampton High School…” |
| Experience | Share what you are doing now that can help you accomplish your goals. This would be a great time to mention any relevant certifications or past work/volunteer history. “I just completed my CPR/First Aid certification for my health science class. I enjoy volunteering with my church – I’m also on the swim team.” |
| Goals | Now is the time to hook them in and share how your goals align with the opportunity they have. “My ultimate career goal is to become a registered nurse.” |
| Why | So you’ve got them hooked, now it’s time to reel them in. This is your chance to share what makes you stand out from everyone else and makes you the best fit. “I became passionate about the medical field after helping my grandfather recover from surgery. I have taken steps to become a nurse by joining the health science program at my school, joining HOSA, and becoming CPR/First Aid certified.” |
| How? | You made a strong impression so let’s take it all the way to the finish line. End your elevator pitch strong by sharing the steps you are taking, or will need to take, to achieve your goal. “After high school I would like to attend a four-year college such as ___ or ___ to attain my Bachelors degree in nursing.” |
Download: Tallo Elevator Pitch Worksheet
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a good elevator pitch example?
Hi, I’m [Name], a junior at Hampton High. I’m CPR certified and volunteer often. My goal is to become a registered nurse because I’m passionate about helping patients recover, inspired by helping my grandfather. I plan to attend a four-year college to earn my Bachelor’s in nursing.
What are the 3 C’s of an elevator pitch?
The 3 C’s are Concise, Clear, and Compelling. Your pitch must be brief enough for a short interaction, easy to understand without complex jargon, and interesting enough to make the listener want to continue the conversation.
How do I write my elevator pitch?
Follow the five steps from the chart above: 1) Introduce yourself (Who Am I?), 2) Highlight skills (Experience), 3) State your objective (Goals), 4) Explain your motivation (Why), and 5) Outline next steps (How?). Combine these into a short, natural narrative.
What are the 4 C’s of elevator pitch?
The 4 C’s are Concise (brief), Clear (understandable), Compelling (persuasive), and Credible (trustworthy). This framework ensures your pitch respects the listener’s time, avoids confusion, sparks genuine interest, and immediately establishes your authority or reliability.
Get Started
It’s never a bad idea to start practicing your elevator pitches and have a couple up your sleeve. The perfect opportunity and eager recruiter could be just around the corner. In the meantime, upload your recorded elevator pitch video to your Tallo profile. Colleges and companies can click to view it when visiting your profile to get a sense of who you are and help connect you with the perfect opportunity. See alsp our article on the elevator pitch for students.
