Preparing Your Elevator Pitch/Job Hunter's Icebreaker

Materials

• Paper and pen for each participant

Duration:

• 15-30 minutes depending on the group size.

Method

Say:  We are going to practice creating an elevator pitch.  An elevator pitch is a concise message you would say to someone to quickly get across what you are looking for.  An elevator pitch should take no more than 30 seconds.  The reason to create it is that often you will find yourself meeting with someone and they'll want to know what you're looking for in a job.  That is NOT the time to make a strange face and start thinking about it.  You want to come across as confident, well-planned, and somewhat self-assured.

Of course, there will be many times when you'll have more than 30 seconds to talk with someone about what you're looking for.  In those cases, an elevator pitch is a great launching pad to direct an effective meeting.

Personally, I find the term "elevator pitch" too sales-y.  They don't like the idea of "selling myself."  So, if you're like me, you might want to refer to it as a job hunter's icebreaker - a way to start a meaningful conversation around getting you a job.

The elements of an effective job hunter icebreaker/elevator pitch contain:

• Your Name


• Your Target Role


• Your most recent relevant role and 1 measurable/valuable result of your work


• What you are looking for 

• A direct request for the person's help, in the form of "I'm wondering..."  as in, "I'm wondering how you might be able to help me." or "I'm wondering if you could recommend someone in your organization that I might meet with for an informational interview."

In a job hunter icebreaker/elevator pitch, you are not asking for a job.  Do not think that you are.  In 99% of the cases the person you are with will not have a job that they can offer you.  You are asking them for advice, help, and recommendations.  Of course, if you know that the person to whom you are speaking is a hiring manager, or recruiter, then it is ok to ask about opportunities at their organization.  But, let's start at the beginning...

Say:  Take out a blank piece of paper now and write the following.  Hi, I'm - and write your first and last name.

Do:  Pause while people get prepared and write their name.

Say:  That was easy.  We have your first line all set.  Next we're going to get to the point.  What you want.  Below your first line take a moment and think about what you want, then write, "I'm looking for a position as a..." and fill it in with the role you're looking for.  If you don't know what you're looking for, either write the most recent title you've had, or make something up.  This is not a high stress situation.  We're in this room to practice, so it should not be stressful.  Think of it as practice or playing at creating an icebreaker.

Ask:  Any questions about your target role?

Do:  Respond to any questions.  Then, pause while people write their target role.  When they are ready continue.

Say:  Good, so now we're about halfway through the elevator ride and you've made it clear what you want.  Now you'll establish why you're worthy of their time/attention by saying a single line about your most recent relevant experience.  Here's an example of a good experience summary, "Most recently I was a sales associate at the GAP where I met my sales quota for 6 consecutive quarters."  In this sentence you are trying to establish that you are a qualified professional and a smart, hard worker.  

An example of what might not sound so good is, "I was recently fired from my job at the library because they said I was playing MineSweeper too much."

Take a moment and think about what you might say in a sentence that says what you've done most recently for work and 1 quantitative result that came from your work.  When you are ready, write that down below your target role sentence.

Ask:  Any questions on your recent relevant experience and measurable result?

Do:  Respond to questions.  Then, pause while people write their relevant role and measurable result.

Say:  Finally, we are going to write a request for help.  Many people have difficulty asking others for help.  We have found that it's easier if you form your request in the form of "I'm wondering if you could..."  rather than "I need help."  A direct request like "I need help" tends to lead to a yes/no situation - either they can help or not.  A softer request like, "I'm wondering if you could..." is less confrontational and more often, more effective.  So, on your last line, write "I'm wondering if you could..." and then fill in the rest with either "recommend someone else in your organization who might be a good person to talk to," "tell me about what it's like to work at your company," "tell me ideas you might have as to how I could pursue opportunities at your company," "recommend companies that would be appropriate for me" or something similar.

So take a moment now and think about what you would like to ask of the person, and write your last line.

Ask:  Any questions about writing your request for help?

Do:  Answer any questions.  Then, pause while people write their request for help.  When they are done, continue.

Say:  Of course, in many cases you are not in an elevator and may have more time.  In those cases, you may consider expanding what you have and including things like mentioning companies that you are targeting, any job constraints you have, what activities you've done to help yourself make progress, etc.  This exercise is to get your basic offering and request for help out there for others to be able to help you.  

Next we are going to practice our job hunter's ice breaker/elevator pitch.  Form groups of 4-6 people.  It's ok if you know or don't know the people in your group.  Have your paper with you.

Do: Organize the teams into groups of 4-6 people.  If there are an odd number of people in a team, that's ok.

Say:  Now, a lot of noise is about to happen.  In these small groups, team up in pairs of 2.  If there's an odd number, break it down into a team of 3.  Each person will read, or if you have a good memory, simply say, your job hunter icebreaker statement to the other person.  There's often a big difference between what we write and how we talk, so this will give you good experience seeing how what you write sounds.  After you practice yours, you may want to edit what you've written.  

The other person will listen to what you say, and don't say anything for at least 30 seconds.  Give the person presenting the opportunity to reflect on how what they've just said sounded without any feedback.  You are going to be drawn into their statement and will notice that you are inclined to respond in 1 of 3 ways:  

1. To be critical and have ideas that you want to recommend to improve what they said


2. To make connections on ways that YOU might be able to help them with what they are looking for


3. Have nothing to offer

It is important that you not rush right in and respond, but give them a moment to reflect.  When they are ready, they will tell you to give them feedback. 

Do:  Lead the teams through several rounds of practice giving both sides the opportunity to practice and receive feedback.  After several rounds, bring the unified team back together.

Ask:  What was that like?

Do:  Listen to responses.  Repeat what people say back to them.

Ask:  Was it helpful?

Do:  Listen to responses.  Repeat what people say back to them.  Share anything that you observed during the exercise.

Ask:  Do you feel that you are in a better position now than you were before the exercise?

Do:  Listen to responses. 

Say:  In a short period of time you have come up with a concise way to get across your need, value, and a request for help.  In future sessions, I'm going to ask you to come back and share your experiences using this tool.  I hope that it is helpful to you in getting what you want.

Do:  Respond to any last comments and close the exercise.