When it comes to pitching yourself to a potential employer, you only have a few minutes to make an impact and get your point across. It is said that within the first five minutes of your job interview, the recruiter already has a fair idea of whether they want to hire you or not. This means you need to brush up on your elevator pitch game to ensure that you make the most of that crucial first impression.
Do you recall Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn’s interview at Google in their film The Internship? As hilarious as it was to watch, there is a lot to learn from the way they conducted themselves to the ingenious way in which they answered every question put to them.
An elevator pitch doesn’t have to be long and drawn out, nor does it have to be tricky. If you are on the lookout for job search tips, Kool Kanya’s course, Job prep: Get job ready and improve your hiring chances, covers all of the focus points that will help you stand out and pitch yourself confidently.
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Here are five simple job elevator pitch tips that can help you nail that job interview.
1. Preparation is key
You need to know what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. You can write a script, practise answering questions, and have anecdotes ready to supplement your answers. It's important to keep your elevator pitch short and to the point. You don't want to ramble on and on about your qualifications.
Instead, focus on one or two key points that you want the interviewer to remember. These could be your experience at your previous jobs, or any significant accomplishments that you want to highlight. Remember that the better prepared you are, the better chances you have of being remembered and wowing your interviewer. Ensure that your CV contains only relevant information and follows the appropriate format for a job application.
2. Know your audience
One of the most important things to do when giving an elevator pitch in a job interview is to know your audience. This means you should have a good understanding of who the interviewer is and what they are looking for in a candidate.
Scour through the job description and candidate requirements, and pay attention to the qualifications that are listed. Pick up the qualities listed in an ideal candidate and add those to your resume, CV tips, and tricks such can help you get past the initial screening and into the interviews. Find out information about your interviewer and their areas of expertise, this will place you in a stronger position to secure the role.
3. Keep it simple
When it comes to your elevator pitch, it is important to keep it simple. You want to be able to deliver your pitch in a clear and concise way. This can be difficult if you try to pack too much information into your pitch. Therefore, it is important to focus on the most important points that you want to make.
It is also important to avoid using industry jargon in your elevator pitch. While you may be familiar with this terminology, your interviewer may not be, especially if you are shifting fields, using jargon may confuse them and make it difficult for them to understand what you are trying to say. Stick to using simple language that anyone can understand.
4. Weave a story
One way to make a good first impression on your interviewer is by telling a story. When you tell a story, try to make it relevant to the job you're interviewing for. For example, if you're applying for a sales job, you could tell a story about a time when you successfully closed a big deal. If you're applying for a job in customer service, you could tell a story about a time when you went above and beyond to help a customer.
Your story doesn't have to be long or complicated. Just give the interviewer enough information to get an idea of who you are and what you're capable of. If you tell a great story, it will help you stand out from the other candidates and increase your chances of getting the job.
5. Say more with your body than your words
We mentioned earlier that it takes recruiters a few minutes to decide if they are going to hire someone or not. In order to give yourself the best chance of a good first impression, make sure that you are dressed well and well-groomed.
Smile politely, firmly shake the interviewer's hand, and make eye contact. When answering the interviewer’s questions make sure to keep your voice level, and avoid mumbling or using the words, ‘uh’ and ‘um’. Finally, your posture and body language during the duration of your interview should be professional and confident. Listen attentively to the interviewer, don’t fidget and remember to nod intermittently.
When preparing for how to get your dream job, every effort counts. Our course can help you get job ready by polishing your skills in various job-seeking aspects. Learn how to negotiate your salary in a job interview, how to make a good resume and the qualities of a good CV. Our course also prepares you for the much-anticipated job interview, through tips, tricks and practice. Don’t let this opportunity to get ahead of the competition pass you by and sign up today.
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