Writing an Elevator Pitch as a Student: A Step-by-Step Guide

Posted on Tuesday, July 18th, 2017

It happens in every interview. It happens at every networking event. It could even happen when you’re out walking your dog, attending a wedding, or at a family gathering.

Eventually, someone is going to ask you the dreaded question, “So tell me about yourself. What do you do?”

Your answer to this question is important. Depending on the situation, it could lead you to job opportunities, mentors, and contacts. It can sell people on you and your skills. It can show potential employers exactly what you can do for them. In 30 seconds, it can open doors for you and help grow your network and brand.

It’s your elevator pitch, and it’s super important that you have one so that when the inevitable question is asked, you’ll have a stellar answer.

 

Step One: Answer some key questions first.

The goal of an elevator pitch is to sell yourself and your abilities in 30 seconds. As soon as someone asks what you do, you want to give them a quick overview that intrigues and interests them. That means quickly giving them some key information:

  • Your name
  • What you’re studying
  • What you’re looking for

Depending on your situation, this can all fit into a single sentence. Something like:

“My name is Jane Smith. I’m a Bachelor of Commerce student at Algonquin College. I’m currently looking for a co-op position in Ottawa.”

Great, you’ve given them the facts. But there’s nothing there to hook your listener. It needs more.

Step Two: Take time to spruce it up.

You need to tell your listener why you’re awesome. What’s in it for them? What do you do that makes you suited to meet your goal—in this case, to find a co-op position?

Think about your transferable skills (and use our guide to find your own). What are your superpowers? By adding those in, your pitch could start to take shape:

“My name is Jane Smith. I’m a Bachelor of Commerce student at Algonquin College. Through my program, I have hands-on experience with supply chain management, and I lead my colleagues as class representative. I’m looking for a co-op position where I can put my skills to work for an organization in Ottawa.”

Now you have a pitch that’s really shaping up. You have your name and program, an industry-related skill (supply chain management), a transferable skill (leadership), and what you’re looking for.

It’s just missing one thing.

Step Three: End with a call to action.

Like all sales pitches, your elevator pitch should end with a call to action for the listener. Often, this will take the shape of a question you ask. This gives the listener the opportunity to respond to you and drive the conversation along.

The question you end on should further your goal—in this case, finding a co-op position. Some possibilities are:

  • “Can I give you my card?” (Because of course, you’ve had business cards made, right?)
  • “Are there current opportunities in your organization?”
  • “Do you know of anyone looking for co-op students?”

So now, your pitch becomes:

“My name is Jane Smith. I’m a Bachelor of Commerce student at Algonquin College. Through my program, I have hands-on experience with supply chain management, and I lead my colleagues as class representative. I’m looking for a co-op position where I can put my skills to work for an organization in Ottawa. Has your company ever brought on co-op students?”

This ending allows the conversation to carry on. It can encourage the listener to ask you more questions, opens the door for you to talk about the benefits of co-op and your program, and may give you the chance to talk about why you’d be the perfect hire at their organization.

Step Four: Put your elevator pitch to work.

Now that you’re armed with an elevator pitch, it’s time to use it.

First, practice, practice, practice so that you’re comfortable with it. Depending on the situation, you’ll usually have to modify it on the spot. If you have it committed to memory, that becomes much easier to do.

Remember: your elevator pitch is a key component of your personal brand. Because of this, it can find a home in all parts of your professional toolkit. From your LinkedIn summary to your Twitter bio, you want to reflect those same skills and abilities that you have in your pitch.

Like any other part of your job hunting kit, your pitch will change and update as you learn more skills and get more comfortable in your industry. Don’t be afraid to revisit it every so often, so you know it’s the best it can be. It’s yours, and will help you find all kinds of cool people and opportunities.

If you would like to learn more about the Algonquin College co-op program, please visit our website at https://www.algonquincollege.com/coop/, connect with us at coop@algonquincollege.com or call us at 613-727-4723 Ext.7623. You can also follow us on Twitter @AlgonquinCoop.


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