Elevator Pitches 101: Everything You Need to Know When Networking and Interviewing in Tech
What is an Elevator Pitch?
In the context of a job interview, an elevator pitch is a quick pitch or speech that grabs the interviewer's attention and piques their interest in you. An elevator pitch usually lasts thirty to ninety seconds. An introductory speech that highlights who you are, what you do, and why the interviewing business should hire you is considered a convincing and memorable presentation. The term "elevator pitch" refers to the notion of delivering a speech in the time it takes to travel to your floor in an elevator.
You may make an elevator pitch by making a list, memorizing it, and using one of the sentences from your list during the interview if feasible. Giving the audience precisely what they need is the key to effective corporate communication. In this scenario, the corporation is interested in learning what you have to offer that the company can use. Begin by giving a brief summary of yourself, emphasizing your strengths.
How to Compose an Elevator Pitch
An effective elevator pitch has three parts: who you are, what you do, and what you will do for the organization.
Mention your major, year, and one or two interesting facts about your study. Then, using a printed copy of your résumé, figure out where you came from. Skills, projects, research, leadership, and experience areas should all be included.
After you've completed your initial list, go through it again to see if there are any skills or essential experiences that are missing. As much as possible, commit it to memory. Instead of using these sentences all at once, spread them out throughout the interview.
An important element of interview preparation is doing research about the organization. During the interview, mention some of the facts you've discovered and how it relates to your 'what you do' statements about your abilities and expertise.
In most cases, the interviewer will inquire whether you have anything additional to say. That's your cue to move on to the last half of your pitch, which will be about what you'll accomplish for the organization. Based on the company's demands, highlight the most significant skill sets you have to offer.
Using an Elevator Pitch to Nail Interviews in a New Industry
Pivoting into tech or finance from consulting doesn’t have to be a difficult process. However, there are a number of things you must do in order to prepare for a successful interview for any tech position. Knowing the organization and your job, being precise and succinct about your experience, and communicating your ambitions are all things you should focus on. In every scenario, there are role-specific factors to be aware of in order to prepare your elevator pitch for your next dream job.
To start, make sure that you can pitch yourself in an interview in under ninety seconds. You are technically at a slight disadvantage because you are coming from a different industry and may not have experience in tech, so you'll need to be quick and direct about what makes you worth considering for the role.
Introduce yourself, your educational history, and your most recent professional experience. This information covers your prior work title, position, employer, and time in the position. Break out the industry you're leaving and why you're going to pursue a career in technology. Keep this section of your pitch around twenty seconds long.
Then, describe how you came upon the position you're interviewing for. If at all feasible, mention some names, whether they are friends, mentors, or others. If you have a connection to the organization through someone else, it might work to your advantage. Then, describe why you're interested in the position. Focus on one to three factors, such as cultural fit, skill fit, corporate interest, vertical interest, growth potential, professional development, and so on. Your interviewer will be intrigued as to why you left your previous profession. This part of your elevator pitch should last no more than thirty seconds.
Finish with one to three reasons why you think you're a good professional and cultural match for the position. We suggest choosing one to three bullet items from the job description and focusing on those tasks and functions. Prepare to tell anecdotes about how you've put them into practice. Finish by expressing your delight at the chance to talk more about your past and why you're a good fit for the position. Throughout the recruitment process, make it clear that you're eager to learn more about the organization, team, and job. Keep it to less than thirty seconds.
Pivoting from Consulting into Tech
Moving from the consulting industry to tech might seem daunting, but there are tons of roles in the tech industry that involve consulting in some shape or form.
Take a look at your resume before applying for tech jobs to see what talents, experiences, and contacts you have that can help you advance to the next level. On sites like LinkedIn, as well as your paper résumé, keep your information up to date. Review your resume with a coworker or professional acquaintance to get criticism and recommendations for improvement. Because you might not be seeking another consulting job in the computer field, you should organize your material so that it's obvious what you're looking for and what you can provide.
Your initial elevator pitch can be a quick summary section on your resume or profile. Two or three phrases can be used to convey your experience and skills, while a single sentence can be used to express your present job search goal.
Pivoting from Consulting into Finance
Moving from consulting to finance isn’t much different from moving from consulting to tech. Your experience and skills in consulting can translate well into a finance role.
Factors that work in your advantage should be included in your elevator pitch. Many factors that an interviewer for a financial position may deem good are listed below. Maybe you're not an inexperienced consultant who doesn't know how to work with and manage customers. Perhaps you've established a positive reputation in your prior field. Having no finance experience doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. Consider what distinguishes you from other candidates and how your consulting expertise may assist the organization you're interviewing for.
Tips for a Killer Bizops Interview
As with any tech interview, you’ll need to perfect your elevator pitch when interviewing for a bizops (business operations) position. In order to properly pitch yourself, you’ll need to understand key business drivers.
Professionals in the field of business operations must be able to demonstrate a thorough awareness of the business drivers. Prepare to answer questions regarding problem-solving and, if required, brush up on your case interview abilities. Profitability, ROI, cost optimization, and other business levers are particular features of the business that are closely tied to business KPIs. Because each organization, stage, and sector has its own set of difficulties to handle, it's critical to grasp the relevant levers for each.
How to Nail a Bizops Interview
When interviewing for a bizops position, ask questions to have a better understanding of the function. Many candidates mistakenly believe that Business Operations jobs entail internal strategy advising, which is rarely the case. Strategic program experts, business unit-specific roles, and function bizop positions are all examples of business operations roles.
Because interviewing is a two-way street, make sure you properly grasp the organization and the Business Operations team by asking some essential questions. Inquire about the organization of their bizop team and the sorts of projects or initiatives they work on. It's also a good idea to inquire about the possibility of advancement in the position you're applying for.
During your interview, you should also explain why you want to work in bizops and why you want to work for their specific organization. Explain how your background and objectives are a suitable fit for the organization and role. The alignment of the team or organization with your own aims and beliefs is just as crucial as your expertise and skillsets to accomplish the specific job. Describe how you got started in Business Operations and what you like about it, as well as your immediate and long-term ambitions. Explore and explain the 'why' of joining a certain organization and team at the same time.
Looking for more interview prep? Join The Commons' Strategy + Operations Sprint to gain reps working on a business problem, doubling as interview prep. Plus, you'll get 1:1 access to mentors who live and breathe these jobs daily.
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