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Video Challenge-You Need An Elevator Speech

People in an elevatorTHE CHALLENGE:
Email me a video of you giving your 30-60 second elevator speech. For the next few weeks, I’ll feature the best ones on The Temp Connection website, Facebook, Google+, and YouTube. Remember, no longer than 60 seconds. Email entries to: diana@thetempconnection.com.

You must have an elevator speech!

Imagine finding yourself in an elevator with the hiring manager for your dream job—and you don’t know what to say. Gasp! For five floors you wrack your brain trying to work up the nerve to begin a conversation. The elevator doors open. The hiring manager exits, never knowing that the perfect candidate was standing tongue-tied right behind.

It’s called an “Elevator Speech” because you only have as much time to make a great impression as it takes an elevator to go from the top of the building to the bottom. In Tucson, where there are only a few tall buildings, that’s not a lot of time.

An elevator speech is handy for scoring an interview, making a sale, gaining a prospect, selling an idea, getting a referral; attending a networking event…you get the idea. The elevator speech is almost as important as your resume and needs to be regularly tweaked to fit the occasion.

A quick Google search reveals myriad articles on how to write an elevator speech. I recommend writing a 30 to 60-second elevator speech. Traditionally, I’m wordy and get excited when speaking in front of people, so mine is almost 60 seconds.

Your speech needs to:

  1. Be concise, clear, powerful, visual, targeted, goal oriented, and have a hook.
  2. Tell a story.
  3. Grab the listener quickly.

Salisbury University has great advice on crafting an elevator speech, and they even include a worksheet. Check out the worksheet and the article, How to Craft a Killer 60 Second Elevator Pitch That Will Land You Big Business.

What your “Elevator Pitch”must contain:

  1. A “hook.” Open your pitch by getting the Investor’s attention with a “hook,” a statement or question that piques their interest to want to hear more.
  2. About 150-225 words. Your pitch should go no longer than 60 seconds.
  3. Passion. Investors expect energy and dedication from entrepreneurs.
  4. A request. At the end of your pitch, you must ask for something. Do you want their business card, to schedule a full presentation, to ask for a referral?

An article on Forbs.com, The Perfect Elevator Pitch to Land A Job, breaks down the writing process into nine easy-to-follow steps:

  1. Clarify the target.
  2. Put it on paper.
  3. Format it.
  4. Tailor the pitch to them, not you.
  5. Eliminate industry jargon.
  6. Read your pitch out loud.
  7. Practice, practice, practice!
  8. Prepare a few variations.
  9. Nail it with confidence.

Take the challenge! Email me a video of your best elevator speech, and you could win a chance to shine across social media.

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