30 seconds elevator speech

1. 30 seconds elevator speech The lost art of professional self-introduction

2. What is it? • 30 second elevator speech is an introduction speech • Emphasizes your current/desired position rather than positions that you hold previously • Used mostly during formal business introduction • Used during interviews (answers to question: “Tell me about yourself?”)

3. Why to have it? • Well rehearsed speech • Give you a focus what needs to be said • Puts you in the right mind set • Builds your confidence • Sets tone for the conversation • Speaks volumes of your professionalism • Gives the listener awesome 1st impression

4. Two types of 30 second pitch • Normal length: • Anywhere between 20 and 45 seconds: • Too short – unrehearsed and uncaring • Too long – boring and lacking focus • Extremely short: • One sentence speech based on the audience: • For Executives – what makes the speaker exceptional • For others (interviewers, etc) – what the speaker does

5. Normal length speech parts • Introduction • Name • Position • Job that the speaker does (or aspires to do) • Don’t just say the job title • If it is high on business ladder you look condescending • If it is low you’d seem insignificant • Years of experience in this job and related subjects • Exceptional value sentence (if speaking to Executive) • List of personal/professional characteristics • Closing statement • Thank for listening and/or opportunity to connect • Ask for what you want

6. Exceptional Value Sentence • Think what makes you exceptional • Think what would make you exceptional • Think what listener considers exceptional Use above knowledge to combine it into one sentence

7. List of personal/professional qualities/values • Perform self-assessment: • What you do best • What you seek to achieve in life (vision statement) • What you consider highest qualities/values • Write them down • Research their meaning • Unless you really know what they mean: • You won’t know what you are talking about who you are • you won’t be able to go to the next point • Expand each quality into one sentence

8. Sample of short speech • For CEO (Executives) • Hi, my name is ……... I deliver exceptional results in projects. • This likely will lead to the listener’s question how you do it • Your answer would be: I deliver results because for the past 7 years I have used proven project management methodologies to resolve business problems • For interviewers and others: • Hi, my name is …………… I am a Project Management Professional with over 7 years of experience in IT Administration, Networking and Operations management. • The interviewer will likely try to go into specifics of your statement

9. Sample of normal length speech • Hi, my name is …….. I am a Project Management Professional with over 7 years of experience in IT Administration, Networking and Operations management. • I deliver exceptional results because I have used proven project management methodologies and led teams to resolve business problems with on-time and under budget projects. • My three personal values are LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY and PERSISTENCE. • Leadership because I inspire excellence and lead by example • Integrity because I believe in honesty and sense of duty • Persistence because I am a leader with clear goals and a vision • Thank you for taking your time and I would appreciate if we could schedule a job interview.

10. Challenge • Complete the following excercise • Practice it alone • Run it through your mentor, spouse or a friend • Refine and polish it • Use often • Update when necessary (your priorities or desires might change over time)