The Elevator Speech: 30 Seconds to Glory

By Elizabeth Chamberland, Campus Representative, Indiana University

Everyone knows there is only one opportunity to make a good first impression. According to the book, The Four Minute Sell, Janet Elsea suggests that only seven to fifteen seconds are given to make the impression positive.

First impressions are critical when it comes to interviewing for jobs. A polished appearance, a firm handshake, and a healthy dose of self-confidence are all essential for a first meeting with a potential employer. However, an aspect that may not be as obvious is preparing for the standard “tell me about yourself” question. Poor preparation for this open-ended question can result in a rocky start to an interview if not prepared.

This is where it becomes important to have a rehearsed “elevator speech.” An elevator speech should be an overview of yourself short enough to share during an elevator ride.

Rafe Gomez, known as “The Rehirement Coach,” suggests that The Secret to a Perfect Elevator Speech is to “Serve Cheesecake!” By this, he notes, he does not mean actual cheesecake, but the figurative idea of a sweet sample of yourself. Instead of telling the employer why you need them, offer “cheesecake” – samples of irresistible advantages you can give the company – and demonstrate why they need you.

In addition to offering up your contributions, monster.com’s article, Prepare Your Elevator Speech, suggests that you should keep your elevator speech short (30 seconds to a minute), be honest, and of course PRACTICE!