If you're looking for a job, you need an elevator pitch that actually works. A good one can open doors, start conversations, and make you memorable. They’re great for attending networking events, job fairs, writing your resume elevator pitch, or sending out cold emails to prospective employers.

It’s your answer to the question, “What do you do?" and it needs to hit! Learn how to write an elevator pitch that gets results and makes people want to know more.

How to write an elevator pitch

Writing a strong elevator pitch starts with a clear plan and should never be something you just muddle through on a hope and a prayer. You’re not winging it. You’re building a short intro that helps people understand who you are and what you offer.

Here’s an elevator pitch formula that gets results:

Name + What You Do + What You Want to Do + What Makes You Special + Call to Action

Start with who you are

This one is simple. Just say, “Hi, my name is [Your Name].” There’s no need to overcomplicate it. The person you’re talking to isn’t interested in any distinctions between your legal name or a name you go by. Just be sure that whatever name you give will be what appears on your resume.

Explain what you do

Talk about the industry you’re in, how long you’ve been in it, and name drop a company or two. Example, “For the past five years, I’ve worked in the aviation industry flying commercial planes all over the world.” Keep it short and simple!

Let people know what you want. Are you looking for a job? Hoping to connect with someone? Want to break into a new field? Say it directly and clearly. You could add something like this to your elevator pitch: “Now that I’ve got that experience under my belt, I’m ready to break into [Industry] to do [Job Title].”

Show what makes you different

Add a detail that sets you apart. Maybe it’s a specific certification, a unique experience, or a niche skill. Just one thing is enough to make you memorable. Perhaps you just finished a course that coupled with your experiences gives you a more holistic view of how a company works.

End with a call to action

Wrap it up by asking for something. Do you want to set up a meeting with them? Are you only interested in staying in touch casually? A strong, well-defined call to action turns your elevator pitch from a speech into a conversation.

How long should an elevator pitch be

How long do you ride in an elevator? Maybe a minute?

That’s about how long your elevator pitch should be: between 30 and 60 seconds. It gives you just enough time to share who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for without losing the other person’s attention. It’s a quick intro, not a full resume.

Concise, clear, and confident (the three Cs for an elevator pitch) is the goal.

Tips for a good elevator pitch

Prior to drafting your pitch, consider your objective.

Are you trying to broaden your network?
Looking for a new job?

Each of these goals requires a different script. Similarly, you should also consider who your target audience is, what problems they have, and you can help solve them.

It seems like a lot to think about, but the effort is worth it. A good elevator pitch is one of the most important tools you can have in your professional arsenal.

Capture their attention

Who are you? Introduce yourself and note your credentials such as your degree or current place of work. If possible, reference something that differentiates you from your peers, such as technical training or publications.

The start of a conversation is also the perfect time to establish a relationship. So, if you happen to know you went to the same college or worked at the same firm as the individual, mention it at the beginning. This will ensure that you are memorable.

Note your career or business goals and experience

Once you've completed initial introductions, draft a short, one-sentence story that answers the question, "What do you do?" If your job title is broad or highly specialized, provide a description instead. When the person understands your role and goals, then they are in a better position to help you or possibly connect you to someone who can.

Because time is limited during an elevator pitch, it's important to avoid getting bogged down in detail. The key here is to make sure your story highlights the value you can deliver or the problems you can solve.

In another sentence, emphasize your interest or experience in the field. Avoid making fluffy statements such as "I'm passionate about working with children.” Instead, offer something concrete, along the lines of "I've taken childcare courses and volunteered at the local daycare for five years."

Point to qualifications

To make a good elevator pitch, you'll also want to point to your qualifications. Now is the time to share information about some combination of your leadership, experience, achievements, expertise, skills, and strengths.

Ask yourself what makes you qualified to do your job.

If you're a new graduate, point to your college major. Otherwise, focus on your professional work.
If you're affiliated with industry organizations or have specialized certifications, make a note of it to your listener.

Highlight unique qualities

After establishing your background and goals, point to any qualities, experiences, or achievements that make you stand out. That person may already know somebody with 15 years of experience in childcare, so what makes you such a catch?

Perhaps you volunteered in overseas schools, learning how to care for impoverished children. Or maybe you have extensive knowledge in child psychology that would allow you to identify and support children with psychological issues.

Consider what special niche or extensive knowledge you can share with your contact that will set you apart from the rest.

Ask a question

As you close your elevator pitch, make sure to ask an open-ended question that allows the individual to answer. This can help engage the person in a longer conversation.

For example: "If you have some time, I would love to meet with you in person to hear more about your organization."

Or, you can say something like, “Would you be able to put me in contact with the person in charge of business development so I can tell them more about what I can offer your company?”

And, of course, be sure to ask for a business card so you can follow up.

Practice, practice, practice

Take your time to craft your pitch. Practice it aloud and time it to make sure it's short enough. If you can, practice with friends and ask for feedback. Cut out anything that's unnecessary.

Remember, your pitch needs to be short and engaging. You don't have to share every unique aspect of your job or every accomplishment – just enough to pique interest from the other person and land you a follow-up meeting.

As you practice your elevator pitch, take care that you sound natural, not rehearsed – people can tell if you really believe in what you're saying or if you're just trying to sell them on something with a boilerplate speech.

Some other quick elevator pitch practice tips include:

Be enthusiastic and positive.
Monitor your body language and tone down distracting hand gestures and fidgeting.
Commit your elevator pitch to memory so you don't have to worry about forgetting it.
Practice in front of a mirror.

With all of your practice, don't lose sight of the importance of being flexible with your elevator pitch. You may even consider creating different pitches for different audiences and scenarios. At the very least, be open to making changes – it's alright to vary your words as long as the message is the same.

What to avoid in an elevator pitch

When you're writing your elevator pitch, avoid making it all about your job title or tasks. That kind of detail is easy to forget. Instead, focus on the benefits and value you bring, the problems you solve, and the results you get.

One common mistake is talking only about “features,” like your role, tools you use, or company name. That’s like describing a product without explaining what it does for the customer. A better approach is to talk about what you make happen. That’s what sticks.

Here’s an example: “I work in administration at a startup.” That’s vague and it's something hundreds of people could say.

Instead try: “I help early-stage startups stay on track by managing schedules, streamlining systems, and keeping the team focused.” That’s more specific, useful, and memorable.

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Elevator pitch example #1

Hi, I’m Jordan Smith and I’ve worked in digital marketing for the last six years. I’ve been pretty successful at helping small businesses grow their online presence and now want to move into a larger agency where I can lead a team and take on bigger campaigns. I recently completed a certification in advanced SEO strategy, which has already helped one client double their site traffic. Would you be open to a quick call to talk more about your team’s goals?

Elevator pitch example #2

My name’s Priya Patel. I just wrapped up a degree in computer science and an internship at a healthcare startup where I built a scheduling tool that cut appointment wait times by 30%. I’m now looking for a full-time role in software development, ideally with a company focused on solving real-world problems. Do you know anyone hiring for junior devs?

Make every second count

A good elevator pitch isn’t just a script. It’s proof that you understand your value. If you can explain what you bring to the table in 60 seconds, you’re already ahead of most job seekers.

So here’s the question: If someone gave you their full attention right now, would you know what to say?

If you're not sure, your resume might be sending the same mixed signals. A free resume review can help you get clear on how you're presenting yourself and whether it's working. Let an expert take a look.

This article was updated in January 2021. It contains work written by Carrie Maldonado and Marsha Hebert.