PEARL SCHOOL OF MODELING
WEEK 9 of 12
Today our #RisingPearls delivered their elevator pitches. As a former university professor, I challenge our students with a curriculum similar to a university leadership program. Did you know how to deliver an elevator pitch when you were 10? 13? or 17?
Congrats to our students selected as the top winners of our Elevator Pitch Challenge: Yomari Jackson and Jasymn Allen.
Honorable Mention: Tisa Nuwagaba, Alaina Crisostomo, Kelsey Johnson, Mara Solis
Thank you to judges Attorney Roodgine Bray of the David Bozeman Law Firm and Real Estate Broker Charles Lawrence of Charles Lawrence Realty for providing their knowledge and wisdom to our students!
Here are some tips on composing an elevator pitch!!
Components of an Elevator Speech
- I am (personal introduction)
- My interests are (relevant to listener’s needs)
- I know about your organization (I have done my research)
- My skills/accomplishments are (I can do what needs to be done)
- I would like an interview/meeting/ eferral (I am confident you will benefit from the meeting)
I am …..
- Name ___________________________________
- Graduating with a ______________________ degree in May from __________________________
- Looking for a position as a ___________________________________
My interests are
Examples:
- developing marketing plans
- in the field of __________________________
- providing _____________________ service
I know you
Examples:
- I’ve researched your company and learned ________________________
- You produce _________________________
- You are a leader in _________________________
- You need _____________________ in your company
My skills/accomplishments are
Examples:
- I excel at ___________________________
- I can bring __________________________
- My previous supervisors have said I ________________________
- I produced ______________________________
- I can deliver _____________________________
- In my last position I accomplished ____________________________
I would like an interview/meeting/referral
- You must make a request at the end of your speech
- Don’t ask for a position or about benefits
- You want to discuss further:
- Your skills
- The company
- A project
- Obtain career advice
- A referral
Sample elevator speech, separated into components
(I am) “Hi, I’m/this is Mary Smith. I’ll be graduating from USF in May with a bachelors degree in marketing and I have a real passion for the environment.
(Interests) I love creating outside‐the‐box marketing strategies for new products, especially environmentally‐sensitive ones.
(I know you) I understand that your company has produced some new products that aren’t on the market yet.
(My skills / accomplishments) Last semester, while interning for a local firm I created an aggressive marketing campaign for a new product, which improved their sales.
(I’d like to meet) I’d love to talk to you about how I might be able to use the skills I’ve learned to help your company. Are you available for a brief meeting on Monday or Tuesday?”
Putting it all together
“Hi, I’m/this is Mary Smith. I’ll be graduating from USF in May with a bachelors degree in marketing and I have a real passion for the environment. I love creating outside‐the‐box marketing strategies for new products, especially environmentally‐sensitive ones.
I understand that your company has produced some new green products that aren’t on the market yet. Last semester, while interning for a local firm I created an aggressive marketing campaign for a new product, which improved their sales.
I’d love to talk to you about how I might be able to use the skills I’ve learned to help your company. Are you available for a brief meeting on Monday or Tuesday?”
Some Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Rewrite your speech in order to sharpen its focus.
- Make it sincere and provide a glimpse into your personality.
- Speak confidently and enthusiastically.
- Practice your speech until you’re comfortable with it from beginning to end.
- Maintain eye contact with your listener.
- Prepare different versions for different situations.
Don’t:
- Use more words than necessary.
- Include industry jargon or acronyms.
- Rush breathlessly through it.
- Make a “canned” presentation.
