How to sell yourself: the art of the elevator pitch and making the best first impression possible
The first 30 seconds after you meet someone can make or break your chances of convincing them to like you and want to know more
People make a lot of snap judgments when they meet someone. First impressions are formed in the first seven seconds of meeting another person, by making eye contact, smiling, and introducing yourself.
In the following seconds, you have the chance to introduce who you are and what your unique selling points are. This quick-fire delivery is often called an “elevator pitch”. In high-stakes situations like job interviews, an effective elevator pitch could mean the difference between standing out as an interesting, viable candidate, and getting lost in the shuffle.
“Most people can’t present what they’ve done effectively,” Paul McDonald, a senior executive director at staffing firm Robert Half, said. “They’re not used to giving sound bites of what they do.”
Here’s how you can craft the perfect elevator pitch for any situation, from networking brunches to Shark Tank.
1 Know exactly where you want to go
Your elevator pitch should answer three questions: Who are you? What do you do? Where do you want to go, or what are you looking for? You need to know exactly what you want to achieve or no one can help you get there.
