The Elevator Speech
By Justin Sodoma, UCS Career Peer
What exactly is and why is it called an "elevator speech?" The length of an elevator ride is about how long you have to grab someone's attention. Imagine a scenario like a career fair or networking event in which you have 30 seconds to tell your story. But, how does someone cram his/her entire academic and professional life into 30 seconds?
There is no exact science to creating an elevator speech. Often times it is dependent on the person giving it, the target audience, and the type of career or internship desired. In general however, certain things should always be said in order to give you the competitive advantage.
If you've not already been introduced, give your name first and major. However, do it in a fashion that is unique and attention grabbing
- “Hi, I’m Jane Doe. It is a pleasure to meet you. I see that you are representing the American Psychological Association today. I enjoy studying the fascinating psychology of the human brain. The endless knowledge to be learned is both intriguing and daunting ”
Now that you have introduced yourself and made reference to your major, you should include some examples that support you interest in the area that you study or that relate to the particular employer you’re speaking with.
- “As president of the psychology club I have worked with my peers to promote the importance of psychological studies on campus as well as gone to many workshops on different psychological disorders.”
- “I have also worked in a lab studying the effects of different drugs on lab mice. It is hard to believe that such small amounts of drugs can have a severe impact on the workings of the brain.”
You may wish to include recognition of a current event relating to the field or something about the organization that you are talking to.
- “I was shocked to read in the Journal of American Medicine that the rate of diagnosed psychological disorders amongst Americans has increased by 18% within the last 10 years.”
- “I was reading an article for class about how the American Psychological Association was recently recognized as a leading organization for their research on substance abuse.”
End with a closing remark that is sincere and thankful
- “Thank you so much for your time. You organization does outstanding work in the field of psychology.”
