“FirstGen Ahead has allowed me to build and develop relationships with people that I otherwise would not have met and has taught me the importance of networking, especially at this time looking for career opportunities.”-Latchman Ramlochan, FGA Cohort 2020-2021
By Latchman Ramlochan, Junior, UMass Amherst
Imagine you’re on an elevator and on your way home when someone gets in the elevator with you. You realize she has a pin on her jacket of the company where you have been wanting to work. You ask her if she works there; it turns out she’s one of the company’s hiring managers. Where do you go from there? This is where the elevator pitch comes in. An elevator pitch communicates and markets the important characteristics of yourself and your work.
At FirstGen Ahead, we’ve been practicing our elevator pitches with other students and coaches. So, what goes into an elevator pitch? Although an elevator pitch only lasts as long as an elevator ride, what you say needs to be authentic so you connect with the other person. First, introduce yourself. If you’re a student, say what school you go to and what your majors/minors are. From there, tell them what you’re passionate about and why, and what you hope to do after graduating. Include the skills you are acquiring that position you for your future role. Sharing information about why you value the company and what you hope to contribute shows you’ve done your homework. End the elevator pitch with a question to show your interest in the other person. Delivery matters, too. Be clear with what you are saying and not speed past everything.
These are some of the many things I took away from the feedback our group received from our coaches when we practiced our elevator pitches. Personally, I have benefited greatly from practicing and honing my elevator pitch through the feedback given by our FirstGen Ahead coaches. I have added more characteristics as to how I will help a company in the position for which I am applying. I have developed a pitch that allows me to focus on the points I am trying to get across and speak with more positive emotion and passion rather than sounding monotone. The more I practice and slow up the pace of my delivery, making sure my message is easy to understand and I convey my genuine interest in speaking with the person, the more likely it will be that they will want to know more about me and how my skillsets and work/life experience might be of interest to them.
Overall, your elevator pitch should leave a mark and a strong impression on the hiring manager. The more positive emotion and passion you display, the more interest the person you are speaking with will have in your pitch. Be yourself and always remember, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! It may not be on an elevator ride, but you will have to introduce yourself in less than a minute many times, so this is an essential skill.
