| Formulating an elevator pitch is not as big of a deal | | | | varies according to the quoted source; however, |
| as many students make it out to be. Actually, it is | | | | around 8 - 10 seconds is the general consensus. |
| quite easy. In the article, I've listed 4 different | | | | Additionally, with the stimulation that human beings |
| misconceptions people have regarding the brief albeit | | | | have with video games, surround sound home |
| very important "speech." Additionally, throughout the | | | | theatres and cable television these days, this |
| article, I've listed some tips to heighten listener | | | | attention time span gets shorter and shorter. |
| interest. | | | | Simply stated, if you don't impress someone or peak |
| Misconception #1 - Your elevator pitch is only for | | | | their interest right off the bat, you're probably not |
| interviewing purposes | | | | going to at all. Don't worry about being 100% in |
| This is quite the opposite. Throughout your career, | | | | gaining your target audience's interest as you are not |
| you will meet people who can be of help to you a | | | | always going to. Conversely, practice as much as you |
| myriad of places ranging from a hotel somewhere in | | | | can to increase your odds. |
| the Caribbean to an industry conference. You will be | | | | Misconception #3 - Your pitch has to go into a good |
| surprised at the random places in which you will | | | | amount of detail |
| uncover solid professional contacts. | | | | Keep your elevator pitch very short. I like to keep |
| Elevator pitches are the most important if you | | | | mine to 3 sentences or shorter. Then, once you give |
| decided to pursue a career in sales. You must be able | | | | the 5 second synopsis and the person responds with |
| to grab a person's attention in 1 - 2 seconds or you | | | | interest, you give the rest of the information. Not |
| will lose an account. They are not going away; you | | | | everybody is going to be interested in you. It's just |
| must meet any weakness you have in this area | | | | the way it is. However, if you give them a few |
| head-on. Entry-level interview questions such as | | | | sentences instead of a paragraph, their odds of |
| "What are your weaknesses," begin to fade as you | | | | asking questions will increase. |
| get further in your career, though the elevator pitch | | | | After all, the more information you give at first, the |
| will stay with you. | | | | less your audience has to ask about. Make the |
| Misconception #2 - Your pitch has to be over 1 | | | | listener want to ask questions; this in the name of |
| minute long | | | | the game. Also, if you give a longwinded explanation |
| Here is a good exercise. Have one of your friends | | | | and the listening party turns out to not be interested |
| get out a timer and begin to tell him or her about | | | | anyway, you've just wasted more of your time. |
| yourself for a minute and a half. You will actually see | | | | Misconception #4 - It's all about what you say |
| how long 90 seconds of speaking about yourself is. | | | | In all actuality, in order to formulate a successful |
| Then, have your partner tell you about him or herself | | | | elevator pitch, you must have a cheerful and |
| for 90 seconds and see how long your attention | | | | enthusiastic disposition which comes through in your |
| span allows you to listen. Quite long, isn't it? | | | | speech. You can have the most interesting elevator |
| According to Simon Fraser University, the average | | | | speech in the world, however if you come across as |
| continuous attention span for a literate human being | | | | mundane, you will lose your audience almost 100% of |
| is 8 seconds. The aforementioned time measurement | | | | the time. |