On the fourth installment of Tristan's Tips, our special guest Tristan Layfield discusses what constitutes an effective elevator pitch and shares his advice on how best to come up with your own.

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TRANSCRIPT

Tristan: What's happening, Living Corporate fam? It's Tristan of Layfield Resume Consulting, and I've teamed up with Living Corporate to bring you all a weekly career tip. So today, let's discuss our elevator pitches. Most of us have heard of what an elevator pitch is, but for those who aren't aware, elevator pitches are short, concise statements that explain who you are and what you do. It's called an elevator pitch because apparently you're supposed to imagine that you get into an elevator with another person, and they ask you what you do, and then you only have that brief moment in the elevator to give them a meaningful response. Now, I don't know about you, but I very rarely talk to anyone in elevators, let alone strangers, but let's flow with it. While most of us may have an elevator pitch, I'm here to tell you that we need to rethink the way that we do them. We've been taught to lead our elevator pitch with process rather than leading with results. When we do that, we leave the other person wanting to know "What's in it for me?" So let's listen to one of my old elevator pitches as an example. I used to lead with "I'm a career coach and resume writer that approaches career development by combining my client's personal brand with their career field through strategic coaching and the development of resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles marked by their consistency, infusion of key words, and unique formatting that helps my client stand out. Are you looking for help in elevating your career?" While it sounds good, it doesn't lead with results. It doesn't immediately tell the person what's in it for them, and it puts the other person on the spot. In order for us to make faster and more valuable connections, we need to talk about how we create wins for our companies or clients and provide those within the first 60 seconds. By doing this, we don't make the person guess what's in it for them. We give them examples of what could be in it for them. So let's replace the process in my first elevator pitch with some results and see how it transforms. "I'm the head career coach and resume writer at Layfield Resume Consulting. As a result of the coaching, resumes, and cover letters and LinkedIn profiles I provide my clients, they not only landed roles in Fortune 500 companies, but they're better equipped to position themselves as experts and become their own biggest advocate in their careers. I'm looking for individuals who are ready to level up their careers. Can you think of anyone who needs some help?" Which one do you think is better? Reach out and let me know. This tip was brought to you by Tristan of Layfield Resume Consulting. Check out us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @LayfieldResume, or connect with me, Tristan Layfield, on LinkedIn.