GCAS Strategies 11 Discussion: Elevator pitch

Man and woman in office giving high five

Do your best

Image Credit
Krakenimages via Unsplash

In this lesson, we will work on giving an elevator-pitch style of introduction.

Introduction

An elevator pitch is useful in any discussion, but it is especially useful in GCAS Part 1.

Start by answering this question.

Tell me about yourself.

This lesson is for Part 1 of the GCAS, but you can use the strategies in many other places, too.

Ask the student to tell you about themselves.

  • Listen carefully.
  • Write down what they say in bullet form into the chat. (You'll use the information later in the lesson.)

The student should already be good at this. GCAS 1–5 were about how to properly structure an answer.

Warm Up

What's the difference between an introduction and an elevator pitch? Which style should you use in a speaking test?

Introduction = focused on the listener, sharing relevant information about yourself with them.
Elevator pitch = set flow of information, sharing the best of yourself in a consistent, polished way.

Reasons to use an elevator pitch style

  • Prepare the best information.
  • Use more sophisticated language than you otherwise would.
  • Deliver it with confidence.

Be careful

  • Do not sound robotic.
  • Do not force an elevator pitch where it doesn't fit.
Language

An elevator pitch is a short introduction. It can be about yourself, your company, a project, or many other things. The goal is to introduce the subject clearly, quickly and memorably.

Here are the three parts of a clear elevator pitch.

A. Yourself

Say your name and one or two things about your background.

You may talk about your hometown, family, hobbies, education, and more. Decide which information is most interesting and relevant to the situation.

B. Your career

Say one or two things about your career.

Here are some ideas.

  • When did you start your position?
  • What are your responsibilities at your workplace?
  • What projects have you worked on?
  • What are your accomplishments?

Give specific numbers and examples, when possible.

C. Your mission statement/goals

Say why you do what you do, or talk about your goals.

  • What makes you unique?
  • What do you aim to do later in life?

This is your conclusion.  

The final pitch

Now, put all three parts together.

An elevator pitch is a 30-second "pitch"—if you were in an elevator with a CEO, could you pitch them your idea in 30 seconds? Likewise, if you were in an elevator with a hiring manager, and you're looking for a job, how could you catch their attention within 30 seconds? 

A. Start strong

You can refer back to your notes on their initial introduction, if you'd like.

If the student is shy or lower level, ask the following questions and note their answers in the chat box:

  • What is your name? (Hi, I'm...)
  • Where are you from? (I'm from...) 
  • What is your job? (I'm a/an...) 

NOTE: Don't talk about your age! This is not relevant or important information, and it can create a negative impression (if they think you're too old, or too young, to do the job).

B. Your career

Make sure the student gives specific information and examples when appropriate.

  • When did you start your position?
    • e.g.: I have been a consultant for 10 years.
  • What are your responsibilities at your workplace?
    • e.g.: I am responsible for [+ VERB-ing/NOUN].
  • What projects have you worked on?
    • e.g.: I've worked on a variety of projects, from [A] to [Z]. 
  • What are your accomplishments?
    • e.g.: My biggest accomplishment was... 

C. Your mission statement/goals 

This section may be tricky, but you want them to tell you what makes them unique or different from others. If they're struggling, ask:

  • What do you want to do in the future? 
  • What are your dreams? 
  • What makes you different from your colleagues? 

The final pitch

Put it all together. For example,

Hi, I'm Tina. I was born and raised in San Francisco. You could say I'm a nerd. I specialize in robotics and IoT, especially in manufacturing. I've been working in the tech industry since early 2012. And, for the last few years, I've been working in the automotive area. We're making better, safer, cheaper cars. My goal is to make the world a better place through tech.

Practice

Practice giving your elevator-pitch introduction. Remember the main points:

  1. Tell me about yourself. 
  2. Tell me about your company. 
  3. Tell me about a recent project you've worked on.