Elavator Pitch

[jon_a_five]

As part of the Employer Engagment course I have to write an 'elevator pitch'. This is a short (less than 30 seconds, shorter even) statement about who I am and what I do to spout at people I don't have long to impress (like at networking meetings).

So far I have

"Hi, I'm Jonathan Baddeley. I'm an experienced software developer who's worked in a wide

Comments

[alexmc]

I'd make it more specific. How experienced? What industries? Which clients?

> I'm looking for the next stage in my career

You're looking for an employer :-)

Beware of jargon if it isn't natural for you.

[alexmc]

Of course I skipped the bit where I said "that is a good idea. Keep it up, do another three or four."

[jon_a_five]

Thanks Alex! This self-promotion stuff feels very odd to be frank, but apparently it has to be done.

And yes, I'm looking for an employer but I don't want them to know that I'm unemployed until they ask what I'm doing. Otherwise it sounds a bit "'Gis a job" :-)

[hawkida]

Say you're looking for a fresh opportunity or a new challenge or something similar, then. Saying you're looking for the next stage sounds really weird, like you're a wandering actor or something! And it actually comes across MORE like you're saying you're unemployed but they have to work to reach that conclusion.

[jon_a_five]

Cheers John

I wrote this from the POV of meeting a total stranger who I don't know (most likely at a networking event). If pitching at a company representative and having some prep time I would do a focused one. But I'd rather have a general one I have faith in than make one up on the fly.

Yeah, my accent has come up quite a bit. I consciously slow down when I speak to people but that does take a deliberate effort.

[helenex]

I wouldn't use hopefully.
I always hated that thing Word had where it assessed the "passive" content of your text. However, here its kind of appropriate.

So in that sentence
"Currently I'm looking for the next stage in my career which will hopefully include expanding my abilities"
I'd say something like
"In my next position I'm looking to expand my abilities, both technical and business" - and give examples if possible.

[jon_a_five]

Cheers Helen. Yeah, I included that 'hopefully' as I'd take a job that didn't give me anything new! But you're right, it doesn't make a good pitch and most of the work available in software development now would include new skills for me to learn.

[darth_tigger]

So, any advice for how to sell myself in half a minute?

[elfinessy]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jon_a_five]

I wish people wanted to pay me for that!