What Floor? Success Please

An elevator pitch is a valuable tool in all young professional’s toolbox. How to sell and brand yourself is a tool that needs constant work and attention; what would you do if you were in an elevator with Anna Wintour? While crafting my elevator pitch, I had to compile my strengths. The first being quick, accurate and deadline-based reporting. I emphasized that I’m open to all lines of work, because I felt it was important to keep options open but emphasize what I specialize in. This was also what my colleagues said was their favorite part of the pitch.

I enjoyed informing but not boasting my skills in Adobe InDesign and getting to let people in to the experience I have. The in-person elevator speech was more helpful too because, in an increasingly digital world, it’s easy to want to control your narrative. In doing something with another person, the organic nature of conversation and free flowing communication comes out. Doing my pitch in-person reminded me that my profession is a world dominated by communication.

I think something that still needs workshopping within my pitch is a memorability aspect. What is the person going to remember about my speech? It probably won’t be my enthusiastic delivery and it might not even be that I was Editor in Chief of my student newspaper. I think the part that will be memorable will be why journalists matter, that’s my narrative. Right now they are the only things standing between democracy and autocracy, and they are fading quickly. Working on honing the part of my speech where I say that journalists are the controllers of chaos will be where I improve.

This Harvard Business Review article compares the elevator pitch to the pitches for movies, and how most people know if they want to invest within the first 45 seconds. In an elevator pitch, that’s all you have so making it clear and interesting is of the utmost importance. Even your first line should get to the point quickly after your name.

In short a journalistic elevator pitch should reflect the profession and emulate a good lede: succint, informative and attention grabbing.