At some point, we’ve all been asked the question, “So, what do you do?” And for too many people, this question is a wasted opportunity because they aren’t confident talking about themselves and what they do for a living.
That’s why it’s essential to go into these situations prepared with an impactful elevator pitch. A well-crafted elevator pitch can help you stand out to other people and find more professional opportunities in the future.
What is an Elevator Pitch?
An elevator pitch is a brief explanation of your talents and what you have to offer potential employers or clients. It can be used at career fairs, networking events, or even in your LinkedIn bio.
You can use an elevator pitch to sell yourself as a potential job candidate, to pitch a project, or to create interest in your company’s product or service. A good pitch highlights the problem you solve and demonstrates what makes you, your service, or your company stand out.
How Long Should an Elevator Pitch Be?
One of the most common questions professionals ask is: how long should an elevator pitch be? The answer depends on context.
For most situations, be quick, ideally you should have a 30 second elevator pitch, but up to a minute is perfectly fine. This timeframe is long enough to get your message across while still leaving the other person curious to hear more. Think of it as the amount of time you’d have during a short elevator ride.
If you have more time—such as in a job interview, an investor pitch, or a longer networking conversation—you can extend your delivery into a two-to-three-minute elevator pitch. In this case, you’ll still want to start with your short version, then expand into more detail about your experience, skills, or business idea as the discussion unfolds.
So now that you understand what an elevator pitch is and why it matters, how can you come up with your own? Let’s look at five elevator pitch ideas to help you get started.
How to Develop an Elevator Pitch in 5 Steps
So now that you understand what an elevator pitch is and why it matters, how can you come up with your own? Let’s look at five elevator pitch ideas to help you get started.
1. Outline your goal.
Every elevator pitch should be built around a purpose. You might be hoping to land a job, spark interest in a new project, or expand awareness of your company’s services. Defining the outcome you want makes your pitch sharper and more targeted.
2. Introduce yourself.
Start with a sentence that captures who you are. This isn’t just about your name and title; it’s about establishing relevance. Saying “I’m Sarah, and I help kids discover a love of reading” is far more memorable than simply “I’m Sarah, a teacher.”
3. Explain What You Do
Once you have their attention, you need to expand on your introduction. Outline the problem you solve, explain your unique selling point, and share why you’re passionate about your work. People connect not just to what you do, but to why you do it.
4. Practice and Refine.
Write your pitch down, then read it aloud until it feels natural. Record yourself to check pacing and clarity. Practice with others to see if your timing is right and if you come across as conversational rather than rehearsed. Pay attention to delivery cues like tone, body language, and eye contact—your presence matters as much as your words.
5. End with a Follow-up.
Your elevator pitch should spark interest, not close the deal. Always leave the door open for more—connect on LinkedIn, ask for a business card, or propose a quick coffee chat. The relationship develops after the pitch, not during it.
Adapting Your Elevator Pitch Template for Different Scenarios
By now you should have a solid elevator pitch template to work from, but the way you frame your pitch will change depending on the audience:
- Job seekers might focus on their background, core skills, and the type of role they’re pursuing.
- Networking professionals can highlight who they help and how they add value.
- Entrepreneurs or startups often lead with the problem, explain their solution, and show what differentiates them from competitors.
- Sales professionals may emphasize client pain points and the specific outcomes their product or service delivers.
The structure remains consistent, but the emphasis shifts to fit the context.
Elevator Pitch Example
You want to start your elevator pitch with a one-sentence introduction of yourself. This sentence should be brief, but it should also capture the other person’s interest.
“Hi, my name is Jeanine, and I help companies sell more products and stand out online.”
Or, “My name is Scott, and I help companies meet their deadlines and create a better workflow.”
Independent consultants often have a wide breadth of experience and skills, spanning multiple functions and industries. Wrapping it all up concisely can be a challenge, but what you say could make or break your first impression.
Here are some elevator pitch best practices:
- Summarize your career focus
- Highlight your prior experience as a consultant at a firm or as an executive at a company
- Include your approximate years of experience
- List your core competencies and projects you are most skilled at serving
- List the industries in which you have the most knowledge and experience
“I am an [independent <strategy, finance, etc.> consultant / interim <marketing, HR, etc.> executive] and former [<McKinsey, Bain, etc.> <title> / <CEO, VP, director> at <Company>] focused on <major deals, turnarounds, transformations, etc.>. With more than <number> years of experience in <function/industry/speciality>, I help <target audience> achieve <specific outcome or value>.”
Here’s how the template can come to life whether you’re emphasizing consulting or interim work:
Consulting-Focused:
“I’m an independent strategy consultant and former McKinsey engagement manager with more than 15 years in corporate strategy and product innovation. I help technology and consumer-goods companies identify new market opportunities, design data-driven growth plans, and translate complex insights into actionable strategies that deliver measurable revenue and margin gains.”
Interim-Focused:
“I’m an interim CFO and former Fortune 500 finance leader with two decades of experience leading enterprise-wide financial planning, risk management, and operational turnarounds. I partner with private-equity portfolio companies and high-growth startups to stabilize operations, strengthen financial discipline, and position the business for sustained profitability.”
Elevator Pitch Mistakes to Avoid
- Sounding too salesy: When you give your elevator pitch, you never want to come across as pushy. If you sound like you’re trying to sell yourself to the other person, it will likely turn them off. The best way to avoid doing this is by focusing on the other person instead of yourself—what problems do they have that you can help them solve?
- Using too much jargon: Don’t fall into the trap of using too much jargon. You may think it makes you sound knowledgeable, but it will likely just cause your audience to lose interest.
- Not engaging with the other person: Another common mistake is barreling through your elevator pitch and not giving the other person time to respond. The whole point is to engage with the other person and to build a new connection. After you’re done speaking, give the other person a chance to respond to what you said.
- Using the same pitch for everyone: And finally, you want to use your elevator pitch as a guide, not a script. At times, it may be necessary to modify it depending on whom you’re speaking to and the environment you’re in.
The Bottom Line
The best elevator pitches evolve over time. Memorize your opening line so you always have a confident start but stay flexible with the rest. Tailor your pitch to the situation and the person you’re speaking to, but no matter the context, the goal is the same: clarity, authenticity, and impact. Remember to revisit it every few months to keep it aligned with your current goals and experiences. With practice and thoughtful development, your pitch will become a powerful way to build connections and create opportunities.
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