A 30-second pitch is the brief, persuasive speech that sparks interest in yourself with contacts and potential employers at networking events, job fairs and interviews. The perfect pitch is interesting, memorable and succinct — hence the name — while still conveying your key professional information.
Without overselling or underselling yourself, your 30-second pitch tells people who you are, what you do and what you’re looking for in your career. Like your resume, you may need to vary your pitch to fit different situations. However, each one should include the following:
- Your Added Value. Explain the one key selling point that sets you apart from your peers.
- Passion and Emotion. Demonstrate enthusiasm for your work with your tone of voice and body language.
Your 30-second pitch may also include some of the following:
- work experience
- years of experience
- specialization
- education and training
- credentials and degrees
- special skills related to your career goals
Your 30-second pitch should always end with a question that throws the conversation back into the listeners’ hands. Your question should be relevant and preferably open-ended to further stimulate the conversation. Questions that require a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer can often bring a conversation to its end.
Here are two examples of effective 30-second pitches from a financial services professional and a human resources professional.
Financial Services Professional
Human Resources Professional
