In person – networking with SME employers

Now, we’ll look at how to pitch yourself and your experience when you meet someone who could offer you a job. For example, if your contacts within a company have introduced you to their CEO, or you are at a networking event for new graduates where this type of approach might be expected.

Pitching in this context means finding a simple and brief way to highlight the key points you want someone to know about you and what you can offer when you meet them for the first time.

Building your pitch

You might also hear this referred to as an ‘elevator pitch’ because it should take around the length of time you might spend in a lift as you travel between floors! There are varying suggestions about how long that means, but 30-60 seconds is regularly advised.

Once you’ve drafted your pitch, you can adapt it in different ways for different scenarios such as when responding to ‘tell me about yourself’ in an interview or using a version of it as a personal statement at the top of your CV.

It is important not to rehearse it until you’re word perfect – you risk sounding inauthentic. Instead, learn your key points and then tailor it to the person you are talking to.

There are many online guides to crafting an elevator pitch, but one basic formula to follow is this:

Step 1: Introduce yourself and grab their attention e.g. My name is Lucy Squires and I’m a recent Biology graduate. My final year project looked at the effect of diet on methane production in sheep.

Step 2: Describe your relevant skills and experiences e.g. One of the aspects of my degree that I most enjoyed was applying my learning to a practical project that could make a real difference within the agricultural sector.

Step 3: Share your career plans e.g. I’ve realised that my personal strengths lie in problem solving and communication and I want to develop and share my ideas in a small business, dedicated to supporting farming and sustainability. Having studied here, I would love to stay in North Yorkshire.

Step 4: A call to action e.g. Could I buy you a coffee and find out what you do and where my skills might fit in with your business or the wider sector? Any advice would be gratefully received!

Another important aspect of a strong elevator pitch is non-verbal.

Non-verbal communication

There are several non-verbal aspects of communication that are useful to consider when you want to make a good first impression. These include:

1. Facial expressions – can be used to convey enthusiasm and demonstrate that you are actively listening to the other person.
2. Hand gestures – can also be used to share enthusiasm (but too regular or too large and they can be distracting).
3. Proximity to the person you are speaking with – remember to maintain an appropriate distance from a stranger. If the room is noisy – ask if they would mind finding a quieter corner.
4. Posture – standing with your back straight and your head up conveys confidence.
5. Eye contact – limited eye contact can indicate a lack of confidence but too much can be disconcerting!

For some of us, aspects of non-verbal communication can be a challenge. For example, someone who is autistic or has acute anxiety might struggle with eye-contact. There may be situations where you feel you can explain why you’re uncomfortable, or once you’re in a conversation, using other active listening techniques such as asking appropriate questions or nodding can achieve a similar result. Another suggestion is to look at other parts of a person’s face, such as their mouth, when you’re delivering your pitch.

If they invite you for an interview, there are many resources available to help you with your preparation and performance on the day. The FutureLearn course Think Like a Recruiter covers many aspects of the interview process. The University of York’s Careers and Placements website is also useful.

Over to you

Consider how you might adapt the elevator pitch example above to meet your own needs.

Remember – this is where your research on the company and the tone and language they use online etc. will be relevant.

If you want to – share your pitch in the comments below. If you’d like some feedback from fellow students – make that clear in your comment.