Everyone knows how to introduce themselves, right? It’s just like those name tags organizers pass out at networking events, “Hello, my name is” Unfortunately, a lot of job seekers have a tough time getting beyond that very basic introduction. Sure, they can chat about where they grew up or their favorite book or movie, but when it comes time to say something smart and relevant about their job search interests, it gets a little tricky.
Do you have a pitch about you, your skills, and accomplishments ready to use the next time someone asks what you’re looking for? While conventional wisdom used to dictate you prepare a two-minute “elevator pitch,” most elevator rides don’t last two minutes, and most people’s attention spans certainly don’t.
Instead of the two-minute pitch, you should think about how to share relevant information about yourself quickly and succinctly so your target audience doesn’t have time to start mentally planning out their grocery shopping list while they’re waiting for you to stop talking about yourself.
If you can’t introduce yourself to a potential contact in 30 seconds or less, you may miss some important opportunities to impress someone important.
To create an impressive pitch, you need to know how to answer some important questions!
Read the whole post on U.S. News & World Report blog
Learn exactly how to introduce yourself in my new book: 100 Conversations for Career Success.
photo by maybeemily