Week #13: How to make and deliver a professional pitch

Reading: Creating A Professional Pitch

Source: https://careerdesignlab.sps.columbia.edu/resources/creating-a-professional-pitch/

You will need a pitch to introduce yourself at professional meetings, in networking situations and at other gatherings where you want to make an impression. Your pitch is a brief summary of your background, your strengths and your career direction. It takes some upfront preparation to create a strong pitch, but once you have a strong pitch drafted, it can be used in a multitude of beneficial ways and adjusted depending on your audience and purpose. For your interviews, you will create a longer pitch or introduction tailored to the job.

What are the benefits of creating and using a pitch?

A pitch allows you to clearly outline your professional story and communicate it concisely to a new professional acquaintance. You will quickly and clearly get across who you are, your strengths and your direction. Adjust your pitch to the audience and the key messages you want to communicate. Prepare and practice your pitch in advance of any professional gathering so you will sound natural. Use your phone to record and time yourself.

What should go into my pitch?

Below is an example formula you can use to try to create your pitch, but you can absolutely use additional resources to come up with a pitch that resonates with you.

• One high-level sentence to summarize your functional areas of expertise and industry exposure
• One high-level sentence to summarize your unique strengths, values, perspectives or approaches
• One high-level sentence to outline your ideal direction (target roles and industries)

Example: I am a software developer with experience in .NET and Angular, specializing in scalable web applications. My strengths include problem-solving, performance optimization, and deploying high-quality code in Agile teams. I collaborate well with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions. I’m seeking a role where I can leverage my expertise to contribute to impactful projects in a dynamic, growth-oriented company.

Vocabulary

1. Expertise: "I have strong expertise in developing web applications using .NET and Angular frameworks."
2. Frameworks: "My experience includes working with various frameworks, such as React and Vue.js, to build dynamic user interfaces."
3. Efficient: "I focus on writing efficient code that optimizes performance and reduces load times."
4. Scalable: "I design scalable systems that can handle growth and adapt to increasing user demands."
5. Innovative: "My innovative approach to problem-solving has led to the creation of several unique features in our applications."
6. Agile: "I thrive in Agile environments, where I can quickly adapt to changes and deliver iterative improvements."
7. Problem-solving: "I excel at problem-solving, whether it's debugging complex issues or optimizing code for better performance."
8. Collaborative: "I'm highly collaborative, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of new features."
9. Deployment: "I have extensive experience in deployment, ensuring smooth transitions from development to production environments."
10. Optimization: "I consistently focus on optimization, making sure that applications run smoothly and efficiently at scale."

Study Flascards

Listening

Speaking

Links

• 11 actually great elevator pitch examples and how to make yours
• How To Give an Elevator Pitch (With Examples)
• How To Create A KILLER 30 Second Elevator Pitch (4 SIMPLE STEPS)
• How To Introduce Yourself In An Interview!