To ensure that people consider you for opportunities, it’s crucial that they grasp your professional identity.

Responding to the often-dreaded question, “Tell me about yourself,” can be tricky. Whether it’s an interviewer or anyone else asking, when you have the chance to explain your work, many of us end up providing complex, dull, or incomplete answers.

Many career opportunities hinge on someone simply “thinking of you.” But for someone to think of you, they must first understand your role. Here’s why having an elevator pitch for your career is essential and how to craft one that leaves a lasting impression.

1. Clarify the Purpose of Your Elevator Pitch: If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of an elevator pitch, imagine being in an elevator with an interviewer or someone influential to your career. You have only 60 seconds until they reach their destination to convey what you do. Therefore, your pitch must be concise and compelling.
2. Prioritize Information: Distilling your career into its most vital components can be challenging. As Mark Twain once said, “I didn’t have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one.” Especially when summarizing your own career, you might feel compelled to include everything or add embellishments to appear more impressive. Start by listing all relevant aspects, such as education, work experience, skills, and strengths. Then, eliminate anything not crucial for the other person to understand your potential value.
3. Be Engaging with Plain Language: Your pitch should be easy to follow. Avoid the use of complex jargon or industry-specific terms. If you find yourself using technical language, reframe your pitch to focus on what you can do for others rather than the technical details.
4. Create Multiple Pitches: In today’s diverse roles, consider having different pitches depending on your audience or the situation. For various contexts, you can tailor your pitch to emphasize different aspects of your career. However, if you fear that multiple pitches may be confusing, focus on perfecting the most essential version of your career description.
5. Practice Your Pitch: After crafting a compelling description of your professional identity, practice delivering it. Avoid memorizing it verbatim, as this can make you sound robotic. Instead, aim for a natural and engaging delivery. Always be prepared to share your pitch when the opportunity arises, ensuring that people remember you and think of you when exciting prospects emerge.