Elevator Pitch - Tips and Template for a 20–30 Second Speech

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by Eliana

Elevator pitch guidance on delivering a snappy, persuasive introduction in 20–30 seconds that sparks interest in who you are, what you do, and your career or study ambitions. Covers when to use the pitch across job searching, interviews, networking, social media, applications, and university admissions. Provides practical tips on staying concise, avoiding jargon, tailoring to the audience, encouraging two-way dialogue, using memorable stories, and rehearsing with timed practice, then outlines a structured template with sections from hook to call to action.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatDOCX

Pages5

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

When to Use an Elevator Pitch

Elevator Pitch Tips

Key Content and Delivery

Practice and Timing

Activity: Writing Your Own Elevator Pitch

About You

What Do I Do?

What Do I Want to Do?

What Achievements Am I Most Proud Of?

Conclusion

Elevator Pitch An elevator pitch is a snappy and persuasive speech that should spark interest in who you are, what you do and your career ambitions. An elevator pitch should be no longer than 20 to 30 seconds – the amount of time you would have to talk about yourself if you were in a lift with someone you’d like to work for. Your pitch should be interesting, memorable and succinct. When should you use an elevator pitch? When you are job searching. You can use your elevator pitch at job fairs and when speaking to recruiters and hiring managers Showcase your pitch online on your LinkedIn summary or social media bio Use your pitch at networking events and mixers. If you are attending any school trips or events, have your pitch handy In job interviews, especially when an interviewer begins with the question “tell me about yourself” In your CV or on an application. With most applications being submitted online, attach a recording of your elevator pitch to really stand out from the crowd When applying for university or college When you are pitching new ideas at work or at school Good public speaking examples Check out these videos which give examples of good public speaking and how to deliver your elevator pitch. The Intern Queen: How to create your 30 second elevator pitch: HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb0Yz_5ZYzI" www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb0Yz_5ZYzI Indeed: How to give an elevator pitch with examples: HYPERLINK "http://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-give-an-elevator-pitch-examples" www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-give-an-elevator-pitch-examples United Nations: Emma Watson speaking at the HeForShe Campaign 2014: HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkjW9PZBRfk&t=14s" www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkjW9PZBRfk&t=14s Elevator Pitch tips: Say as little as possible. An elevator pitch shouldn’t be your whole life story but instead a few key facts about your career and ambitions. Be direct and honest about what you are currently doing, your ambitions and what you want from the conversation. Figure out who you are talking to. Your elevator pitch is only valuable if the person you are talking to understands it. Avoid using business jargon. Your elevator pitch should be personable and accessible to everyone. Turn it into a conversation. The best elevator pitches should turn into a two-way conversation. Make sure to allow time for your listener to ask questions and probe deeper into what you have said. Use a memorable story to sell yourself. People are more likely to remember a compelling story than vague examples and statistics. Practise. It is normal to feel awkward the first time you use your elevator pitch. Familiarise yourself with your speech by practising with friends, family and colleagues. You could even record it on your phone and play it back to yourself. Time yourself. Thirty seconds is shorter than you think, so make sure you are able to fit in all your key points without rushing. Close your elevator pitch with an open-ended statement. This allows your listener to respond, for example, “I would love to meet with you to hear more about the organisation.” Activity: writing your own elevator pitch Complete the below template to create your own elevator pitch and send it to us for some expert feedback from industry experts: HYPERLINK "mailto:wfw@literacytrust.org.uk" wfw@literacytrust.org.uk About you: Open with a statement that will grab someone’s attention: a hook that prompts your listener to ask questions. Use this space to state who you are and what you are studying. What do I do? What are you studying at school, what your interests are and any hobbies you have outside of school? What do I want to do? What you want to do when you leave school and why. What achievements am I most proud of? This can include achievements both at and outside of school. Conclusion: End with a specific call for action, whether that is exchanging contact details or asking for feedback. Reme

FAQs

How long should an elevator pitch be?

An elevator pitch should last no longer than 20 to 30 seconds so you can cover key points quickly.

When can you use an elevator pitch?

Use it during job searching (job fairs, recruiters, hiring managers), networking events, interviews starting with “tell me about yourself,” applications, university admissions, and when pitching new ideas at work or school.

What are the main tips for making a strong elevator pitch?

Stay concise, be direct and honest, know your audience, avoid business jargon, turn it into a two-way conversation, use a memorable story, and practise while timing your delivery.

What structure should you follow to write your own elevator pitch?

Start with a hook in “About you,” then cover what you do, what you want to do and why, highlight your most proud achievements, and finish with a clear call to action such as exchanging contact details or requesting feedback.

Sep 1, 2026

Upload by Eliana