Elevator pitch
What does it mean?
An elevator pitch is a short spoken presentation of who you are, what you can do and what you are looking for — typically 30–60 seconds. The name comes from the idea that you should be able to convince a decision-maker in "the time it takes to ride an elevator".
A good elevator pitch for job searching often contains four elements:
1. Who are you? Name + current role or education. 2. What is your strength? One concrete professional hook with example or figure. 3. What are you looking for? Clear direction (industry, role, type of company). 4. Call to action. E.g. "I would like to hear about opportunities for …" or "May I send my CV?"
Example: "Hi, I'm Mette and I'm a marketing coordinator with five years' experience in B2B SaaS. I recently increased lead generation by 40% via LinkedIn campaigns. I'm looking for a marketing specialist role in a growth company — do you have two minutes for a quick chat?"
Use the elevator pitch at networking events, fairs, unsolicited follow-ups after interviews and when you meet decision-makers informally. It should sound natural, not recited — practise it aloud several times and adapt to the recipient.
On Danish labour markets "elevator pitch" is a loanword from English; many recruiters know the concept. Combine it with a strong CV and LinkedIn profile so the message is recognised across channels.
Magnus Villumsen
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