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What Is a Nursing Elevator Speech? Definition and Examples

Elevator speeches are a powerful tool for nurses to introduce themselves and communicate their professional skills and qualifications. In a brief, concise manner, an elevator speech enables a nurse to give a concise summary of who they are and why they are a great asset to the field of nursing. Elevator speeches are especially important for nurses looking for a new position, as they can make a great first impression with potential employers by highlighting their unique professional background and qualifications. For those looking for guidance on how to craft an effective elevator speech for themselves, this blog post will provide some nursing elevator speech examples that can be used as inspiration. By exploring these examples, nurses can gain insight into what components make a great elevator speech and create one that is both unique and professional.

What to include in a nursing elevator speech

When writing an elevator speech to deliver during an interview, remember to include the following components:

Greeting and introduction

Your elevator speech should begin with a succinct salutation and introduction. A warm welcome establishes professionalism and can enhance your communication with the listener. Give them your name and a few details about your current job or professional goals after extending a sincere welcome. For instance, if you’ve just graduated, let the listener know when that was and what institution you attended. Describe your area of nursing, such as pediatrics or emergency care, if you work in a specific nursing specialty.

Statement of professional credentials

asasasasasasas of the satas of the sars of the sars of the Briefly summarizing your academic or professional background shows the audience that you are qualified for their position. When describing your credentials, be sure to include information about your nursing specialization and the number of years you’ve worked in the field. If you’re a recent graduate, concentrate on discussing your educational background and any opportunities you’ve had to gain practical experience. Tell them, for instance, about your nursing internship or volunteer experience.

Detail of accomplishments, goals and skills

Next, include a few pertinent details that highlight your professional achievements, best skills, or objectives. These specifics demonstrate the benefits you can offer the listeners’ organization and let them know how you might fit into their current work group. Take your current level of industry experience, for instance, and describe to the listener your areas of specialization and the number of years you’ve spent working in the industry. Additionally, you can highlight particular abilities you have that might fit well with their team, like your communication skills or commitment to continuing your professional development.

You might not have enough time in short elevator speeches to mention specific examples of your achievements. Instead, focus on providing an outline of your skills and abilities that make you qualified for the position These specifics enable the reader to assess whether your abilities align with their requirements, and they can then inquire further about the specifics of your accomplishments by looking over your resume, reading your cover letter, or setting up an interview.

Explanation of what makes you unique or valuable

You have a fantastic opportunity to highlight what sets you apart from other job candidates in your elevator speech. Sharing your distinctive viewpoint or skill set demonstrates what makes you stand out from the crowd. Consider your greatest professional strengths and how they contribute to your professional philosophy when creating your elevator speech. These attributes could be specific abilities or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to and expertise in the area. Mention, for instance, any unique certifications you possess, your experience working with specific clinical populations, or how your practice aligns with your professional values.

Expression of interest in the listeners facility

Make sure to demonstrate your interest in the speaker and their business. Try to research the facility where you’re interviewing or what businesses might have representatives at the networking event if you’re preparing an elevator speech before an interview or networking event. You can write an elevator speech that appeals to the specific needs and interests of the listener by being aware of what qualities they are seeking in a candidate. For instance, you might emphasize how your experience can help their team if you’re applying for a job at a hospital where they have a lot of less experienced nurses on staff.

What is a nursing elevator speech?

An introduction to who you are as a nurse in the form of a short statement is known as a nursing elevator speech. During the job search process, nurses frequently use elevator pitches, either to introduce themselves to potential employers or during a job interview. The purpose of the elevator speech is to give the audience a brief overview of your professional background and the reasons why they should consider hiring you for their organization. A typical elevator speech takes 30 seconds to deliver.

Nursing elevator speech examples

Examples of elevator speeches for nurses with various levels of experience are provided below:

Recent graduate

Hello, my name is Molly Macintosh, and I recently completed the Nursing University of North Carolina’s nursing program. Despite the fact that I am only beginning my professional career, I am a driven nurse who is constantly seeking out new opportunities to advance her knowledge and skills. I hope to use my empathy and teamwork as a member of your nursing staff to assist ER patients seeking treatment at your hospital.

I finished an internship in the emergency room at the Metropolitan Hospital of Charlotte before applying for this position. Working in the hurried setting with an experienced team of nurses taught me a lot, and I’m eager to start my career as a nurse at your hospital. I’m a new nurse, and I want to improve my abilities while bringing passion and enthusiasm to the job. “.

Moderate experience

“Hello, my name is James Brown, and I’ve been a psychiatric nurse for Good Health Hospital for seven years.” I enjoy providing assistance to others, and my work enables me to do so every day. Currently, Im pursuing my masters degree in nursing administration. I’m trying to get a job as a nurse manager at your hospital so I can use my leadership abilities and hone my administrative abilities in order to finish my degree.

I want to work in your psychiatric department as an administrator after I graduate. By developing policies that support the care and transitional needs of our patients, I intend to use my experience and education to lead the department. My objective as a nurse manager is to serve as a role model and a source of strength for the members of my team as I foster their development and growth. “.

Experienced nurse

My name is Elanor Baskin, and I’m a senior pediatric nurse with more than 15 years of experience in the field. I have a master’s degree in pediatric nursing and have spent the last ten years working for Children’s Hospital of the South, helping kids and their families through some of the most trying times in life. I believe I’d be a great addition to your pediatric team because of my empathy, knowledge of the field, and commitment to continuing my professional development.

I’ve worked in this field for a long time, so I am aware of the difficulties that my patients, their families, and the medical care team encounter on a daily basis. I try to be a support to those around me. I’ve developed my leadership and communication abilities through my years of experience. ugi verre verreoilea căt cătlângă peripheral căt cablu peripheral Braşov căt căt căt căt peripheral căt căt peripheral căt peripheral peripheral căt peripheral căt căt căt peripheral căt căt căt peripheral căt peripheral căt căt verre furozitateschuss hail căt In my capacity as a senior leader and care provider at your pediatric facility, my objective is to advance professional excellence. “.

Nursing Elevator Speech

What is an elevator speech example?

• Explain Who You Are.
• Share What You Do.
• Highlight Your Skills.
• Display Your Passion.
• Make Your End Goal Clear.

What is a good elevator speech?

I’m looking for work that will let me put the abilities I’ve developed as a worker and a student to good use. I have experience working on numerous large projects in the field, and I would bring that knowledge to your business.

What are the 4 components of an elevator speech?

A good elevator pitch should only last 20 to 30 seconds in the elevator, hence the name. It should be interesting, memorable and succinct. It must also detail what makes you, your business, your idea, or any of those things special.

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Ride to the top with a good elevator speech

The elevator door opens and you step in to find yourself face to face with the important person you’ve wanted to meet to discuss your promising idea. It’s the chance you wouldn’t want to miss. But that chance lasts only as long as the elevator ride. You have less than a minute to make an impression. Do you have an elevator speech ready?

What’s an elevator speech?

An elevator speech is any short speech that sells an idea, promotes a business, or markets an individual. It’s a short summary, or pitch, that quickly describes the value of a service, product, or organization. The term is a metaphor for unexpected access to someone to whom you’d like to sell an idea or proposal. It derives from the early days of the Internet boom when web development companies needed venture capital. Firms were swamped with applications for funding, and in many cases, the companies that won the cash were those whose reps had a simple pitch and could explain a business proposal in an elevator in the time it took to ride to their floor.

A great elevator speech describes and sells an idea in less than a minute. Of course, it’s not restricted to elevators. It comes in handy any time and anywhere you need to give a concise presentation to capture someone’s interest so you can move to the next step—a follow-up call, a referral, a meeting, or a partnership.

Why nurses need an elevator speech

You need to be able to describe what you do, what you’re interested in doing, and how you can be a resource to someone. The ability to sum up a unique aspect of your service or expertise in a way that excites others is a fundamental skill. Doing this in a brief, persuasive manner is an asset for any professional. A good elevator speech should grab one’s attention in a few words and make that person want to know more about you. Here are examples where a good elevator speech would be helpful:

• Thomas goes to a recruitment fair hoping to get an interview at a certain hospital.
• Mary is finishing her master of science in nursing degree and is interested in the new position that’s being developed on the joint replacement unit.
• Caroline has written a book on grant writing and would like to present her ideas at a conference.
• Sarah has just obtained her certification as a massage therapist and wants to promote her services to the nursing department.
• Brian is interested in research and would like to join the research team.
• Mindy is trying to expand her home infusion services.

You can use an elevator speech when you want to grab someone’s attention at a meeting, convention, or other social situation. In such situations, people typically ask, “What do you do?” A well-planned elevator speech can make the listener’s ears perk up and want to know more.

How to prepare an elevator speech

Before you can write an elevator speech, you need to know yourself, what you can offer, what problems you can solve, and what benefits you can bring to the prospective contact. For example, you may be an expert in professional communication and know strategies you can teach staff nurses to promote a better workplace environment.

You also need to know your audience. Will you direct your pitch to a nursing administrator, a unit manager, or staff nurses? You’re more likely to succeed if your elevator speech is targeted to a specific audience and you adjust it to that audience. Try to prepare different pitches for different audiences; a generic pitch is almost certain to fail. (See Key elements of a good elevator speech by clicking the PDf icon above.)

In today’s busy world, nurses must be able to communicate in a succinct, persuasive manner. Your elevator speech is your introduction to others. It has to be good. Keep practicing it and perfecting it so you can speak with poise and polish. The more often you give it, the better it will become. It’s a great way to put your best foot forward when you have only a small window of opportunity to make a good impression.

Selected references

King C. How to craft an effective elevator speech. Powerful Presentations Web site. www.creativekeys.net/powerfulpresentations/article1024.html . Accessed January 7, 2013.

Pagliarini R. How to write an elevator speech. BusinessKnowHow Web site. www.businessknowhow.com/money/elevator.htm . Accessed January 7, 2013.

Pincus A. The perfect (elevator) pitch. BloombergBusinessweek Web site. www.businessweek.com/stories/2007-06-18/the-perfect-elevator-pitchbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice . June 18, 2007. Accessed January 7, 2013.

Sjodin T. Small Message, Big Impact: The Elevator Speech . Rev ed. New York, NY: Portfolio; 2012.

Sprung S, Giang V. 6 keys to delivering a powerful elevator pitch. Business Insider Web site. www.businessinsider.com/terri-sjodin-how-to-deliver-an-elevator-speech-2012-10 . October 26, 2012. Accessed October 26, 2012.

Kathleen D. Pagana is a keynote speaker and professor emeritus at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She is the author of The Nurse’s Communication Advantage and The Nurse’s Etiquette Advantage . She is also the coauthor of Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference , 11th ed. To contact her, visit www.KathleenPagana.com .

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The Elevator Pitch: Communicating Your Expertise, Experience, and Value to Patients, Co-Workers, and Prospective Employers in an Instant

During JADPRO Live Virtual 2020, Andrew S. Guinigundo, MSN, RN, CNP, ANP-BC, provided guidance to advanced practitioners on creating their elevator pitch and communicating their role.

As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression. Mastering the “elevator pitch” can be an invaluable skill for advanced practitioners. During JADPRO Live Virtual 2020, Andrew S. Guinigundo, MSN, RN, CNP, ANP-BC, defined the concept of an elevator pitch and its application to advanced practitioners and described strategies for creating a personal brand in health care.

Mr. Guinigundo explained that the term “elevator pitch” originates from the idea of having to impress a senior executive during a brief ride up an elevator. Whether a short description of an idea or a company, the pitch should be delivered in the span of an elevator ride (approximately 30 to 120 seconds).

According to Mr. Guinigundo, however, succinct and persuasive sales pitches are not confined to the business world. In health care, advanced practitioners also benefit from learning how to quickly communicate their expertise, experience, and value to patients, co-workers, and prospective employers.

“The elevator ride is both a hazard and opportunity,” Mr. Guinigundo cautioned. “In order to have more of the latter and less of the former, you need to prepare.”

PERSONAL BRANDING

According to Mr. Guinigundo, self-awareness is an essential part of personal branding in that the brand must truly reflect the individual behind it.

“We must know ourselves before we can project it to others,” he explained. “If the persona is not really you, then it will not stand up under stress.”

With that in mind, Mr. Guinigundo shared 10 rules of personal branding created by Goldie Chan, a social media strategy leader and personal branding expert.

• Have a Focus: “By attempting to be (or please) everyone, you will spread yourself too thin, and what different people want from you may contradict,” said Mr. Guinigundo, who noted that one’s focus may change along with experience and jobs. “When you’re new, your ‘brand’ may be young, ambitious, and fresh. As you are around longer, however, the brand could evolve to one of wisdom and experience.”
• Be Genuine: “In other words, be yourself,” said Mr. Guinigundo. “If you have an interest, immerse yourself in it and become the expert in that thing.”
• Tell a Story: “People relate to stories, so if you can tell a unique and authentic story, you can win them over as an audience,” he said.
• Be Consistent: “You can’t change who you are on a daily basis in terms of how you practice,” he said. “It’s about being consistent, but still using what’s needed.”
• Be Ready to Fail: “You learn from your mistakes,” said Mr. Guinigundo. “You’ll achieve the best branding once you’ve failed several times by pushing beyond your comfort zone. The world is full of examples of famous failures who learned from their mistakes and used them to energize their success.”
• Create a Positive Impact: “There are two ways to grow your established brand: hop over others and burn bridges or steadily grow community around your brand,” said Mr. Guinigundo. “Obviously, I’m in favor of the latter. Keeping a positive attitude and helping others grows your brand in the long run.”
• Follow a Successful Example: “This speaks to mentorship, and there are a lot of different opportunities for mentorship at JADPRO,” said Mr. Guinigundo.
• Live Your Brand: “This is not about being a persona or a personality,” he said.
• Let Other People Tell Your Story: “I find no bigger compliment than when a patient comes in and says, ‘You take care of my best friend, and she says that you’re awesome,’ “ said Mr. Guinigundo. “Those are the things that warm your heart and make you want to do well.”
• Leave a Legacy: “Hopefully, you’re building something that lasts well beyond your time in health care,” said Mr. Guinigundo.

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Both the content and delivery of speech should depend on the audience, said Mr. Guinigundo, as individuals within these groups all come from different places. Understanding the concept of emotional intelligence can thus help providers better understand where someone is coming from.

“When you communicate, your purpose is not what you want to do,” Mr. Guinigundo emphasized. “Instead, it is what you want your audience to do as a result of reading what you wrote or listening to what you said.”

“To communicate effectively, you must adapt to your audience,” he continued. “Therefore, you must know your audience. The words we use and how we use them will differ depending on if you are speaking to a patient, co-worker, manager, practice president or CEO, or prospective employer.”

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Otherwise known as emotional quotient (or EQ), emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, use, and manage one’s own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict. Mr. Guinigundo noted the following four attributes of emotional intelligence: self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship management.

According to Mr. Guinigundo, there are three factors that govern how humans behave and think: intelligence quotient (IQ), personality, and emotional intelligence. Of these three factors, only emotional intelligence is flexible enough to be improved.

“While we can definitely acquire more knowledge, for example, our ability to process that knowledge doesn’t necessarily change,” he said. “Similarly, we may have changes of heart, but rarely do we undergo concrete changes in personality.”

Emotional intelligence, on the other hand, can change over time.

“With practice,” said Mr. Guinigundo, “we can learn to read people better, we can understand ourselves better, and we use that awareness to communicate with people more effectively.”

Strategies for improving social awareness include paying attention to nonverbal body language, mastering timing, clearing away the clutter, practicing the art of listening, testing for accuracy, and stepping into another’s shoes.

DELIVERING THE PITCH

According to Mr. Guinigundo, the components of the elevator pitch seek to answer the following questions: Who are you? What do you do? What do you want, and what is your call to action?

Mr. Guinigundo outlined several scenarios. A patient may ask, “When will you finish? When do you become a doctor?”

A response could be, “I am already finished! I received my Masters in 2000! (Who are you?)

I am not becoming a physician. When I chose this path, the NP role offered everything I wanted in a timeframe that fit my life. (What do you do?)

Anyway, how did that chemotherapy go last week? (What do you want?)

Here are some things you can do to help with some of the side effects you encountered last time.” (Call to action.)

A patient may say, “You’re not Dr. Jones! Where is Dr. Jones? Dr. Jones said she would see me back in 1 week. Who are you?”

A possible response is “Hi, Ms. Smith, my name is Andy Guinigundo and I am a nurse practitioner. Dr. Jones has asked that I see you today. (Who are you?)

We utilize a team approach here. Sometimes you will see your physician, and sometimes you will see an advanced practitioner like myself. Who you will see for the next appointment is usually decided at the time of your last appointment. I apologize that you were unaware that you were seeing me today. Often, the scheduler will tell you when making an appointment and/or write it on your appointment card. (What do you do?)

Now, I understand you received your first dose of chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide last week. How did it go?” (What do you want?/Call to action.)

Another scenario Mr. Guinigundo outlined is if you hear a fellow advanced practitioner referring to advanced practitioners as “mid-level providers” or “MLPs.”

A response could be, “Did you just refer to us as ‘MLPs’? I don’t know about you but I am NOT a mid-level provider. (Who are you?)

I only provide ‘advanced’ care. (What do you do?)

I want patients, administrators, physicians, and others to treat us like the experienced, well-educated, and well-trained practitioners we are. (What do you want?)

Maybe it sounds like a pet peeve, but I prefer that you call us advanced practitioners.” (Call to action.)

Finally, Mr. Guinigundo emphasized advice from his 7th grade teacher: proper prior planning prevents poor performance.

“Unless we’ve carefully considered how we perceive ourselves and how we want to project ourselves to our audience, we’ll just be winging it,” he concluded. “And under stress, winging it just doesn’t work.”

Mr. Guinigundo had no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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The elevator speech: An overlooked networking tool

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Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners

July 2023, Volume :35 Number 7 , page 400 - 401 [Free]

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Elevator speech , nurse practitioner , professional development

• Hicks, Rodney W. PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN (Professor and Associate Dean for Administration and Research, Senior Associate Editor, JAANP)

ABSTRACT: One of the overlooked professional networking tools is the elevator speech. Nurse practitioners (NPs) should consider the elevator speech as equally important as their current curriculum vitae and professional biosketch. With advanced planning and practice, NPs can convey the who, what, why, and findings in less than 150 words to expand their network.

Article Content

Introduction.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) should have various networking tools for professional opportunities. The tools include an up-to-date curriculum vitae ( Hicks & Roberts, 2016 ) and a biographical sketch ( Hicks et al., 2020 ). These two tools require a moderate amount of advanced planning and the adoption of work habits to keep the tools current. Another networking tool is the elevator speech. This networking tool is often overlooked. The elevator speech is one of the more straightforward tools, but, as with the others, the elevator speech does require advanced planning to create. Once created, maintenance is easily manageable.

The elevator speech

An elevator speech is a spoken interaction between an NP and another person. As a networking tool, the elevator speech seeks to link at least two parties. The elevator speech is a brief introduction and allows the NP to disclose capabilities and contributions. The amount of time to deliver the elevator speech is about the same time it takes for an elevator to ascend about 10 floors, hence, the name and the need for brevity. Therefore, the time constraints require that each word of the elevator speech be impactful and deliberate.

Essential elements

Elevator speeches share four common elements. The first common element is the hook. The hook is not a degree, but rather, the hook is an introduction that opens the conversation and contains at least two parts. The first part is your name, spoken slowly and distinctly ( Sanfilippo, 2022 ). The clear articulation of your name allows the receiver to process the spoken words and associate your name with you ( Freund, 2023 ). The second part can be a role or an accomplishment. Your significant accomplishment is a natural extension of your professional career. A successful introduction makes a great first impression.

The second element embellishes the hook and is related to why. Individuals use this section to elaborate on their accomplishments. That elaboration adds another dimension to the importance of the accomplishments. This section can be one or two sentences in length.

Moving to the third element, the focus here turns to one or two high-level findings or outcomes. There is a deliberate foreshadowing of major findings. When possible, use quantifiable metrics, as the listener can start to see the importance. On the fourth element, the example, the goal is to use language that can be understood. The spoken words allow the listener to form mental pictures and better understand the accomplishments.

The next section is about what you offer. In this section, first-person words, such as "I," "my," "we" are used to deliver the final part of the message. Using first-person words links the speaker and the listener. The subtle goal is to have the listener hear about the impact one additional time. This is the final content message.

The next to last step is the preclosing step. The speaker is approximately 80% through the message, delivering the who and what. The opportunity to restate the speaker's name exists in the preclosing step. Also, this step has the opportunity for one last declaration of the accomplishments. The final step is the closing step. The emphasis here is to end the speaker's portion and open opportunities for the listener to probe further. One effective strategy is to end with a question, thus allowing space to evolve organically ( Sanfilippo, 2022 ). Alternatively, one could end the sentence with a call to action.

The planning part of the elevator speech and the essential elements is where you invest the time. Once you create responses to each element, you can thread your sentences together to create the final speech. Your final speech will be 5-10 sentences or approximately 150 words or less. Here is a working architecture with an example that demonstrates sentences developed for each of the elements. This example could be used when meeting an industry leader, a community member, an elected official, or stakeholder.

Example of an elevator speech

The elevator speech should leave them wanting more. You have yet to tell all your secrets and success stories ( Peters, 2013 ). Telling those secrets and stories will occur during a follow-up meeting. Clapp (2011) wrote that the content of a memorable element speech should position you as a solution to a problem.

Practical tips for creating an elevator speech

Elevator speeches should have a natural flow when verbally delivered. The tone should convey enthusiasm and pride but not be overly boastful. A speech delivered without enthusiasm will not be received with enthusiasm ( Tannahill-Moran, 2016 ). Speaking in short sentences, avoiding pauses (e.g., ahh, hmmm), and excess words, such as "like," are essential as your speaking reflects you. A soft tone or a too-loud tone would not be effective ( Freund, 2023 ). Articulate the words carefully.

Once you have created your elevator speech, invest time in rehearsing. Practice and repeat the practice, so the speech rolls off the tongue ( Tannahill-Moran, 2016 ). After all, you want the message receiver to care about you and what you did. You can record yourself on your phone and playback to listen for the smooth tone and quality of the words selected. Edit as needed.

Your body posture and gestures are equally important as the speaking tone. You must be relaxed when delivering your speech. Remember, you are smiling and maintaining eye contact with the other party ( Peter, 2013 ). Smiles are universally recognized ( Freund, 2023 ). Remain stationary with direct eye contact and avoid the bobbing camera head ( Freund, 2023 ).

Your toolkit will require several elevator speeches ( Tannahill-Moran, 2016 ). As the opportunities and audiences change, so will your speech. Some parts of the original speech may still work but be cognizant of when changing the key message(s) is necessary.

Opportunities abound for NPs to expand their network. Nurse practitioners should embrace these opportunities and be ready with an elevator speech. The elevator speech is just one of the professional tools at the NP's disposal. The speech quickly identifies who, what, why, and the implications. The tone, posture, and enthusiasm should resonate quickly with the receiver, leaving them to want to know more.

Clapp C. (2011). The elevator speech. Toastmasters International. http://magazines.toastmasters.org/publication/?m=15581&i=81016&view=contentsBrow [Context Link]

Freund A. (2023). The elevator pitch checklist. Workalpha. https://workalpha.com/the-elevator-pitch-checklist/ [Context Link]

Hicks R. W., Berg J. A., Roberts M. E. (2020). Business documents of the advanced practice registered nurse: Curriculum vitae, resume, and biosketches. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 32(9), 610-615. https://doi.org/10.1097/JXX.0000000000000453 [Context Link]

Hicks R. W., Roberts M. E. (2016). Curriculum vitae: An important tool for the nurse practitioner. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 28(7), 347-352. https://doi.org/10.1002/2327-6924.12374 [Context Link]

Peters D. (2013, August 27). 6 tips for perfecting your elevator pitch. Entrepreneur. https://www.entrepreneur.com/money-finance/6-tips-for-perfecting-your-elevator-p [Context Link]

Sanfilippo M. (2022, October 22). Tips for perfecting your elevator pitch. Business News Daily. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4034-elevator-pitch-tips.html [Context Link]

Tannahill-Moran D. (2016, November 24). 10 tips for a powerful elevator speech. Work it Daily. https://www.workitdaily.com/elevator-speech-tips [Context Link]

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How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples)

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How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples) was originally published on Forage .

Though people are complex and so much more than just their jobs, in a new social situation you’re often asked, “So, what do you do?” or “What are you majoring in?” While you probably have a stock answer ready to go (I’m in sales; I’m majoring in English), the person asking may be able to help you achieve your career goals — but they won’t know unless you’ve got an elevator pitch ready to go.

An elevator pitch is an enticing and interesting three or four-sentence summary of you. But you do more than talk about yourself. Your elevator pitch gets the listener interested in what you’re capable of.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

What Is an Elevator Pitch?

How to write an elevator pitch, elevator pitch examples, elevator pitch bonus tips.

Mike Gardon of CareerCloud sums up elevator pitches like this: “When meeting someone for the first time, we all get asked what we do, right? Well, an elevator pitch is how you answer that question.”

At its core, an elevator pitch is a brief synopsis of who you are and what you do (or are trying to do). It’s named so because of the idea that you’re in an elevator with the one person who can make your career dreams come true. You’ve got the length of that elevator ride (approximately 30 seconds) to convince that person to keep listening to you.

Why You Need an Elevator Pitch (and When You’ll Use It)

In many respects, an elevator pitch is all about you. And though it may seem strange — uncomfortable even — to talk about yourself, a well-designed elevator pitch starts with you and ends with the listener.

Gardon explains, “The elevator pitch is designed to engage the person with whom you are communicating, and get them to take some next action. Think about it like this: if you were writing an email, the elevator pitch would be the subject line plus the next couple of lines that are shown in an inbox. The purpose is to get the recipient to open the email.”

In the case of your elevator pitch, you’re attempting to spark a longer conversation (or later meeting) with someone who could potentially help you professionally.

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Your elevator pitch comes in handy when you’re looking for a job. But you’ll also use various versions of your elevator pitch in situations like:

• Networking events
• Prospecting for new sales and clients
• When you’re interviewing and asked, “Tell me about yourself.”
• As the “about me” on LinkedIn, Twitter, or other social media page
• In the summary of qualifications on your resume

How Long Should an Elevator Pitch Be?

While elevator ride times vary, the general rule of thumb is that an elevator pitch is no longer than 30 seconds, which means your pitch needs to be concise.

So, you can’t include every accomplishment from your last three jobs, just the top most recent ones. As you’re honing your pitch, write it down and limit yourself to four sentences. This will help you focus on your top highlights.

In general, an elevator pitch includes four essential elements: who you are, what you do, what’s unique about you, and what your “ask” is. Though the “meat” of your pitch likely doesn’t change often, you should prepare multiple elevator pitches that you can tailor to your situation.

For example, if you’re a student, the pitch you use at a career fair may not be the same one you use at a networking event. Likewise, if you’re changing careers, you may need to switch up what your “ask” is depending on who you talk to.

Gardon offers an example. “I wear so many different hats and am involved in different businesses. So, if I want someone to be a guest on my podcast, I might tell them how we’ve done over 400 episodes, instead of telling them that I’m a former derivatives trader.”

Also, while the below elements are crucial, they can go in almost any order. While a good elevator pitch usually begins with your name, you may find that listing your skills before your accomplishments is better for your pitch.

Part 1: Who Are You?

Your elevator pitch starts with your name, of course, but also consider throwing in a “hook” that gives the person you’re speaking with an opening to ask you questions. Here are some examples:

“I’m [your name], a recent graduate of [university] with a degree in [your degree].”

“My name is [your name] and I’m a junior at [university] majoring in [your major].”

“I’m [your name] and while I’m currently in product development, I’ve decided I want to change gears and go into graphic design.”

Part 2: What Do You Do?

The second part of your elevator pitch explains what you do. However, you shouldn’t limit yourself to a job title. This is the place to mention one outstanding accomplishment from your job, internship, or even a class that will wow your listener.

Like all parts of your elevator speech, this needs to be brief, but it should also be detailed and help the listener get an idea of what you’re capable of:

“During my marketing internship at [name of company], I grew social media engagement by 43%, which resulted in an uptick in newsletter sign-ups year over year.”

“Our business is small, but that lets us have more personal interaction, which has helped us keep a small but loyal and profitable client base for 15 years.”

“After learning about the stock market, I wanted to test what I learned as well as my skills, so I created a mock portfolio that’s realized a 24% gain over the last year.”

Part 3: What’s Unique About You?

The next section of your elevator pitch includes something unique about you. While this can include specific skills, you can also trace your career path or accomplishments to illustrate how you use your skills.

Because you only have 30 seconds, you might be tempted to list your skills or accomplishments like a grocery list. But try to link them to an outcome or something you can do.

“I enjoy analyzing data and using the results to plan my content calendar, including social media posts.”

“I worked on my college newspaper, starting on the sports beat, eventually moving my way up to chief editor.”

The first example mentions one skill (data analysis ) and two outcomes (planning the content calendar and social media posts). The second example doesn’t mention any skills but illustrates the speaker’s career path (sports beat to chief editor), demonstrating an increase in skills and responsibilities.

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Part 4: Call to Action (or What’s Your Ask?)

The final part of your elevator pitch includes a call to action. Or, more specifically, what are you asking for?

Much like networking, you may not want to blurt out “a job!” even if that’s your desired outcome. This section is what you hope will happen, which could be a job, internship, or just a new networking connection.

“I would love to speak to you about being a potential mentor, if you have time.”

“I’d like to follow up with you about how I can get involved in and conduct summer research.”

“Can you tell me how you decided on [this] career?”

Each of these invites the listener to continue engaging with you either right now or in the future. 

Optional Part 5: Something Memorable

Finally, depending on the situation, you might want to include something memorable in your pitch. This is situation-dependent and only something you should do if you’re comfortable.

For example, the pitch on Gardon’s LinkedIn profile says, “Earned the Title ‘World Champion Funniest Person In The World (to my kids)’ 10 years running.”

Of course, not everyone can be the “Funniest Person in the World,” but your memorable moment could be your love of science fiction, who your favorite author is, or the fact that you just adopted a cat.

Here’s what all the elements look like when you put them together:

“I’m David, a rising senior at XYZ University and an education major. I spent last year student teaching at my old high school, and it was quite the experience being on the other side. I’m graduating in the spring and am looking to teach high school biology.”

“I’m Ella, and I’m currently an individual contributor at XYZ company running the social media accounts. I use Google Analytics to analyze and improve content performance, and my personal TikTok has XXX followers. I’m looking to move to a leadership role at a mid to large-size company where I can mentor others.”

“I’m Mike and I’m a sophomore at XYZ university. When I was a kid, I really wanted to communicate with animals, which is partly why I’m majoring in zoology. I’m not sure what career is best suited for me. Can you tell me how you ended up in yours?”

Once you’ve written (and rewritten) your elevator pitch, you’re almost ready to try it out. Before you do, though, ensure your delivery is memorable — for the right reasons!

• Practice. Practice makes perfect, of course. And while you don’t want to sound too rehearsed, you also don’t want to trip over your pitch or start rambling. Practice in front of a mirror, with friends or family, or record yourself to make sure you’re getting it right.
• Time yourself. Thirty seconds can feel like forever or fly right by. Time yourself to make sure your pitch isn’t too long or too short, and adjust as necessary.
• Use your “excited” voice. While you’ll want to use your “inside voice,” vary your tone. When you give a rehearsed speech, it should be polished but not robotic. Try to bring some excitement to your voice as you speak.
• Speak slowly. You may want to cram as much as possible into your 30 seconds, but that could result in you speaking too quickly to try to get it all in, making it tough for the listener to understand you. As hard as it might be, stick to one or two main points.
• Maintain eye contact. While you don’t want to stare at the listener the whole time, you don’t want to stare at the floor either. Maintain the level of eye contact that feels normal and natural to you, and break eye contact when appropriate.

Make Your Pitch

An elevator pitch is useful in all sorts of professional (and even personal!) situations. By taking stock of what you do and what you want to do, you’ll find the perfect elements to include in yours and impress the next person you pitch it to.

Want more insights into creating the perfect pitch? Check out Ashurst’s Building Your Personal Brand Virtual Experience Program .

Image credit: Canva

The post How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples) appeared first on Forage .

Why Nurses Need an Elevator Speech

How many times have you been out in public when someone asks you what you do and you respond, “I’m a nurse.” Bland. Generic. Nondescript. That type of response promotes the false notion that all nurses are alike, do the same thing, and are basically interchangeable. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Case in point: Once you identify yourself as a nurse, the next question is usually, “What hospital do you work in?” And if you don’t work in a hospital the next question is, “Why did you leave nursing?” Sharing more about your role as a nurse gives you credibility and opens the conversation to more meaningful dialogue.

Nursing is one of the most diverse professions on the planet. Yet the scope and breadth of the work we do across the spectrum of health and wellness are widely unknown, even within the nursing community! Additionally, many people don’t know that nurses specialize, can be certified, or in some cases have doctoral degrees. A well-crafted elevator speech can address all of this and more.

An elevator speech is a clear and concise introduction meant to explain the nature of your work. It can be delivered in the time of an average elevator ride (20-30 seconds). So why do nurses need one? It helps to clarify and promote our role and specialty; it instills ‘pride of ownership’ for one’s profession and practice setting; it opens the door for conversation and questions.

When crafting your elevator speech be sure to use clear, descriptive language (no initials, acronyms, or jargon), use professional language such as “I practice at…” rather than “I work at…”, describe your practice setting and role, and use simple explanatory phrases and descriptions that anyone outside of healthcare would understand.

Instead of simply saying, “I’m a NICU nurse” a more clear, accurate, and descriptive response would be, “I’m a registered nurse practicing in a neonatal intensive care unit. That means I take care of newborns and premature infants that are critically ill.” This intro beautifully and briefly conveys the significance of the work this nurse does. The use of acronyms, which nurses are fond of, is meaningless if the listener doesn’t know the acronym or even if they do they may not fully understand the nature of the work there. Whole words and plain language go a long way to promote clarity.

When crafting your elevator speech you ideally want to include your credentials, practice setting, specialty including certifications (many people don’t know nurses can be certified), and a brief explanation of what you do. Here are several additional examples:

“I’m a Registered Nurse certified in oncology nursing. I practice at University Medical Center in the outpatient cancer treatment center. I work with patients undergoing cancer treatment and their families.”

“I’m a licensed practical nurse in the outpatient wound care center at Downtown Medical Center. I specialize in working with patients who have unhealed wounds including working with hyperbaric oxygen chambers. Do you know what that is?” This opens the door for more questions and to continue the conversation.

“I’m a registered nurse and vice-president of nursing services at City Hospital. I have clinical and administrative responsibility for our team of 1,000 nurses in our 300 bed facility.”

“I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I have a private practice working with individuals who need mental health support and counseling. I’m also on staff at City Hospital where I provide services for those who need hospitalization.”

“I’m a nurse practitioner and intensivist at County Medical. That means I specialize in managing and directing the care of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit.”

“I’m a registered nurse practicing at Downtown Medical within the specialty of neurology. That means I care for patients who have had strokes, brain trauma, and other neurological issues.

“My name is Dr. Robin Walsh. I am a registered nurse with a doctoral degree in nursing science and practice” (or whatever your graduate degree is in). This will explain the title ‘Dr’ but likely open the door for more questions since many don’t understand why a nurse would get a doctoral degree in nursing rather than become an MD (see below response). You can then add something about your practice setting such as, “I practice as a transitional care manager at County General. That means I work with patients and families to coordinate healthcare services when they are being transferred to another care setting including their home.”

“I’m a registered nurse practicing as a school nurse at Jefferson High School. I’m responsible for the health and wellbeing of 500 students and educators.”

And then when someone says, “Gee, you’re so intelligent; why didn’t you become a medical doctor?” you can respond, “It is precisely because I am so intelligent that I chose nursing. Nursing and medicine are two entirely different career paths. One is not an elevated version of the other. I chose nursing because it keeps me in close proximity to those I serve where I believe I can do the most good.”

Your elevator speech has the power to transform your practice and the profession as a whole. Craft your elevator speech today, rehearse it, and then start introducing yourself everywhere you go. Observe how it makes you feel and how others react differently to you as you elevate the profession to new heights and expand awareness of the vital and diverse role nurses play.

©Donna Cardillo. All Rights Reserved.

15 thoughts on “Why Nurses Need an Elevator Speech”

Pingback: Why Nurses Need an Elevator Speech - nursesfly

This certainly will blow the typical “you’re just a nurse” comment right up! When I tell people I am an OR nurse that always gets their attention, usually one of two reactions–interest & questions or the I could never do that response.

Yes indeed!

Donna, as always you made the mundane statement of “I am a NICU nurse” into an elegant, informative statement that paints a clear picture of what I, as a nurse, does. The additional suggested responses are dynamic and can be translated into any nursing role. Thank you for all you do highlight nurses!

Excellent! Thanks for reading and commenting.

Absolutely love it! I’ll remember to not always abbreviate when talking to non-nurses.

This is so timely for me, and important for nurses in general. It has been on my backburner and now it is not! Thank you so much Donna once again for sharing your wise support for nurses.

Donna, I’m sending you a virtual clapping hands! It’s true that people don’t really know what nurses do and the difference in our “scope of practice”.

I am a nurse coach for women in healthcare. I help them to go from tired and burned out to calm no matter what.

Donna- I forwarded your email to the ambulatory RNs and LPNs. I have received many positive responses. One person said we should incorporate this into nurses week and introduce ourselves to each other. So many of us, inpatient and ambulatory, don’t truly know what others do in their day to day practice. Thank you for making our nurses feel empowered!

Christine, I just LOVE this! Thanks so much for sharing.

Wow, this is a beautiful writeup… The last statement got me challenged… “You are intelligent, why not medicine??” Thanks for your answer there it helps me to be more proud of my profession.

Thank you for sharing this! Here is my attempt at the elevator speech in my new role: I am Dr. Kimberly Sanchez. I am a registered nurse with a doctoral degree in nursing science. I am an advanced practice nurse, certified as a clinical nurse specialist, in the state of California. I practice as a nurse scientist at the Keck Medical Center of USC in Los Angeles. That means I design and conduct nursing research studies to investigate ways to improve the health and wellness of patients while they are acutely ill in the hospital.

Good job with this Kim! It’s a little longer than the typical elevator speech but in your case there is a lot to say, all of it important. It should open the door for many questions which is what you want. There are so many phrases in there that the average person would never have heard before such as “doctoral degree in nursing science” “certified as a clinical nurse specialist” “nurse scientist” “nursing research”. Let me know how it works for you. Bravo!

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Nurses: Impress With Your Elevator Pitch

Posted May 18 2018

During your search for a new nursing job, you’re going to meet a lot of people who could have a positive impact on your career. If you can’t clearly articulate your background and experience, you won’t make a lasting impression. This is where your elevator pitch comes in.

As crucial to a job search as a resume, an elevator pitch is a quick way to introduce yourself and explain who you are, what you have to offer, and where you’re headed. Use these tips to craft a winning speech of your own sure to give your job search a boost.

Keep It Short

As implied by its name, an elevator pitch is meant to be shared in the time it takes to ride an elevator. This means you have 30 to 60 seconds to speak your piece, so every word must count.

Engage Your Audience

Your elevator speech will likely be kicked off when the other person asks “What do you do?” Simply saying you’re a nurse is fine, but you can do better than that. Captivate your audience by saying something that will ignite the conversation, such as “I nurse sick people back to health.” They’ll ask what you mean and that’s your cue to get started.

Make It Flexible

Giving the same elevator pitch to every audience won’t work. You need to be able to tailor your speech to fit individual opportunities and situations, so set a basic structure and go from there. This will allow you to swap words and phrases with ease, without disrupting the natural flow of your speech.

Share Your End Goal

The purpose of your elevator pitch is to get a new nursing job, so be sure to mention what you’re looking for. You don’t need to get down to specifics, as this is likely a part of the speech that will need to be slightly adjusted according to your audience. As long as the direction you’re headed is clear, your message will be heard.

Show Enthusiasm

No one wants to hire a nurse who doesn’t seem excited about their job. Include a few words explaining what motivates you and why you enjoy working in this field. Remember to smile, because you want the enthusiasm you feel inside to show on the outside.

You’re far too talented to settle for just any healthcare job, so let Management Registry, Inc. help you find an opportunity that ignites your passion. Contact us today to connect with top employers across the U.S. looking for nurses and travel nurses just like you!

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How To Create A Strong Elevator Speech

“So, what do you do?”

For most people, that’s an easy question to answer:

• I’m a lawyer
• I’m a teacher
• I’m a mechanic
• I’m a dentist

Done! More often than not, the person asking the question is satisfied with the classification and moves on to another topic.

But for some folks, it’s not that easy.

When they get the question “What do you do?” they fumble, trying to come up with words that best describe who they are and what they do for a living.

Perhaps they belong to a profession less known to the public, or they’ve left the beaten path of careers in favor of something less conventional.

Whatever the case may be, if they had an elevator speech in their back pocket, they’d be ready to say who they are and what they do, without falling over their own words .

What is an Elevator Speech?

The elevator speech, also known as an elevator pitch, is a brief statement summarizing what you do and how it benefits others. Typically, it’s no longer than the time it takes to ride an elevator; usually around 30 seconds.

The original elevator speech comes from the world of business.

The idea was this; prepare a short, concise, and persuasive statement, in case you find yourself sharing an elevator ride with an influencer. The elevator pitch served as an opportunity to introduce yourself, inform the influencer of your interests, and let them know what you could do for them.

While the elevator speech originated in business, today it has a much wider application. And regardless if find yourself in a business or social situation, if you need to communicate who you are, what you’re about, and what you do, you need to have an elevator speech to fall back on.

Why have an Elevator Speech?

That’s easy; it’s about being prepared , and that applies to anything in life!

When you’re prepared, you’ll act with confidence. But when you’re unprepared, it’s easy to lose confidence! And when you act without confidence, you may lose out both, in business and social life.

Another reason for having an elevator speech is ever-shrinking attention spans. You may only have a few seconds to get attention and catch someone’s interest. If what you say doesn’t pull them into the conversation, chances are they’ll move on and give their mental energy to something else.

Clarity ! When you take the time to prepare an elevator speech, you will have clarity about what’s important to you and what you want to share with the other person. If you’re not clear about your goals or what your business is all about, creating an elevator speech will help you figure it out.

Business networking. When you’re building and growing your business, you’ll find yourself in various networking situation. Some will be by design, while others will occur naturally.

If you don’t know what to say in these situations you’d be losing out. It’s critical that you’ll be able to create and hold interest. Your elevator speech must communicate the essence of who are, what you do, and establish the benefits of working with you.

Personal, social situations. When you meet someone, invariably the “what do you do” question comes up. If you’re in a well-known, easy to classify profession, no problem.

However, when you belong to a profession not as easily classified or not as well known, it’s a different story. You may be met with a blank stare and silence after sharing what you do.

This may still happen to some Nurse Practitioners. People may not understand what a nurse practitioner is or does. And that’s where an elevator speech comes in handy; it clearly communicates what it is you do and the value you provide.

Create Your Elevator Speech

As I said earlier, an elevator speech is a short, concise statement about what it is you do, what sets you apart, and who you can help.

Before you start, get clear on what you want to communicate and why. Because if you’re out networking to find a new job, your elevator speech will be different then when you’re networking to grow your business.

Here are a few tips to help you create a strong and effective elevator speech.

For starters, keep it short and simple. There’s no need to get fancy here; simple words will do just fine.

Create a short and simple statement explaining what it is you do and include who the people are you can help.

For example, if you’re a Nurse Practitioner providing pain management, you might say something like…

“I’m a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Pain Management. I work mainly with adults to reduce their pain, regain function, and get their life back on track.”

That may be all you want and need to include in your statement; it’s clear, brief, and leaves plenty of room for a conversation to develop.

Additionally, it’s easy to remember and should roll off your tongue rather naturally, without making you feel uncomfortable or falling over your own words.

Practice Makes Perfect

That’s right…

It’s not enough to create your elevator speech alone. You must know it inside out, internalize it. Because when someone asks you what you do, you must know exactly what to say without feeling any hesitation or discomfort.

So, go ahead and practice your elevator speech every day. Say it until it becomes second nature and you feel comfortable with the words. And once you are, you know you have mastered your elevator speech!

What about your elevator speech? Do you have one? Why not share it here… we’d love to see it.

By Johanna Hofmann, MBA, LAc; regular contributor to the NPBusiness blog and author of “ Smart Business Planning for Clinicians. “

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Learning that effective short speech is very helpful also in the clinic room because so many patients have no idea what an NP really is! Not only that, but also in the lunch room with other staff and health care workers because many of them don’t get it either!

Absolutely! While we’ve made great headway in the past few years, there is still a lot of educating that needs to be done. Thanks for stopping by and commenting Diane!

I think this would make a great intro video on the office website and Facebook pages.

Hi Barbara, I am employed in a busy occupational health center as a NP. My boss and I want to start primary care and he wants me to present a business plan. Can I consult with you on this?

It would indeed!

Of course you can. Just send a message using the contact us page. Alternatively, did you know we have a Business Planning Course?

This was a great read! I have to start working on my elevator speech since my goal is to start my own practice.

Thanks! Good luck with your practice!

Simple and clear. Met the purpose. Thanks

Thank you Gladys. Thanks for stopping by.

Tell your public health story: Tips for giving a powerful elevator pitch

An elevator pitch (or elevator speech) is a concise, compelling summary of your public health story that can be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator. It’s your chance to make the case for why your work can usher in a better, healthier world for us all. This tipsheet includes the tools and strategies public health leaders need to create an attention-grabbing pitch.

Constructing your elevator pitch: 8 tips

• Tell them who you are. Keep it crisp and relevant; just a sentence will do.
• Use a compelling hook. Grab your audience’s attention right away. Try a surprising fact , a thought-provoking question or a compelling one-sentence description of your problem .  
• Focus on the why. Once you’ve hooked the audience tell them about the major question or problem you are studying—and why it matters.
• Pick a pattern. Try for example, the problem-solution pattern, in which you define the problem, diagnose it, then offer your solution.
• But think like a highlight reel. In a short talk you can’t drill down deep into your methods or share every single new detail. Share only your 1 or 2 most important or surprising findings, depending on the length of your elevator pitch.
• Stand out. In a pitch >60 seconds, articulate how your research is distinct from others’.
• Conclude with a vision of the future. Leave them inspired by sharing what your work could (eventually) make possible.
• Make it universal. An elevator pitch is typically directed at a broad audience, so tailor your language accordingly: Speak conversationally. Use short sentences. Get rid of the acronyms. And delete the jargon —it’s a barrier to understanding and to action, no matter who your audience is.

Don’t forget to practice

• Try it out on a nonexpert. Practice with your neighbor, a friend—someone outside of your discipline. Ask them to write down what they heard. Use that feedback to revise your pitch so that it meets your communication goals.
• Maintain eye contact. It helps you make a connection with your audience and keeps them invested in what you are saying.
• Don’t forget tone and body language. They can help you tell your story .
• Show enthusiasm. If you don’t seem excited by your work, why would anyone else be?

If you use slides….

• One slide = one point. No slide should support more than one point.
• Write slide titles with purpose. Your audience should be able to follow the logic of your talk merely by reading the slide titles. Think of each slide title as the headline on your slide’s story. So ditch the label (“Results”) and turn it into a memorable assertion (“Integrated mental health care dramatically curbs medication use”).
• More visuals, less text. If people are reading, they aren’t listening. Look for ways to replace text with images — photos, big numbers, charts, schematics, etc.
• Take time to make your data compelling. Distill figures down to only what’s required to understand your conclusion. Take time to think about what kind of chart is right for the job . You can use a tool like Flourish to try out different options.

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Why You Need an Elevator Speech

Sometimes an opportunity comes your way, maybe an introduction to someone who could help you land the job you want. Not being prepared with an elevator speech can mean a lost opportunity. Here's how to be ready. Nurses Career Support Knowledge

• Job Interview

Updated: Mar 1, 2023  

We all could use an elevator speech. And if you ever plan to look for a job, or network, then you need an elevator speech. An elevator speech is a short persuasive speech to tell others about you, and to pique their interest in you. You should have your elevator speech polished and ready when the opportunity presents.

Today I was chatting with Laura, a senior year nursing student who is graduating in two weeks and hopes to work in our hospital. We were standing in the hall on the third floor outside the elevators when who should step off the elevator but my good friend and Versant Residency Director, Ashley.

Me to Ashley: "Hi, Ashley! Hey, let me introduce you to Laura. Laura has just submitted her Versant application."

Me to Laura: "Laura, meet Ashley! She's our Versant Residency Director. You want to remember her name! LOL It's Ashley"

Laura extends hand: "Hi"

Missed Opportunity

Laura missed a golden opportunity to make a lasting impression. Here she was, face-to-face with the person who is going to put her application in either the REJECT pile or the KEEP pile....and she missed the moment to make herself memorable.

What could Laura have done differently?

"Hi, Ashley. I'm so glad to meet you. I've heard such nice things about you from my Clinical Instructors. I've applied to your Versant program, and I want you to know I am passionate about Pediatrics. I want to work here because of the way your Pediatrics Program is growing. My son's pediatrician is Dr. Pal, and he practices here. He's told me several times how he prefers the nursing practice here at Happy Hospital.

My name is Laura Lee. I hope you'll take a second look at my application. Ashley, would it be OK if I call you later in the week to touch base?"

An Elevator Speech Should:

• Be short. Sixty seconds tops, thirty is better. Succinct but impactful.
• Be memorable (personal example helps).
• Be energetic and enthusiastic
• Be goal-oriented (networking, job seeking).
• Tell them what you're passionate about.
• End with a Call to Action if appropriate for the situation.

An elevator speech can be modified for use at a Meet and Greet, any networking function, a conference, or a job fair.

Here's an example of a very short job fair elevator speech. The goal here is to engage the recruiter in conversation and to spark their interest.

" I'm Laura Lee, nice to meet you. I'm a newly graduated nurse. I've been in school forever, and can't wait to start my nursing career. I am passionate about Pediatric nursing. Can you tell me more about what your hospital is looking for?"

Practice, Practice

The more you practice, the better you will become. You have to practice out loud, and not just in your head. Without practice, you will tend to ramble and repeat yourself.

Again today, I talked with another 4th-semester student who started out very focused.

" Hi, I love it here, it feels like family. I want to work in L&D. I've loved it ever since I cared for my sister when she had a long recovery following a C-section...."

She continued at length after that, but I confess I soon tuned her out for two reasons.

One, she is a soft-talker and her voice ebbed and flowed. We were in a noisy crowd of people and it became too hard to keep asking " What?, sorry? " Keep a strong, even pitch.

Two, I sensed there was no structure, and I could hear enough to realize she was circling round and round and repeating herself effusively.

Have a beginning. Have an ending.

Try using an elevator speech the next time someone asks "What do you do?" and gauge their reaction. Build on their response and refine your speech. Use it with the next person, and repeat.

Practice does make perfect!

Delivery is everything. You need to be poised and confident.

Don't be rushed, too intense, or overly effusive. Practice so that you sound casual and conversational.

Make eye contact and offer a firm handshake along with a genuine, warm smile.

Good luck! Having an elevator speech ready will help you be confident and ready when the opportunity presents.

About Nurse Beth, MSN

Hi! Nice to meet you! I especially love helping new nurses. I am currently a nurse writer with a background in Staff Development, Telemetry and ICU.

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Michael M. Heuninckx

11 Articles; 43 Posts

A resource every nurse should have in their back pocket!

Michael M. Heuninckx RN -BSN

1 Article; 459 Posts

Indeed. I may not have a set one, but I do have a couple of blurbs

7,736 Posts

Interesting!

In today's employment milieu anything that helps a prospective job seeker gain an edge is POSITIVE. Have never thought about this and I'm a talker. This wouldn't be too diff for me - I always found composing for 'the written word' easy.

I always liked a handshake. To me, handshakes were always a typical MAN-THING the guys were comfortable with. Took me a while to get used to giving a handshake that I was relaxed with. I found if I initiated the handshake, it felt good. I found extending a hand to visiting families was positive.

lavie_est_belle

This is so relevant for students. I recently landed myself on an elevator with the CNO and DON at a hospital I was doing clinicals at. They introduced themselves and asked me how I was enjoying clinicals at their hospital. I tried to give my best answer but I left the elevator feeling like I should have said more. The truth is I had already applied to their residency program and was not selected but you never know who can help you if you make a good impression!

OCNRN63, RN

5,978 Posts

I didn't get my first job due to what I said on an elevator, but rather due to a discussion at a babysitting job.

I was chatting with the childrens' father. He asked me about nursing school and my graduation, which was coming up shortly. He asked me what specialty I wanted to work in. I told him I wanted to work in psych. He asked me if I'd applied to "X Hospital," and I said, "Oh, not, they don't have any jobs for psych nurses." He said he was pretty sure they did, and I again repeated that I didn't think they had any jobs, and that I hadn't even bothered to apply there. Then I said jokingly, "Do you have some kind of insider information?"

With a smile, he said, "Well, I'm the CEO of the hospital, and I know for a fact that we are looking for psych nurses. I think you should apply for a job in the new psych unit we're opening." Talk about wanting the earth to just swallow me up. I had no idea he was the CEO of the hospital; trust me, I wanted to kill the person who referred me for that babysitting job for not telling me he was in charge of "X Hospital." That would have been important information to know.

It gets better...or worse, depending on your perspective. I got an interview, but it was smack in the middle of my night shift rotation. I was unaccustomed to night shift, so of course, during the interview my eyes got heavy, and I struggled to stay awake. In spite of my drowsiness, and in spite of my conversation with the CEO, I got the job...my first job out of nursing school.

nursepenelope

Can I ask what your looking for during the interview process and with the resumes? I have had several Nursing Jobs already, but can't land one I really want or a hospital job. I think I'm horrible at interviewing, and my resume' needs improvement, but I'm not sure how to improve it. I actually had a professional resume writing company write one for me, and was still told it needed improvements. I have asked this question before on this site, but never get a response. Does age make a difference in getting hired?

Thank you for any responses in advance!

BiotoBSNtoFNP

I got my first job offer thanks to my elevator speech as a new grad!

Nurse Beth, MSN

145 Articles; 3,698 Posts

nursepenelope said: Can I ask what your looking for during the interview process and with the resumes? I have had several nursing jobs already, but can't land one I really want or a hospital job. I think I'm horrible at interviewing, and my resume' needs improvement, but I'm not sure how to improve it. I actually had a professional resume writing company write one for me, and was still told it needed improvements. I have asked this question before on this site, but never get a response. Does age make a difference in getting hired? Thank you for any responses in advance!

Resumes must stand out bc it's so competitive. They must be visually appealing (format, use of white space, bullet points are good). You need to modify your resume to each employer to show how you are a good fit for them. Identify keywords in their job description (teamwork, professionalism, respect) and reflect those back in your resume using examples.

Interviewing is your real time chance to show them what a good fit you are for their organization and nursing unit. You want to prepare for questions such as "Tell us about a time you (resolved a conflict with a coworker, went above & beyond in customer, service, etc"). Meaning ahead of time, prepare a couple of examples from your past on conflict skills, patient satisfaction/customer service.

Practice ahead of time answering "Why should we hire you?" and "Tell us about yourself"

Good luck to you, I wish you the best in landing a great nursing job. Soon. ?

Congrats congrats congrats! Happy dance :)

They saw the real you through the grogginess and the caught-off-guardness. Congrats. I love those kind of stories.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN

1,907 Posts

Lol and to think 36 years ago, I walked into Personnel, fresh out of college, with a shiny new BSN, and filled out an application. The Personnel lady looked at it, asked if I had time to talk to the Head Nurse of the about to be opened Pediatric unit. Of course I said "Yes", my dream job was Pediatrics. Never mind that I was in jeans and a t-shirt, since I was just planning on filling out applications at area hospitals. Up to the unit we went. Thirty minutes later I walked out with my first job. I don't envy new grads nowadays.

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Election latest: Sunak admits he got job 'because of a mistake'

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have faced the latest Q&A of this year's election, this time hosted by The Sun. Scroll through the Politics Hub to catch up on our updates and analysis from the event.

Monday 24 June 2024 21:30, UK

• General Election 2024

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• Sunak: I got this job as the result of a mistake
• PM reveals Tories are investigating betting scandal
• The party leaders who  do   still want to talk about Brexit
• Farage attacks Johnson in defence of Ukraine war comments
• Chancellor deletes pic of wife's ballot which broke electoral rules
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler

Expert analysis

• Paul Kelso: Are parties being honest about tax and spend plans?
• Sophy Ridge: PM running out of time to get his message across
• Sam Coates: Tories braced for more names in betting scandal

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Alliance Party | Conservatives | DUP | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid Cymru | Reform | SNP | Sinn Fein | Workers Party
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
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Wales is a Labour heartland, but it's clearly in the sights of other parties during this election campaign.

Reform UK even launched its manifesto in a town in the south of the country, Merthyr Tydfil.

Although Wales has its own parliament and makes most of its own decisions, they still elect MPs who stand in Westminster.

Sky's Wales reporter Tomos Evans explains how the cost of living, steel industry and nuclear energy will be key issues for voters.

By David Blevins , senior Ireland correspondent

Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have condemned the Conservative Party for the impact of Brexit on the region.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill told Sky News the current government had "played fast and loose" with the Good Friday Agreement.

Emma Little-Pengelly, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said Northern Ireland was the victim of the Tories having "botched Brexit".

Doug Beattie, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, accused the "chaotic" Tory government of "destroying the cohesion of the United Kingdom".

Tactical voting is a talking point at every election - but it could play a particularly big role this time round.

The polls suggest huge public discontent with the Tories, but there are many seats where Labour - widely projected to form the next government - are not the main challengers.

It's contests like these where the Lib Dems, Reform UK, and the Greens might hope to make gains.

Below, Sky's political correspondent  Serena Barker-Singh explains what tactical voting is when it comes to an election and how it could impact parliament's makeup come 5 July.

Our live poll tracker collates the results of opinion surveys carried out by all the main polling organisations - and allows you to see how the political parties are performing in the run-up to the general election.

It shows a drop in support in recent days for Labour and the Tories - with a jump for Reform and the Liberal Democrats.

Read more about the tracker here .

Tonight on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge , both our Tory and Labour guests faced questions over a report suggesting neither party are being honest with voters about their tax and spending plans.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies launched its report on their election manifestos this morning, warning public services will have to be cut over the next parliament, unless government debt or taxes rise further.

Labour and the Tories have both ruled out tax rises on working people, but also downplayed the risk of cuts to key public services.

So, are they being honest? Our business correspondent Paul Kelso takes a closer look at the numbers...

That concludes our coverage of tonight's Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge  - the show will return tomorrow at 7pm. Stick with us here for more updates and analysis throughout the evening.

Five years ago it was indisputably the Brexit election, but this time round it's become something of an elephant in the room.

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As David notes, to "get Brexit done" the Tory government put a trade border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Great Britain - something that was once unthinkable.

Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein:

"I think there's an opportunity now with what potentially looks like a Labour government coming into play to reverse the damage of Brexit. 

"And actually, I would hope we get to the point where actually we reverse the Brexit decision altogether. 

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Emma Little-Pengelly, DUP: 

"The Conservative Party and the UK government botched Brexit and Northern Ireland was the victim of that. 

"We called out the Conservative Party on this at every single stage. 

"We had to fight incredibly hard to try to undo the damage made by the decisions made by the Conservative Party in government. 

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Naomi Long, Alliance: 

"What we need to do looking forward is say... how do we make the benefits of the Windsor Framework work in our advantage? 

"We have a unique position in Northern Ireland in terms of trade: we can trade freely into GB, we can trade freely with the Irish Republic, but more than that, we are a foot in the European Union."

Colum Eastwood, SDLP:

"Brexit has been a disaster for the whole of the UK, I would argue, economically and in many other ways, but we felt it much more keenly here because we share a border with the European Union.

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Doug Beattie, UUP:

"Brexit was a defining moment. 

"It absolutely undermined the cohesion of the United Kingdom, and I think we can see the out workings of that even today. 

"And whatever government gets in - and we all think it's going to be a Labour government - I think they're going to have to work on that cohesion as one of their main outputs."

Northern Ireland has been front and centre of UK politics since the 2016 EU referendum, proving a critical issue in particular to the ill-fated premierships of Theresa May and Boris Johnson.

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Our senior Ireland correspondent David Blevins has spoken to the country's party leaders about their hopes for the 4 July poll.

The first and deputy first ministers took the opportunity to condemn the Conservative Party for the impact of Brexit.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill told Sky News the current government had "played fast and loose" with the Good Friday Agreement.

And Emma Little-Pengelly, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said Northern Ireland was the victim of the Tories having "botched Brexit".

Election a chance for a 'reset'

Other party leaders were similarly damning of the Tories.

Doug Beattie, the Ulster Unionist (UUP) leader, accused the "chaotic" Tory government of "destroying the cohesion of the United Kingdom".

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