CAREER COACH By Judy Smith

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Question: Now that I’m looking for a job, I hear a lot of people talking about their “elevator speech.” What do they mean by that?

Answer: The concept of an elevator speech has been around for a long time. It’s a succinct (approximately 30 second) business description of what you do and why someone should hire you. It’s called an “elevator speech” because it describes the need to be able to sell yourself to another individual in the time it takes to ride with them on an elevator from the ground floor to the top floor.

However, that was then. Elevators are much faster, and attention spans are much shorter, now. (Statistics show that the average person today loses focus in about eight seconds!) Therefore, an elevator speech these days needs to be stepped up. “Hello, my name is” just won’t do it.

As a job seeker, it’s essential to use an elevator speech whenever you want to introduce yourself to a new contact. You need to craft a strong elevator speech — one that makes a lasting first impression and positions you in the listener’s mind.

To help you get started, make a list of all the services you provide. Then, think of the benefits that a potential employer or client could derive from your services. You could use successful outcomes to illustrate benefits.

Here’s my sample speech:

“Hi, I’m Judy Smith. I help people find satisfying new jobs and coach clients on how to become more successful at their work. For example, I helped a client change jobs with a 40 percent salary increase. I helped a client develop the skills to deal with a difficult boss, and I helped a manager design training that measurably improved staff performance. I love giving clients the knowledge they need to move their lives forward!”

Edit and practice

• Start writing. Prepare a rough draft of your speech. Edit it. Put it down for a while and come back to it later. See if it still rings true. If not, edit it some more. When you finally arrive at the elevator speech that best suits you, you’ll know it.

• Record yourself; listen to it. Do you sound confident? Is your speech engaging? Does it seem rehearsed?

• Run it by as many friends and family as you can. Ask for their feedback.

• Memorize the final speech.

• Practice your speech until it feels like it’s rolling off your tongue — until you “feel the vibe.”

Now you’re ready to take your compelling speech on the road.  Watch as it consistently ramps up your listeners’ attention!

Judy Smith is a registered career coach. Send your job search questions to Smith at smithjudit@gmail.com, or visit her website at www.judysmith.solutions.