10 Steps to the Perfect Elevator Pitch
Written by Vanessa Van Edwards at Science of People – Published March 24, 2025
You need a memorable answer to “What do you do?”. Your elevator pitch tells people who you are and why they should care. Here’s how to do it.
How do you answer the question “What do you do?”
Everyone should have an answer that is authentic, impactful, and non-boring.
Here’s the problem: Most of us aren’t confident talking about what we do and why it matters.
I’m here to help.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- how to craft a perfect elevator pitch to land jobs and become memorable
- the best elevator pitches (with examples)
- a step-by-step guide on what to do in the elevator (or career fair/event/etc.)
- and more!
Let’s dive in.
What is an Elevator Pitch?
An elevator pitch is a 20–30 second speech that showcases your unique talents and what you have to offer. The goal of an elevator pitch is to make the person you are talking to want to meet up for a second conversation.
An amazing elevator pitch should get people interested in you. Ideally, it will end with you giving your contact info, handing over your business card, or connecting on LinkedIn.
Here’s what an elevator pitch is NOT:
- a sleazy pitch to get someone to buy your product
- a plea to get a job offer
- telling your life story in half a minute
- desperate, unclear, or confusing
How Long Should an Elevator Pitch Be?
The sweet spot for an elevator pitch is anywhere between 10 seconds to a minute. Elevator pitches should be brief, memorable, and leave the prospect wanting to know more.