Moms Follow These 5 Steps to Write a Perfect Elevator Pitch

Moms Follow These 5 Steps to Write a Perfect Elevator Pitch Moms Follow These 5 Steps to Write a Perfect Elevator Pitch Whether attending a networking event or a PTA meeting, moms looking for employment opportunities should have a perfect  elevator pitch ready. An elevator pitch provides others with a feel for who you are, what you want, and what you have to offer. Delivering it with confidence helps you make a strong first impression. Capture attention and encourage further conversation by using these steps for creating a perfect elevator pitch: 1. Know  yourself. Before crafting a pitch, spend time getting to the heart of your true interests, skills, and experiences. What are your greatest strengths? What do you bring to the table that is unique or noteworthy? What must the listener walk away remembering about you? 2. Be concise. You’ll lose listeners if your elevator pitch tries to convey too much information. (Experts generally recommend a speech of 15 seconds or less.) Focus on sparking enough interest for the other party to ask follow-up questions. 3. Practice! After writing out what you want to get across, try saying it out loud. What looks good on paper may turn out to be wordy or tongue-twisting when spoken. Keep crafting until the pitch flows out of your mouth. When you think you’ve got a winner, try it out on people you trust to gain feedback. 4. Remember your audience. One size does not fit all when it comes to elevator pitches, so prepare various versions. A pitch that dazzles at an industry conference may fall flat if given to someone you meet at your son’s soccer game. Ask yourself what this particular person you’re meeting might find interesting or useful. 5. Embrace motherhood. Remember that both your professional and parental skills contribute to who you are. You don’t need to hide or gloss over your time spent raising children. “The choice to stay at home and then return to work is one to be very proud of, and I would enthusiastically include it in my pitch,” says Kerri Garbis, president of Ovation Communication. She suggests something along the lines of: “I’m a communications skills specialist returning to the workforce after staying at home with my family. I’m looking forward to jumping back into the workforce and using my expert skills in writing, presentation development, and delivery to help an organization deliver its message in a more effective manner.” Cheryl Heisler, president of Lawternatives, agrees. “Moms master a ridiculous amount of transferable skills through their roles as caregivers and homemakers, but they need a concise way to tell their story. An effective pitch like, ‘I am looking to transfer my organizational, managerial, and administrative skills honed on the home front to a position of responsibility within a business organization’ can open doors back into the workforce.” And one last tip from Heisler, “Dont forget to remind those you pitch that you do have outside work experience pre-motherhood. That still counts!” Start your search for a flexible job. Readers, what does your perfect elevator pitch look like? Share your ideas by leaving a comment!