Additional Resources
This short template guide will help you to craft and perfect your own Elevator Pitch.
What Is an Elevator Pitch?
An elevator pitch is a short, clear introduction that explains who you are, what you do, and what makes you unique—in about 30 seconds or less. It’s called an “elevator” pitch because it should be concise enough to deliver during a brief elevator ride, while still being memorable and compelling.
Why You Want One
Having an elevator pitch helps you communicate your value quickly and confidently when opportunities pop up—whether you’re networking, interviewing, meeting potential partners, or just being asked, “So, what do you do?” A strong elevator pitch keeps you from rambling, makes a strong first impression, and opens the door to deeper conversations.
Elevator Pitch Template
Start by introducing yourself
- "Hi, my name is ________________. It's so good to meet you!"
Provide a summary of what you do
- "I'm a recent business graduate from Mid Michigan College, specializing in marketing and finance."
Explain what you want
- "I'd love the opportunity to put the skills I have developed in my marketing and finance courses to work for your company."
Explain why you're a good fit for the position
- "Could we set up a time in the next week or two to connect to chat further about how I could be an asset to your team."
These quick tips will help you craft a professional student LinkedIn profile.
Build a Professional Student LinkedIn Profile
Think of your LinkedIn profile as an interactive business card. It’s a summary of your professional experience, interests, and capabilities that is designed to attract the attention of important people who are searching for you online—recruiters, networking contacts, and grad school admissions officers. A strong profile is a key differentiator in the job market. So let’s get started...
- Craft an informative profile headline
- Your profile headline gives people a short, memorable way to understand who you are in a professional context. Think of the headline as the slogan for your professional brand, such as “Student, National University” or “Recent honors grad seeking marketing position.” Check out the profiles of students and recent alums you admire for ideas and inspiration.
- Display an appropriate photo
- Remember that LinkedIn is not Facebook or TikTok. If you choose to post a photograph — and we recommend that you do — select a professional, high-quality headshot of you alone. Party photos, cartoon avatars, and cute pics of your puppy don’t fit in the professional environment of LinkedIn.
- Show off your education
- Be sure to include information about all institutions you’ve attended. Include your major and minor if you have one, as well as highlights of your activities. It’s also appropriate to include study abroad programs and extracurricular activities. Don’t be shy — your LinkedIn profile is an appropriate place to show off your strong GPA and any honors or awards you’ve won.
- Develop a professional summary statement
- Your summary statement should resemble the first few paragraphs of your best-written cover letter — concise and confident about your goals and qualifications. Remember to include relevant internships, volunteer work, and extracurriculars. Present your summary statement in short blocks of text for easy reading. Bullet points are great, too.
- Fill your “Specialties” section with keywords
- “Specialties” is the place to include keywords and phrases that a recruiter or hiring manager might type into a search engine to find a person like you. The best place to find relevant keywords is in the job listings that appeal to you and the LinkedIn profiles of people who currently hold the kinds of positions you want.
- Update your status weekly
- A great way to stay on other people’s radar screens and enhance your professional image is to update your status at least once a week. Tell people about events you’re attending, major projects you’ve completed, professional books you’re reading, or any other news that you would tell someone at a networking reception or on a quick catch-up phone call.
- Show your connectedness with LinkedIn Group badges
- Joining Groups and displaying the group badges on your profile are the perfect ways to fill out the professionalism of your profile and show your desire to connect to people with whom you have something in common. Most students start by joining their university’s LinkedIn group as well as the larger industry groups related to the career they want to pursue.
- Collect diverse recommendations
- Nothing builds credibility like third-party endorsements. The most impressive LinkedIn profiles have at least one recommendation associated with each position a person has held. Think about soliciting recommendations from professors, internship coordinators, colleagues, employers, and professional mentors.
- Claim your unique LinkedIn URL
- To increase the professional results that appear when people type your name into a search engine, set your LinkedIn profile to “public” and claim a unique URL for your profile (for example: www.linkedin.com/in/yourname). This also makes it easier to include your LinkedIn URL in your email signature, which is a great way to demonstrate your professionalism.
- Share your work
- A final way to enhance your LinkedIn profile is to add examples of your writing, design work, or other accomplishments by displaying URLs or adding LinkedIn Applications. By including URLs, you can direct people to your website, blog, or Twitter feed. Through Applications, you can share a PowerPoint or store a downloadable version of your resume.
This list of writing tips helps to professional introduce yourself through email.
Start with an Eye-Catching Subject Line
- Having an eye catching subject line is important so that the email will get opened and not trashed immediately.
Address the Email to an Actual Person
- Research the company so you can find a person's name that you will be writing to can make the email more personal and inviting.
- Use the person's email as well and not just a generic HR email.
Use a Formal Greeting
- Using the formal greeting of Mr. Ms. is professional, avoid using first names.
Use your Connections
- If you have someone in common with the person you are writing, then mention them.
- Referrals are the best way to get advice or assistance.
Do not Make Demands
- Make suggestions or ask for advice. For example: “would you be able to give me advice on applying for positions in your company?” sounds better than “Please review my resume and get back with me.”
Keep it Short
- Keep your message short 2 or 3 paragraphs at the most.
- Don’t include more than a few sentences in each paragraph. In the first Paragraph, explain the purpose of your letter and why you’re interested in the company.
- In the middle paragraph, identify your skills that would benefit the company and a brief example to provide concrete evidence of skills.
- In the closing paragraph, describe your interest in the next step (a meeting or interview).
Simple Font and Sizes
- Simple easy to read font and a normal size
Professional Closing Paragraph
- This is as important as the introduction. Using sincerely, Thank you for your time, your help is greatly appreciated
Include a Signature
- Include a signature with your full name, email address, and phone number. Include your mailing address if you’re asking for a written response or to have something to be sent to you
Proofread and Send a Test Message
- It is always good to proofread a FEW times to make sure errors and grammar mistakes are fixed. Send a test message to yourself to see how it sends and reads, or send to a friend or relative so they can view and help check for mistakes or errors
Bcc: Yourself
- Good to have a copy sent to yourself so you have a record of sending it and can refer back to it if needed.