Whether you’re at a virtual networking event for your industry, or happen to find yourself running into a high-level executive at the coffee machine, it’s always intimidating to make a compelling and professional introduction. But no matter if you’re an entry level assistant or seasoned manager, having a go-to elevator pitch will come in handy over and over again throughout your career. 

Develop your “top five”

Think about the top five things you would want a new professional connection to know about you. What are you passionate about? Where did your interests start? What is the most enjoyable part about what you do? What are you the most proud of? Writing down a short list of the most important qualities that you’d like to convey is a great starting point. 

Follow the three W’s

In grade school, you probably learned about the importance of articulating “who, what, where, when, and why” when writing a story or crafting a project. Drawing from that ever-important childhood lesson, your elevator pitch should effectively answer these three questions: Who are you? What do you do? Why (and how) do you do it? Try writing out answers to these three questions, and then trim your response down to one or two captivating sentences. 

Establish your call to action

Think about what you would like the end result of your introduction to be, and craft a closing sentiment that makes a small request. Perhaps it’s an ask to meet over coffee, a desire to learn more about an area of your acquaintance’s expertise, or an expression of interest in a specific job. This aspect of the elevator pitch will vary on a case-by-case basis, but having a handful of small “go-to” requests to wrap up your conversation, even a simple, “I’d love to chat more sometime if you’re open to it. Could we exchange emails?” can leave the door open for a great connection or mentorship later on. 

Rehearse it!

While you’ll obviously want to come across as natural and conversational as possible, writing down your pitch, and even recording it to hear what you sound like, can help you nail the rhythm and tone that works for you. Ask a friend to hold a “mock-introduction” that will allow you to practice your pitch, and get feedback on how it sounds. Practice your pitch in the mirror until you feel ownership over it. 

It only takes a few moments to make a great first impression, and perfecting your elevator pitch will ensure you leave a lasting impact on your next connection.