Transcript

INSTRUCTOR 1
Being a good networker is not something you're born with.
INSTRUCTOR 2
Like a flair for dance.
INSTRUCTOR 1
You might be familiar with the elevator pitch. But if you're not, here's the deal. It doesn't have to be an elevator the idea behind an elevator pitch is that you need to get out three important things quickly and concisely: content, delivery, and follow-up.
What I mean by this is know what you want to say and how you want to say it, and always remember to follow up.
INSTRUCTOR 2
Oh, do I get to speak now?
INSTRUCTOR 1
Let's just--
INSTRUCTOR 2
Take a look at an example.

[GRUNTS]

[SPEAKER 1 BUMPS INTO SPEAKER 2]

SPEAKER 1
Ooh, hi.
SPEAKER 2
Hi.
SPEAKER 1
You're Michael the marketing manager, right?
SPEAKER 2
Yeah. Do I know you?
SPEAKER 1
Not yet.

[TAKES SELFIE]

SPEAKER 2
Oh, whoa. Oh, I was unprepared for that.
SPEAKER 1
Hold tight.

[READS OFF CARD]

Hello. I've just finished a programme in marketing, and I am looking for employment. In brackets, turn card. Oh.
I'm an organised person, and I know how to use a calculator. Are you hiring? In brackets, end of speech.
INSTRUCTOR 1
Why would you show them that example?
INSTRUCTOR 2
Because I think she was wearing a fun top.
INSTRUCTOR 1
An elevator pitch really should only be 20 to 30 seconds long, and highlight things like accomplishments or your job history, or your strengths.
INSTRUCTOR 2
Well, she was outgoing.
INSTRUCTOR 1
Which is amazing. But there are things she could have done differently.
INSTRUCTOR 2
Like what?
INSTRUCTOR 1
Making eye contact, practicing her pitch ahead of time and not reading off cards. And she was way too close for comfort. And finishing with a firm handshake, always a great way to cap things off.
INSTRUCTOR 2
There actually is literally nothing I can think of that would have improved that scenario.
INSTRUCTOR 1
How are you working here?
INSTRUCTOR 2
Nepotism.
INSTRUCTOR 1
Let's just take another look at that scene.
SPEAKER 1
Hey.
SPEAKER 2
Hi.
SPEAKER 1
How are you enjoying the party so far?
SPEAKER 2
Oh, it's great. Yeah, it's good to get out and not feel like such a hermit all the time, you know. I've been really busy at work lately.
SPEAKER 1
What do you do?
SPEAKER 2
Oh, I'm a marketing manager.
SPEAKER 1
Oh, awesome. I'm in marketing, too.
SPEAKER 2
Oh, is that right?
SPEAKER 1
Yeah. My name's Kate.
SPEAKER 2
Oh, I'm Mike. Nice to meet you.
SPEAKER 1
Nice to meet you.
SPEAKER 2
So where do you work now?
SPEAKER 1
Currently, I'm looking. But it's always nice to meet people in a similar field.
SPEAKER 2
Absolutely.
SPEAKER 1
You know, I'd love to take you for a coffee sometime, maybe pick your brain about the field and what you're up to at work?
SPEAKER 2
Right. I'd like that. There you go.
SPEAKER 1
Oh, thank you.
SPEAKER 2
Look me up.
SPEAKER 1
I will.
SPEAKER 2
Mm-hmm.
INSTRUCTOR 1
So much better.
INSTRUCTOR 2
I saw no difference between those two examples. And we're at follow-up.
INSTRUCTOR 1
If you noticed, take out a business card, which means you can follow up and follow through.
INSTRUCTOR 2
All right, calm down.
INSTRUCTOR 1
In this instance, Kate is going to follow up with an in-person meeting instead of a phone call. And after that, she'll follow through with a thank you email. This is a great way of showing interest in a new contact, and could lead to a meeting or other opportunities with that person or even someone else.
INSTRUCTOR 2
I'm pretty sure you just described how dating works.
INSTRUCTOR 1
So just remember, content, delivery, and follow-up.
INSTRUCTOR 2
Is that it?
INSTRUCTOR 1
Yeah, we're done.
INSTRUCTOR 2
Want to go grab a coffee?
INSTRUCTOR 1
I would really rather not.