How to Write an Elevator Pitch

How to Write an Elevator Pitch

Whether you’re networking or going in for an interview, introducing yourself is a key part of the job search process. That’s where the elevator pitch comes in — a succinct yet impactful summary of yourself, that can grab someone’s attention within 30 seconds. If the thought of putting that together sounds intimidating, you’re not alone! So, we’ve got some tips on how to write an elevator pitch, to help ensure each meeting is a success.

Know when to use an elevator pitch

First of all, it’s good to keep in mind the right times and places to use an elevator pitch. If you’re currently in the job market, career fairs, expos, networking events, professional associations, and even your LinkedIn bio are great opportunities. You’ll also want to have one on hand for job interviews (for the inevitable “tell me about yourself” portion) and introductions to new coworkers (once you’ve landed the job).

Identify your goal

Before you dive into creating your pitch, you’ll want to solidify the goal of your speech — what is your aim in introducing yourself to this person? Are you looking for a job in a specific field, company, or location? Do you have a new business idea? Are you simply looking to gain more professional contacts? Honing in one what you want will help inform what you say, in order to make your pitch as persuasive as possible.

Answer three key questions

Once you know your goals, it’s time to start writing. When crafting an elevator pitch, there are three main points you should include:

  • Who are you?
    • Make sure to introduce yourself.
  • What do you do and how do you do it?
    • Let them know what value you add and what sets you apart from the crowd.
  • What do you want?
    • Your goal is the whole purpose of giving this speech, so be sure to talk about it!

Finish with a call to action

You may have gotten your listener hooked, but it won’t be much use if they aren’t given any next steps to take. Maybe you’re interested in a job at their company, or you’d like to set up a meeting to talk further. It can be intimidating, but it’s important to ask for what you want in order to reap the benefits of your pitch.

Keep your pitch brief and conversational

The point of an elevator pitch is that it’s short enough to capture someone’s interest while being said in a 30-second elevator ride. After you’ve put together your initial draft, edit and pare down what you’ve written so that it’s concise, to the point, and easy to understand. Only touch on what’s important, stick to one or two abbreviated examples of your work, and avoid rambling or tangents. And remember, you want to sound conversational, not overly stiff and formal.

Practice

As with every other step of the job search process, it’s essential to put in a lot of practice on your pitch. Give the speech to yourself in front of a mirror or to your family or friends. This way, you can get used to saying it within the right amount of time, while still being conversational, using positive body language, not rushing your words, and not forgetting any key elements. The more you can nail down your delivery, the more effective it will be.

Be prepared to customize

Finally, be ready to be flexible with your pitch. While the key themes will stay the same, you’ll want to tailor it to your audience — after all, a hiring manager at a career fair will require a different tone and vocabulary than a CTO you’ve met at a networking event. Have a few slight variations on hand to allow you to adapt to different situations.

Attending a Climb partner computer science or business training program, and ready to get to the next stage in your career? Sign up for our free ClimbTalent career development platform to access job listings, resources and tools, mentorships, and more!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to get more info sent straight to your inbox!

What to Expect: Realistic Outcomes

Climb’s Comprehensive Access Solution can offer a strategic balance of increased enrollments and upfront cashflows compared to traditional lenders. While no financing solution guarantees 100% collection, our data-driven approach maximizes both upfront cash and long-term repayment rates.

Typical Partner Results:

  • 15-30% of students qualify for Climb Loans with upfront tuition delivered to the school shortly after course start
  • 45-60% of students qualify for 0% APR* payment plans
  • Enrollment increases of 20%+ reported by partner schools**

**Results vary by school and student demographics. This represents performance reported by individual school partners and should not be considered a guarantee of your specific outcomes.

The bottom line: CAS is designed to maximize your net tuition recovery while eliminating the administrative headaches of student financing.

Maximizing Your Results

Pro Tip: Schools that require student deposits and set up automatic payments during enrollment see significantly better repayment performance across all financing options. These simple steps can meaningfully improve your outcomes.

FAQs

We use a comprehensive, AI-driven assessment that goes beyond traditional FICO scores to better serve career training students:

  • Climb Credit Score: Over 150 data points specifically designed for vocational students
  • Debt-to-Income Ratio: Reliable predictor of payment performance
  • FICO Score: Used primarily for interest rate assignment

Key advantages of our approach:

  • Soft credit pull until loan funding (no credit impact during application)
  • The majority of students receive instant decisions
  • Students can apply with co-borrowers directly in the application
  • More accurate placement into appropriate financing products

We use a comprehensive, AI-driven assessment that goes beyond traditional FICO scores to better serve career training students:

  • Climb Credit Score: Over 150 data points specifically designed for vocational students
  • Debt-to-Income Ratio: Reliable predictor of payment performance
  • FICO Score: Used primarily for interest rate assignment

Key advantages of our approach:

  • Soft credit pull until loan funding (no credit impact during application)
  • The majority of students receive instant decisions
  • Students can apply with co-borrowers directly in the application
  • More accurate placement into appropriate financing products

Students are placed into funding brackets (Elite, Standard, Enhanced) based on our AI assessment. Higher-credit students generate higher upfront payments to your school, while students with limited credit are seamlessly directed to our 0% Payment Plan.

These brackets are established using data from over $1 billion in career training loan originations and may be adjusted periodically based on updated repayment trends.

Important note: Regardless of which bracket a student falls into, they are considered fully paid by your school once funded. The student’s repayment obligation exists exclusively between Climb and the student.

Elite Access not available for Computer Science programs. Upfront percentages vary by industry and loan terms.

Once Climb disburses upfront funding for a student loan, that student is considered fully paid by your school. You will not receive any additional payments for that student—the single upfront payment is complete and final.

From that point forward, the student’s repayment obligation exists exclusively between Climb and the student. Your school has zero liability if the student defaults, and you keep the full upfront payment regardless of the student’s future payment performance.

They’re automatically offered our 0% Interest Payment Plan, ensuring no student is turned away while maintaining steady monthly cash flow for your school.

Higher-credit students generate larger upfront payments (75-100% of tuition), while students with limited credit use our 0% APR* Payment Plan for consistent monthly revenue. Both options are risk-free for your school

Absolutely. Climb complements existing payment options like scholarships, employer-sponsored programs, and internal financing.

Absolutely. Climb complements existing payment options like scholarships, employer-sponsored programs, and internal financing.

Typically, within 5-10 business days after your partnership agreement is signed.

Comprehensive onboarding webinar, continuous partner support via AI-assisted chat and live email—and real-time borrower assistance with our live-chat-available student success team.

No. Climb fully manages the administrative responsibilities—your team simply monitors your school’s performance via our intuitive School Portal.

Your school is fully protected either way. For Climb Loans, you keep the entire upfront payment with zero liability. For Payment Plans, you only receive what students actually pay, with no risk to your school.