5 Elevator Pitch Examples and When to Use Them

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Review examples to see what makes a strong elevator pitch and learn when to use one to sell yourself, your ideas, or your business.

[Featured Image] A woman in a meeting uses an elevator pitch example to quickly pitch the three other businesspeople sitting at the table around her.

An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive speech (typically 30-60 seconds long) that sparks interest in you, your idea, or your business. They’re always brief, attention-getting, and clear. When you need to make a quick, professional connection, an elevator pitch may be a useful communications tool, allowing you to quickly convey two or three key points.

Learn more about creating elevator pitches, including when to use them, and peruse examples to see what a strong elevator pitch should include. Afterward, keep building in-demand communication skills with a Coursera Plus subscription. You'll gain access to over 10,000 courses.

How to create an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch allows you to share important information quickly. It's called an elevator pitch because it's common to imagine riding in an elevator with an important executive. You only have the time it takes to reach your floor—perhaps 30 to 60 seconds—to dazzle them. In that case, you must choose your words carefully to capture their attention, get to the point, and wrap it up.

A well-crafted elevator pitch is concise. Your elevator pitch should answer three main questions for your listener:

  • Who are you? You’ll introduce yourself, but think bigger. You want to convey important things about you or your business that make you memorable. For example, a petite woman pitching her wrestling expertise might say, “I’m Lena. I may not look like a pro wrestler, but I’ve been winning belts for my in-ring performance for three years now.”

  • What do you do? When meeting a career connection, think of this question in terms of what skills and experience you offer to make you a good fit for a role. If you’re pitching a business or entrepreneurial idea, talk about how your organization or idea will benefit the listener or a larger audience. Consider your listener's problem and share how you can solve it. This moment might also be a prime opportunity to mention your target audience and competitive advantage or what differentiates you from the rest.

  • What’s your ask? Close your pitch by stating your objective. You might ask for an interview, an internship, a promotion, an introduction to the organization’s decision-makers, an investment, a connection, or a follow-up meeting.

Once you craft a good elevator pitch, you can use it in many professional or personal situations. You might include portions of the pitch’s language in a social media profile or About Us page, ad copy, emails, mission statements, landing pages, or blog post profiles.

6 places to use an elevator pitch

Many situations present opportunities to use an elevator pitch.

1. Career fair

When you are looking for a job or considering a career change, preparing an elevator pitch for a career fair is a great idea. At these events, employers speak to many people, but a well-executed elevator pitch can help get you noticed.

2. Workplace

Your workplace can provide several opportunities for an elevator pitch. For instance, you may want to use one when:

  • Talking with a board member before a meeting

  • Collaborating with a colleague on a project

  • Conversing with a superior in the break room

  • Introducing yourself to an in-house trainer

  • Having lunch with a potential client

3. Job interview

Many employers or recruiting specialists start a job interview wanting to know “a little bit about you.” You can answer with a well-rehearsed elevator pitch. Specifically, you can briefly discuss your education and work experience and why you'd be a good candidate for the job.

4. Web or social profile

Use a concise and informative elevator pitch as your bio for your website or LinkedIn summary. Prospective customers, clients, or investors can read about your skills, experience, products, or services in seconds. 

5. Trade show

If you're promoting a product or service, you’ll likely attend a trade show or two. You'll need a short and exciting elevator pitch to help get prospective customers interested and make sales.

6. Industry event

An elevator pitch can benefit you at a conference or other industry event. You could pick up a new client, get a new business partner, or make valuable professional contacts. Make sure to tweak your message for each person you meet to sound original.

Elevator pitch template

You’ll need to start with some brainstorming to write your best elevator pitch. A structured outline like the template below can be helpful, particularly as you’re in the early phases of creating your pitch. The third column is for your thoughts and notes.

Pitch componentComponent goalsYour thoughts
Who am I?Introduce yourself, your business, and your idea. Establish credibility by sharing your educational background, relevant skills, or expertise. Catch your listener’s attention. Make your pitch memorable. Strike a positive tone.
What do I do?Identify a problem and describe how your solution will work. Highlight the benefits of working with you and your business. Show that you know your audience. Explain how you stand out from others who offer something similar to you.
What am I asking for?Provide a call to action (a next step). Keep your request reasonable.

5 elevator pitch examples to inspire you

These examples of elevator speeches tackle different scenarios to show you how to craft this pitch. The following sections also explain why each of these examples works well.

1. Trying to get an internship

"Hi, my name is Sarah, and I recently earned my bachelor’s degree in marketing. I'm excited to explore opportunities in the field and gain experience through an internship. I have honed my market research, content creation, and social media management skills throughout my academic journey. I'm a quick learner, a team player, and passionate about helping businesses thrive. I would love to discuss internship opportunities with your team.”

Why this pitch works: Sarah effectively communicates critical information so a potential employer understands her search. She says her name, education level, and field of interest. Sarah next shares relevant skills and qualities that could make her a good intern. She closes by asking to discuss internship opportunities with the organization.

2. Pitching a product

"Are you tired of juggling multiple calendars and missing important appointments? Hi, I'm John, and my mobile app, Align, makes it easy for busy professionals to manage their work and personal schedules. Our app syncs your calendars and sends you reminders for upcoming events. Our user-friendly interface and affordable prices make it easy to operate, so you don’t have to worry about missing another meeting. Try our app today, and simplify your life.”

Why this pitch works: This concise and well-structured pitch grabs attention and communicates the product in an easy-to-understand way. Listeners quickly learn how John’s product can benefit them. The pitch also highlights the app’s unique features and specific audience. After building credibility and trust, John asks you to try the app.

3. Seeking a promotion

“I’m Javier, and I’ve been a sales manager here at Symcom for three years. I’m here to talk about the possibility of a promotion. In my time with Symcom, I've consistently exceeded my sales targets by 10 to 20 percent and built multi-year relationships with my clients. I've also mentored and trained junior sales representatives and am proud to have seen them grow and succeed. In a more senior role, I can inspire more team members and drive even more results for our company. Could we schedule a conversation about this?”

Why this pitch works: Javier introduces his name, position, and time spent with the company. He then highlights his achievements and contributions to prove his success while demonstrating his care for those he works with (e.g., “I’m proud to have seen them grow and succeed). Javier discusses his willingness to meet new challenges and commitment to the company. Finally, he asks for more responsibility while expressing confidence that he can make a positive impact.

4. Connecting during a networking event

"Hi, my name is Lin, and I'm a software engineer specializing in artificial intelligence. I'm passionate about pushing the boundaries of what's possible in AI, and I'm excited to connect with all of you at this event. I have worked on everything from natural language processing to computer vision. If anyone is working on exciting AI projects or would like to discuss AI trends and best practices, I would love to chat and potentially collaborate."

Why this pitch works: Lin’s pitch effectively communicates her goals, interests, and experience while inviting others to engage in a conversation. After introducing herself and her passion for AI, she discusses why she’s networking and her industry experience. She ends with a clear ask, an open invitation for the listener to connect with her and potentially collaborate.

5. Pitching a policy 

“Many of our community’s most vulnerable deal with limited transportation options, making it challenging to get to work quickly. I'm Shauna, and I propose free public transportation to low-income families in our community. It would relieve their financial burden for transportation and reduce the number of cars on the road. Government grants and private donations would fund the program, and we’ll partner with local transportation agencies to implement it. I would love to discuss it further with you. Can we set up a time to meet?”

Why this pitch works: Shauna sets a positive tone by focusing on the goal of making a difference in the community. She briefly outlines the problem, how the solution will work, and where its funding will come from. She highlights the potential benefits of the program and how it would run. Then, she ends with a clear call to action, which is to discuss the proposal further. 

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