Having a well-rehearsed elevator speech comes in handy throughout an active job search, whenever you are talking with others, be it at a job fair, networking meeting, trade show, professional conference or even standing on line at the supermarket.
(For those who are curious, or are having difficulty with your own, here is a neat little website for writing an elevator speech.)
Well, at a job search support group last night, one of the participants said that she had never heard of the concept, but that she had heard of a "lift speech."
As we talked further, it became apparent that the two ideas are one and the same, since a lift is a term also used for an elevator.
Always on the lookout for synchronicities, it immediately occurred to me that the word lift can give the job hunter an edge:
L = Look ahead: Your speech should look ahead, not back to the past. "What I can do for your organization" vs "I used to be...until I was let go." Be positive and future focused rather than dredging up the past.
I = Inspire: Don't be so modest that you keep your talents hidden. Roll out one or more of them in short one-liners such as "At [Company Name], I introduced five new products in one year." Convey the potential that you possess.
F = Focus: Though you probably have a fascinating life story, do not try to tell it all. Be selective. Consultant and speaker Kenny Moore, the former monk and best-selling author, says think of this process as a strip-tease where you want to reveal yourself sparingly.
T = Turn it around: Stop talking and ask the other person about them. Turn it into a conversation. Show interest in who they are and they will be more motivated to ask you some follow up questions.
So be sure to take the LIFT on your way to success!
Posted by Terrence Seamon on Friday October 26, 2012
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