During a job interview, candidates are analyzed from the moment they walk in the door. For some hiring teams, the “make or break” moment comes down to a quick 30-second speech — the elevator pitch. This is a brief statement about why this applicant is the best choice for the position. It’s called an “elevator pitch” because the idea is that the candidate could convince the hiring manager to hire them while sharing an elevator.
These days, moving between the floors of an office building isn’t where an elevator pitch occurs. However, it’s still an important part of the interview, and many hiring managers could vet their applicant pool even more if they harnessed the concept of a powerful elevator pitch. Here are a few qualities to listen for to determine if a candidate will be a successful employee.
- The Person: The elevator pitch should not be all about the job, but also about the kind of person they will be in that position. Listen closely and you can find out if he or she is a team player with a personality that will fit into your workplace culture.
- The Professional: You’ve read the resume, so you should have some awareness of their experience. An elevator pitch allows candidates to emphasize their professional strengths, especially the ones they believe are most important to this job.
- The Long Term: An elevator pitch should explain why they love this line of work and why they are interested in your company. You don’t want a worker just looking for a paycheck. You want an employee looking for a future.
- The Drive: A candidate can convey to you what motivates them, both directly and indirectly, in an elevator pitch. Go beyond the words “hard working” and find out what really drives them to succeed.
- The Goals: Obviously this person is looking for work, but what are their goals, both professionally and personally? Do they want a meaningful career or low-stress work? More importantly, do their goals align with your company goals?
- The Offer: An elevator pitch isn’t about bragging, it’s about persuading. The candidate should use the pitch to sell themselves to the hiring team. Their pitch should really emphasize how they can benefit your organization.
Don’t forget, partnering with a staffing firm can help lighten the load your hiring team may face. You can get access to trained professionals looking for permanent or contract jobs who are ready to work right away. At High Profile Staffing, we have tools and resources to help Dallas and Fort Worth companies find top talent. Many candidates know how hard our experienced recruiters work to find them positions that really fit. That means that our talent pool is filled with the kinds of employees whose elevator pitches really sell.
If you find yourself hiring new staff, need help with the hiring process or are interested in learning how contract workers can boost productivity, contact our expert staffing and recruiting team. Reach out to us! We’d love to tell you how our services can benefit your organization.
