Many employers decide about job candidates within the first 30 seconds to two minutes of meeting them. And what is the basis for their decision about a job seeker? Their first impression of the person! While a first impression can be changed, how you present yourself initially to an employer will significantly impact whether or not you are hired for a job.
One of the most strategic things you can do for yourself to make an excellent first impression is to develop a thirty-second “strength summary” about what you can do for an employer. The “strength summary” is sometimes called an “elevator speech” because it can be delivered in about the time it takes to ride from the bottom floor to the top of a building in an elevator.
Preparing your “strength summary” can help you get people’s attention and communicate key information about yourself in the following situations:
- introducing yourself to potential employers in person;
- leaving a voice mail message for prospective employers;
- informal networking with friends, family, and people you meet at church, kids’ events, sporting activities, etc.;
- networking at job fairs, professional meetings, and other business events;
- answering interview questions such as, “Tell me about yourself”;
- during performance evaluations or when applying for promotions or other job opportunities within your organization.
If you are job hunting, you will want to develop a “strength summary” for each job target (if you have more than one). Identify the critical information about your transferable skills, experience, knowledge areas, and personal skills (personality traits) related to each job target. Write the information in paragraph form, and then work with your sentences until they sound conversational.
Jane is currently a management trainer who wants to make a career transition into graphic arts. Jane was at her child’s school for Open House and discovered that one of the other parents there owned a significant visual arts company. After talking to him for a while, she told him she was interested in getting into the field and asked if he had any advice. He said, “Tell me a little bit about your background.” Jane was ready with her 30-strength summary! She said:
“I’ve had two years of work experience designing and producing brochures, newsletters, and training materials. I’m proficient with graphic design programs, including Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Designer 2, Canva, Adobe Illustrator, and CorelDRAW. Last year, I saved my employer over $6,000 by doing the work he’d previously outsourced. I’m also skilled in providing good customer service, handling pressure, and meeting deadlines. I enjoy the graphic arts field and look forward to having an opportunity to work full-time in it.”
He was so impressed that he invited her to his office the next day to discuss how she might fit into a new project his company had just undertaken. Jane got this opportunity because she was prepared to let someone know what she had to offer!
Here is an example from Kathy, who used her strength summary to answer the interview question, “Tell me about yourself?”
“I’ve had three years of office experience. I have organized new office systems, including setting up a 20-person company on a computerized payroll system. I have supervised up to four workers, both permanent and temporary staff. I am proficient at using office machines, including multiple-line phone systems, faxes, and copiers. I type 65 words a minute and have used many software programs daily, including WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, and two accounting programs over three years. I have well-rounded office skills, and supervisors have described me as conscientious, efficient, and team-oriented.
As you can see, Kathy’s answer to “Tell me about yourself uses her summary statement and quantified skill statements. Kathy has given her interviewer a concise, powerful overview of her capabilities in approximately 30 seconds!
What do you do if you are interviewing for your first job? You won’t have quantified skill statements from past employment to use; your examples will come from school, home, volunteer activities, and leisure pursuits. John is interviewing for a counter position at a fast-food restaurant. He highlights both his transferable skills and personal skills with skill statements. He says:
I am good at taking orders for what people want. I worked in the prizes booth for the spring carnival at my little brother’s school. I had to count tickets and hand out prizes for 20-50 kids an hour. I am responsible and punctual. I missed only one school day last year and was never late for class. I get along well with people—I was elected vice president of my class this year. I am a hard worker. I do yard work with my father for several hours every weekend. My dad is always pleased with the work I do.”
While John doesn’t have content skills related to the food industry, he does show that he has transferable skills and personal skills needed for this entry-level job.
Don’t let any opportunities for connecting with a potential employer or another important contact pass you by! Get prepared today with your own “30-second commercial.” People can’t guess what you have to offer; you need to be able to communicate what you can do and how you can meet an employer’s needs.