How to Create a Strong Elevator Pitch (+ Template and Examples)

Whether you’re networking, writing a LinkedIn summary, or reaching out to a potential employer, the pressure to sum up your value in just a few sentences can feel overwhelming. 

What do you say? How much do you say? Do you always have to be super professional? And is there a secret formula for making a lasting impression?

That’s where a strong elevator pitch comes in. Think of it like a spoken or written version of your resume summary: short, relevant, and built to spotlight your strengths.

Below, you’ll learn how to write an effective elevator pitch for various scenarios. You’ll also find a free, easy-to-fill-in template, so you can put your pitch together quickly.

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What’s an elevator pitch, and why do you need one?

An elevator pitch is a short, compelling professional introduction to who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for from your audience, whether that’s a new opportunity, a conversation, or a chance to connect.

It’s like a flexible version of a professional summary you include on your resume. Your professional summary gives a quick snapshot of your strengths. An elevator pitch does the same thing across different platforms and situations—online or in person, written or spoken, formal or informal.

It usually lasts 30–60 seconds (or takes about that long to read) and can be used in settings like:

• Job interviews, especially in the early stages (mirroring how a summary opens your resume)
• Online or in-person networking events
• Outreach emails and LinkedIn messages
• The “About” section of your LinkedIn profile (similar to how you’d use a summary to set the tone on your resume)
• The “About” section of your personal website

The term comes from a hypothetical: If you bumped into a dream connection during an elevator ride, could you pitch yourself before the doors opened again?

These days, it’s not just a pitch you might give in an elevator. It’s also a pitch that can help you get in the elevator, on your way to a job interview, meeting, or professional event.

But people are busy, and attention spans are decreasing, so you often have only a few seconds to make a first impression. A solid elevator pitch can help you:

• Make a memorable first impression
• Communicate your unique value
• Share similar strengths you’d highlight in a resume summary—in a way that fits the situation
• Show you’re confident and ready for your next challenge

💡 Pro tip: As you start working on your elevator pitch, you’ll likely uncover skills and wins you’ll want to include on your resume, too. Teal’s free Resume Builder gives you a place to capture those ideas, organize your experience, and create tailored content for every job you’re applying to.

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What a strong elevator pitch looks like

Now that you know what an elevator pitch is and why it matters, let’s look at what goes into a great one.

Below is a free elevator pitch template to help you understand the structure, followed by a gold-standard example that brings it to life.

Free elevator pitch template

I’m [your name], a [job title or area of expertise] with [X years] of experience in [industry or specialty]. I specialize in [skills or focus area], and I’m known for [USP]. Recently, I delivered [specific result or impact]. 

Right now, I’m seeking opportunities in [target field or role] with the aim of [short-, medium-, or long-term goal]. 

I’d love to discuss [this role, your company, my background, etc.] further. Would you be able to [have a quick call / meet for a coffee / send me more information]? 

Free elevator pitch example

I’m Jason Rivera, a marketing manager with 8 years of experience in B2B SaaS. I specialize in creating demand generation campaigns using data insights, creativity, and a human touch. Recently, I led a product launch that generated a multi-million dollar pipeline within the first quarter. 

Right now, I’m seeking senior marketing roles in B2B SaaS where I can lead strategy and mentor growing teams. 

I'd love to discuss your opening at Streep Inc. further. Would you be available for a short phone call at any point this week?

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How to structure your elevator pitch

You’ve seen the structure and a strong example—now let’s walk through how to create your own! Here’s a simple five-step framework you can use to craft a compelling elevator pitch.

1. Start with who you are and what you do

First, quickly and clearly state your name, your profession or area of expertise, and the impact you make in your work. This information answers the audience’s burning questions: “Who are you, and why should I care?”

For example:

• “I’m Javon, a user experience researcher helping startups design more intuitive onboarding experiences.”
• “I’m Dominique, a career coach who helps mid-career professionals pivot into roles they actually enjoy.”

For senior opportunities, consider leading with outcomes rather than your job title or area of expertise. For example, “I'm Clara McDonald. I devise strategies that increase profitability for companies with over $10 million in annual revenue.”

2. Highlight your unique selling point (USP)

What skills, traits, or mindsets help set you apart from others? 

For example, you might be a sales representative who’s especially good at building trust with skeptical clients. Or, maybe you’re proficient across multiple coding languages, including niche ones like Elixir and Haskell.

In an elevator pitch, your USP helps people mentally categorize your skills and capabilities. After interacting with you, they should be able to think, “They’re the one who’s a great negotiator,” or “She’s the marketer who knows how to grow early-stage startups,” or “He’s the engineer who simplifies complex systems.”

To determine your USP:

1. Brainstorm: List your standout traits, strengths, or approaches to your work. Think about what others often praise you for or what sets you apart in a team.
   Some examples include leading cross-functional teams, simplifying systems, remaining calm in chaotic situations, and building strong relationships quickly.

2. Shortlist: Narrow your list down to 2–3 qualities that best align with your target audience. 
   For example, a technical hiring manager might value problem-solving and efficiency more than creativity or storytelling. Or, if you’re targeting a startup operations role, you might choose adaptability and efficiency. 

3. Edit: Remove any words or phrases that feel vague, irrelevant, or overused. Focus on qualities that are specific, backed by experience, and easy to visualize. |
   So, instead of “good communicator,” you might say, “I translate technical feedback into clear next steps for clients.”

4. Test and finalize: Share your shortlist with a few trusted friends or colleagues and ask for their feedback on each item. Which USP fully communicates your value and feels most memorable to them? 
   Once you’ve narrowed it down, try turning it into a sentence like this:

“I’m a customer success manager who specializes in turning frustrated users into loyal advocates. I’ve helped reduce churn by 30% in the past year by improving onboarding and creating personalized support resources.”

3. Share a big win

Next, summarize a high-impact achievement that supports your shiny introduction.

The level of detail you share and the tone you use depend on a few factors. Let’s break it down:

📌  Myth: “Someone should know everything about me just from my elevator pitch.”

Nope! Your pitch isn’t a full bio. It’s a concise, strategic message that makes the other party eager to bring you into their world based on your professional accomplishments. It should leave them on the edge of their seat, excited to learn more about you.
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4. Share what you plan to do next

Now that you’ve communicated what you’ve done, share where you’re heading. This part of your pitch should convey your passion and drive in a way that feels clear and confident.

Depending on the context, you might describe short-, medium-, or long-term goals:

5. Make your ask

Lastly, help your audience help you. Personalize your ask to the setting, your relationship with the other person (e.g., they’re a recruiter you haven’t met before), and what you really, really want (cue Spice Girls soundtrack). This could be an informal coffee chat about their company, a formal interview, or an introduction to a specific hiring manager.

Here are some examples:

• Job interview: “This seems like an excellent match. I’d love to meet the team and learn more about how I can contribute to [company].”
• Cold outreach: “I’d be interested in discussing your experience at [company]. Would you be open to a quick chat over the phone?”
• Warm outreach: “I'm still thinking about your comments on [industry topic] at last week’s event! Would you have time for coffee this month to discuss further?”
• LinkedIn “About” section: “I’m open to senior [job title] and [job title] roles. Feel free to DM me here or email me at [email address].”

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How to adapt your elevator pitch into a professional summary

Your elevator pitch and your resume’s professional summary are two sides of the same coin. They both introduce your value clearly and quickly, and it’s easy to transform a pitch into a professional summary. 

Here are four simple steps to do it:

1. Cut conversational phrasing and statements about what you’d like from the audience, such as “I’d love to…” or “I’m looking for a role in…”
2. Remove pronouns, since professional summaries usually avoid “I” and “my,” unlike elevator pitches. Instead, start sentences with your role or strengths (e.g., “Known for leading multi-million-dollar campaigns…”
3. Pull out the achievements, keywords, and strengths most relevant to the role you’re targeting. 
4. Condense to 3–4 short sentences max. 

💡Pro tip: Now that you’ve got your summary ready, Teal’s free Resume Builder can help you plug it into a clean, professional format—and build out the rest of your resume without starting from scratch.

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Elevator pitch examples for different situations

Job interview

Tone: Focused, confident, personalized to the role

“I’m a digital strategist focused on scaling early-stage tech products through lead generation campaigns. I have a keen ability to turn customer insights into branding, content, and user journeys that grab audiences' attention, especially in crowded niches. In my last role at Streep Inc., I improved trial-to-paid conversions by 30% in six months.

I’m now looking to join a B2B company where I can help drive acquisition and make a difference in customers’ lives. Having studied your product roadmap, this seems like a great match—I’d love to meet the team and start making an impact.”

Networking event

Tone: Conversational, intriguing, lightly detailed

“I help nonprofits improve donor retention by applying behavioral science to campaign design. In the past, I’ve worked with GreenStuff and Help Inside to rework their donor messaging and volunteer training. One of my recent projects led to a 22% year-over-year increase in giving. 

This year, I’m exploring new collaborations, especially with nonprofits that tackle climate change or improve access to education. Are you connected to anyone in that space?”

LinkedIn “About” section

Tone: Polished, scalable, audience-neutral but human

“I’m a learning and development consultant helping fast-growing companies build scalable onboarding and training programs. My sweet spot is making technical content approachable for non-technical audiences, especially in hybrid or remote-first environments.

I recently delivered a digital training revamp for a global fintech company, which reduced new hires’ time to productivity by 40% in six months. 

My current focus is on embedding continuous learning into everyday platforms like Slack and Notion. If that’s something you’d like in your team, drop me a line.”

Outreach message (email or LinkedIn DM)

Tone: Direct, concise, warm

“I’m Jada Nicholl. I’m reaching out because I’ve long admired ACAI’s work in responsible AI and recently noticed you’re hiring for a product lead to scale your new product.

I’ve led cross-functional AI product teams for 6+ years, most recently building a machine learning operations dashboard at Streep Inc. that improved model oversight and reduced downtime by 45%. I'm also a humanist at heart, so my design decisions align not only with value and convenience but also with ethics and long-termism.

I’d love to learn more about the role and the company, including your product methodologies and tools, and see if there’s a fit. Would you have time for a chat next week?”