Job Search Elevator Pitch Examples for Students

If you've ever seen an episode of "Shark Tank," you have seen an elevator pitch example in action. It's a short and engaging way to describe a business, product, or service. If an entrepreneur got into an elevator with a high-profile potential investor, they could describe their business in a minute or less, just enough time to reach their destination.

Having an elevator pitch on the tip of the tongue isn't just helpful for entrepreneurs; it's beneficial for job searchers. Your elevator pitch is a concise and compelling summary of who you are, what you do, and what you're looking for in your career. As a student, you may think you don't have enough professional experience to have a compelling elevator pitch — but we promise you do. And to help you get started, we've compiled our own collection of elevator pitch examples for students. Use them to help craft your own compelling pitch to impress anyone you meet along your job search journey.

When to Use an Elevator Pitch: Examples for Students

A key time that your elevator pitch will be useful is when interviewers ask you to "Tell me about yourself." You can also use it when professors, family, friends, and networking contacts ask you, "What do you want to do after college?" or "What do you want to be when you 'grow up'?"

If you don't have an elevator pitch ready, you might be tempted to ramble about everything from where you grew up to a laundry list of your favorite hobbies. After you craft your own, based on our elevator pitch examples for students, you'll be able to give a poised answer that makes a lasting impression. You'll impress interviewers and people who might be able to make invaluable connections throughout your job search and career.

When interviewing or speaking to someone from a specific company, tailor your elevator pitch for the job and company. Otherwise, you can use the same general elevator pitch whether you're at Thanksgiving dinner or a crowded networking event.

How to Craft Your Own Elevator Pitch: Examples for Students

Now that you know the benefits of having an elevator pitch, you're ready to make your own using our elevator pitch examples for students as a guide. Here's a step-by-step guide to crafting an effective elevator pitch that will make a strong impression.

1. Include one sentence about your background: Start with a brief introduction that provides a snapshot of your educational and/or professional background. This helps to establish context and gives the listener an idea of who you are.

Example: "I'm a senior at [University Name], majoring in journalism with extensive experience as the editor-in-chief of our school paper."

2. Mention a big accomplishment: Highlight a significant achievement that showcases your capabilities and sets you apart. This will grab attention and demonstrate your ability to deliver results. It's beneficial to show your accomplishments by including metrics.

Example: "Under my leadership, we doubled our online traffic within six months."

3. Highlight a few of your top skills: Mention two to three key skills that are relevant to the position or field you're interested in. These skills should align with the job you are seeking and reflect your strengths.

Example: "I excel in digital content creation, team management, and strategic communication."

4. Share what you're looking for in your career: Clearly state your career goals and what you're looking for in your next role. This helps the listener understand your aspirations.

Example: "I am eager to continue developing my skills as a political reporter at [Company Name]."

5. Explain the value you'll provide to a company: End by explaining how you can add value to the company. This should summarize why they should be interested in you and what you bring to the table.

Example: "I'm confident that my experience in editing, reporting, and digital media can contribute to your team's success and help drive your publication's growth."

Combining all the elements, a sample elevator pitch for students might look something like this:

"I'm a senior at [University Name], majoring in journalism with extensive experience as the editor-in-chief of our school paper. Under my leadership, we doubled our online traffic within six months. I excel in digital content creation, team management, and strategic communication. I am eager to continue developing my skills as a political reporter at [Company Name]. I'm confident that my experience in editing, reporting, and digital media can contribute to your team's success and help drive your publication's growth."

• Keep it short. Aim for about 30-60 seconds, or around 150-250 words.
• Be clear and specific. Avoid jargon and be straightforward about your achievements and goals.
• Practice. Rehearse your pitch until you can deliver it confidently.
• Adapt. Be ready to tailor your pitch to different audiences.

Standout Elevator Pitch Examples for Students

You can use our elevator pitch examples for students as inspiration for your own elevator pitches. Remember to customize your elevator pitch for each company interview and have a general one ready to go for networking purposes. Just swap out your own details or use them as a jumping off point to add your own creative touch.

18 Sample Elevator Speeches for Students:

1. "I'm a senior at [University Name], majoring in journalism and currently serving as the editor-in-chief of our school paper. Leading a team of 20 journalists, I've doubled our online traffic since taking on this role in September. My experience includes covering student government and elections, which sparked my interest in the political reporter position at [Company Name]. I'm eager to bring my skills in editing, reporting, and digital media to your team."
2. "As a senior at [University Name] majoring in software engineering, I had the opportunity to intern at [Company Name] last summer, where I developed iOS apps for five different companies. I'm passionate about programming and problem-solving, and I'm particularly excited about the innovative apps your team creates. I'd love to contribute my skills to [Company Name] and be an asset to your development team."
3. "I graduated summa cum laude with a finance degree from [University Name]. I served as president of the Finance and Banking Club and the Entrepreneurship Club. I organized meetings, fundraised with alumni, and invited influential speakers to campus. I'm eager to bring my finance expertise and interpersonal skills to [Company Name] and contribute to your team and clients."
4. "I'm a senior at [University Name], majoring in marketing and currently managing content for our school's online magazine. Leading a team of writers, I've increased our readership by 50% since last fall. My experience includes creating SEO-driven content and engaging blog posts, which fueled my interest in the content marketing specialist position at [Company Name]. I'm eager to bring my skills in content creation, SEO, and digital marketing to your team."
5. "As a senior at [University Name], majoring in communications, I manage our school's social media platforms. Leading a team of digital content creators, I've tripled our social media engagement since last semester. My experience includes developing social media strategies and campaigns, which sparked my interest in the social media manager position at [Company Name]. I'm excited to bring my expertise in social media management, content creation, and analytics to your team."
6. "I'm a senior at [University Name], majoring in public relations and currently serving as the PR director for our student organization. Leading a team of five, I've successfully managed media relations and secured coverage in local news outlets. My experience includes writing press releases and organizing press conferences, which drew me to the public relations specialist position at [Company Name]. I'm enthusiastic about leveraging my skills in media relations, strategic communication, and crisis management to assist your team."
7. "I'm a senior at [University Name], majoring in business with a focus on digital marketing. I am an intern on the marketing analytics team at [Company Name]. By analyzing data and optimizing campaigns, I've increased one client's conversion rates by 40% since last year. My experience includes data analysis and performance tracking, which motivated me to pursue the digital marketing analyst position at [Company Name]. I'm eager to contribute my skills in data-driven marketing, analytics, and strategy to your team."
8. "I'm a senior at [University Name], majoring in hospitality management and currently coordinating events for our campus events team. Leading a group of volunteers, I've organized ten successful events totaling 1,000 attendees. My experience includes planning and executing events, which inspired me to apply for the event coordinator position at [Company Name]. I'm excited to bring my skills in event planning, logistics, and team coordination to your organization."
9. "As a senior at [University Name], majoring in design, I currently lead the UX team for our school's app development project. Leading a team of designers, I've improved user satisfaction scores by 30% since last semester. My experience includes conducting user research and creating intuitive interfaces, which sparked my interest in the UX designer position at [Company Name]. I'm eager to apply my skills in user experience design, prototyping, and user research to your team."
10. "I recently graduated from [University Name] with a marketing degree. Over the summers, I worked at [Company Name], where I developed and managed their marketing strategies. I handled social media, newsletters, blogs, and event planning, growing their social media following to [X number] and email subscribers to [X number] while organizing [X number] of events for [X number] attendees. I'm excited to apply my marketing skills to help grow your customer base and boost sales."
11. "I am a literature major at [University Name]. I am involved in extracurriculars on campus. As the recruitment coordinator for my sorority, I planned five recruitment events, managed two assistants, and helped 120 sisters through the recruitment process, leading to our largest new member class of 50 women. My strengths in organization, project management, and event planning make me a strong candidate for an event planner role. Do you know anyone hiring in this field? I'd love to connect with them."
12. "I recently graduated from [University Name] with a sociology degree. While in school, I served as vice president of [Organization Name]. I handled internal and external meetings, managed event calendars, prepared agendas and recaps, and coordinated travel arrangements. This experience honed my project management and organizational skills. I'm seeking project management or executive assistant positions. Do you know anyone hiring in these areas or willing to connect?"
13. "I recently graduated from [University Name] with a degree in graphic design. During my time in school, I was the lead designer for our campus magazine, where I created layouts, managed design projects, and collaborated with writers and photographers. This role sharpened my design skills and taught me the importance of visual storytelling. I'm looking for opportunities in graphic design or creative direction. Do you know anyone hiring in these fields or open to connecting?"
14. "I recently graduated from [University Name] with a degree in environmental science. As the president of the Sustainability Club, I organized campus-wide recycling programs, coordinated events to raise environmental awareness, and worked with local organizations on sustainability projects. This experience enhanced my project management and leadership skills. I'm seeking positions in environmental consultancy or project management. Do you know anyone in these areas who might be hiring or willing to connect?"
15. "I recently graduated from [University Name] with a degree in communications. While in school, I served as the public relations officer for [Organization Name], where I managed media relations, wrote press releases, and coordinated public events. This role helped me develop strong communication and organizational skills. I'm looking for opportunities in public relations or corporate communications. Do you know anyone hiring in these fields or open to connecting?"
16. "I recently graduated from [University Name] with a degree in human resources. During my studies, I interned at [Company Name], assisting with recruitment, employee onboarding, and benefits administration. This experience solidified my interest in HR and honed my interpersonal and organizational skills. I'm seeking human resources or talent acquisition positions. Do you know anyone in these fields who might be hiring or open to connecting?"
17. "I recently graduated from [University Name] with a degree in data science. While in school, I worked on several projects involving data analysis, visualization, and machine learning. I also interned at [Company Name], where I developed predictive models to improve business decision-making. This experience enhanced my analytical and technical skills. I'm looking for data analyst or data scientist roles. Do you know anyone hiring in these areas or willing to connect?"
18. "I recently graduated from [University Name] with a degree in marketing. As a marketing intern at [Company Name], I managed social media campaigns, analyzed market trends, and helped develop brand strategies. This role honed my marketing and analytical skills. I'm seeking positions in digital marketing or brand management. Do you know anyone hiring in these fields or open to connecting?"

Put Your Elevator Pitch to Work

Use your newfound inspiration from our elevator pitch examples for students, and put yours to the test. Plug it into yourfree profile on Monsterand kick off your job search with access to endless job openings, a speedy application process, and connections to recruiters in your field. We also offer job and career advice to help you start off strong.