Latest / Career Coaching with Fexingo: Professional Coaches, Career Counselors, and Guidance for Workers / How to Write a Career Elevator Pitch That Actually Opens Doors
Transcript
- Lucas: You walk into a networking event, someone asks the dreaded question — 'So, what do you do?' — and you freeze. Luna: You're not alone. Most people give a title-heavy answer: 'I'm a marketing manager at a mid-sized tech company.' That's a lost opportunity. Lucas: Exactly. The default elevator pitch is a job description, not a story. And stories are what people remember. Today I want to walk through a simple three-part framework that transforms that answer into something that actually opens doors. Luna: What's the framework? Lucas: Problem, solution, result. You lead with the problem you solve — not your title. Then you briefly describe your role in providing the solution. And you end with a concrete result that illustrates impact. All in under thirty seconds. Luna: So instead of 'I'm a product manager,' you'd say something like 'Companies struggle to retain customers after the first purchase. I design onboarding flows that boost repeat purchases by 40%. Last quarter that meant an extra two million dollars in revenue.' Lucas: That's a perfect example. Notice you led with the problem — retention is hard — then your role, then a specific number. The number makes it credible. And it's tailored to the room. If you're at a fintech event, you'd use a different problem. Luna: Right, context matters. I once coached a marketing manager who wanted to move into product management. Her original pitch was 'I run campaigns.' We rewrote it to: 'Marketing teams often lack a feedback loop from customers to product. I create campaigns that double as product research, cutting feature validation time in half.' Lucas: That reframe turned her from a 'marketing person' into a 'product-minded strategist.' She landed a product role within three months. The pitch opened conversations she couldn't have with her old one. Luna: So the key is identifying a specific problem that your industry or function faces, even if it's niche. Not 'I solve business problems' — that's too vague. Lucas: Totally. The problem should be something a smart listener would nod at and think 'yeah, that's a real pain point.' The solution part should hint at your specific method, but you don't have to reveal everything. And the result — ideally a number or a time frame — makes it tangible. Luna: Let's talk about length. Most people cram too much in. What's the ideal word count? Lucas: About sixty to eighty words. That's roughly two to three sentences. I tell people to write it down, then cut every adjective and every extra clause. Then read it aloud. If it takes longer than twenty seconds, trim more. You want to land the core idea before the other person's attention drifts. Luna: And you suggest testing it on a colleague before using it in the wild? Lucas: Absolutely. Find someone who doesn't know your work well but who is smart. Say your pitch, then ask them two questions: 'What problem do you think I solve?' and 'What result did I claim?' If they get those wrong, you need to revise. If they get them right, it's ready. Luna: That's a great litmus test. I'd add one more thing: prepare a follow-up. Once you deliver the pitch, the other person usually says something like 'How do you do that?' or 'Interesting, tell me more.' Have a two-sentence expansion ready that goes deeper on the method. Lucas: Good point. The pitch is just the hook. The real conversation starts after. And speaking of opening doors, I think a lot of the value of this show has been helping people think through exactly these kinds of career moves. That's one reason we deliberately keep the show ad-free — so you don't have to sit through commercials to get practical advice. Luna: Yeah, the listener support model really aligns with our mission. If this show has helped you refine your own pitch or navigate a career transition, you can support it at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. That keeps it sustainable and ad-free. Lucas: Right. And it allows us to stay focused on concrete frameworks like the problem solution result structure. So let's get back to that — let's talk about the biggest mistake people make when they first try to write this pitch. Luna: What's the mistake? Lucas: They write about themselves. 'I am passionate about data-driven marketing and have eight years of experience in the B2B space.' That's all about you. But the listener cares about 'what can you do for me?' So flip the script: start with the problem they recognize. Luna: Right, it's not about your accomplishments, it's about how you make their life easier. That's a mindset shift. Lucas: Exactly. Another mistake is using jargon. If you say 'I enable cross-functional synergy in the supply chain,' your listener's eyes glaze over. Instead say 'I help factories reduce downtime by coordinating between purchasing and production.' Luna: Simplicity wins. I also think people forget to vary their pitch for different audiences. You wouldn't say the same thing at a startup meetup versus a corporate conference. Lucas: Yes, have a core pitch and customize the problem statement. If you're at a gathering of CFOs, talk about cost reduction, not user experience. If it's a product conference, focus on feature adoption. Having three versions in your back pocket is smart. Luna: Let's talk about delivery. Tone matters. What's your advice on how to say it? Lucas: Don't sound rehearsed. You should be conversational — like you're explaining it to a friend over coffee. Slow down on the key numbers. And make eye contact. If you stare at your shoes, the confidence drops. Luna: And don't forget to invite a response. End with a question like 'Does that resonate?' or 'Is that a challenge you've seen?' That turns it from a monologue into a dialogue. Lucas: Perfect. So to wrap up: identify your specific problem, describe your solution briefly, back it with a concrete result, keep it under thirty seconds, and test it. Then you've got an elevator pitch that actually opens doors. Luna: I'm going to practice mine on a colleague later today. Thanks for the framework, Lucas. Lucas: My pleasure. Hope it helps you land the next opportunity.