You're about to enter a room full of strangers, where you will have exactly four minutes to tell a story that would convey who you really are. What's your story?
The safe version of this talk would be my elevator pitch. I've had this memorized for 6 months now. "Hello I'm Jessica. I'm the most flexible and adaptable employee you will ever encounter. I was with my last company for 9 years. Started out in Customer Service, quickly moved to Underwriting. Then to Operations Management and was tasked with setting up a mirror sister company. I then moved into a Compliance role. I would love to discuss how my skills will benefit your company." So far this elevator pitch hasn't brought much luck!
If I were to write a painfully honest elevator pitch it would look a bit different. "Hello I'm Jessica. I'm going through an early midlife crisis. I'm a worrier, a planner, someone who loves predictability, routine, and safety. My personal life has finally leveled out into reliability and peace, but my professional career is in pieces. In some ways I enjoyed my time in corporate america. It sure has its perks and would be so much easier. I'm hesitant that I won't be able to find the correct place for me. I thrive with smaller companies and there seem to be a flood of large corporations in this area. I took a leap of faith and am trying to wiggle a career change into dog grooming. I actually really enjoy it. There is much less money at least for the first few years. It's a terrifying switch! I'm still not sure about it working out. Just yesterday I was seriously looking at job postings for other office places. I need any advice I can get at this point. I am lost."
To be honest I'm not sure I like this write daily thing... Posting cute puppy pictures was much easier!
I need an awesome statement like that to sell myself. Apparently, I don't value myself enough and often grossly underestimate my contribution.
ReplyDeleteAn elevator pitch is required for interviews... Make it 8 times shorter than you think it should be. LOL. It's not easy to craft one.
ReplyDeleteI find what you wrote interesting, because it seems like for you, who you are is very much tied to your occupation. For me, if I had a chance to tell a room of strangers about myself, what I do for money wouldn't actually be a huge part of what I'd say. I hope that you find the perfect fit jobwise and that things settle into place for you!
ReplyDeleteI thought about that too after it was written. I think it's just because this is the topic of my current crisis and has been for far too long at this point. It's constantly playing on a loop in my head. I don't do personal financial risk well!
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, it may just be that this is a safer topic to focus on when compared to some other topics floating in my head. But those are unsuccessfully being told to shut up on an hourly basis. ;-)