Pitching Yourself

Having a solid pitch is a key to networking, attending fairs, and interviews. Developing the pitch can be difficult, but delivering it is often worse. Telling a stranger all the great and fascinating aspects of your professional self is not the easiest experience for many people.

Here are some tips:

-When you are pitching yourself, you are aiming to create a dialogue and NOT a monologue. Don't talk AT a recruiter or potential networking contact, talk with him or her. You should be listening to them as well as talking.

-In certain situations, the typical pitch is not appropriate. For example, if you meet a potential networking contact at a family function, you shouldn't deliver your pitch. You should know your pitch well enough to work some of the information into the conversation in a natural way.

-Know the difference between when to do a "hard sell" vs. "soft sell" of yourself. When you are in an interview and the interviewer says, "Tell me about yourself," this is time for the hard sell (i.e., your professional pitch with all the bells and whistles). When you are at a networking event, the focus should be on building a relationship and the pitch should be at a lower volume--time for the soft sell. You should be talking about yourself as appropriate to the conversation.

-Always follow-up on a pitch. When you have met someone new, always follow-up with an email or reach out to them on LinkedIn.com

It's critical to understand how to deliver the pitch in different contexts. Always be aware of what is expected in the situation and that will help you adjust your pitch appropriately.