Elevator Pitch Competition
Tuesday, November 7th, 2023
2:30-4:00 pm | Theater, Bayou Pointe Event Center
1st place, $150 | 2nd place, $100 | 3rd place, $50
Want to put your elevator pitch to the test and enter the competition?
ULM students have the opportunity to present their elevator pitch in front of a panel
of judges and peers to compete for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prizes. This is open to
all students, but only 25 students can compete due to limited availability. All majors
are encouraged to apply. Competitors will have up to 90 seconds to present.
1. Before you sign up, read below to learn more about this competition and what
is expected of you as a competitor. Only sign up if you are serious about competing!
Registration is due Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 5:00 pm.
- Please note that you will not be allowed to use a PowerPoint presentation. No notecards
or other notes will be allowed either.
- You only have up to 90 seconds to execute your presentation.
- Remember, this is a mock opportunity to get you ready for when the real opportunity
happens.
2. After you sign up, wait to hear from one of the Career Development staff members
on your next steps.
What is an elevator pitch?
It is a clear, brief message or "commercial" about you. It communicates who you are, what
you are looking for, and how you can benefit a company or organization. When explaining
who you are, make it relevant to the opportunity in which you are seeking. It is named
for the time it takes to ride an elevator from the top to the bottom of a building
with someone important from that company who could influence what you are asking to
receive.
How to prepare your elevator pitch:
Decide the purpose of your elevator pitch and what you are asking for from your audience.
You have two options:
- Option 1: Applying for a job. Find a job within your field of study that you would be interested in applying for
and relate the job description to your education/major, work experience (past and
present), involvements (organizations/programs), special projects, honors/awards,
and top skills/strengths. Your presentation will be as if you are convincing an employer
why he/she should hire you and why you are the best person for the job based on your
qualifications and accomplishments. It is important that you end your presentation
with an ask and follow up--tell them exactly what you are asking for and make sure
they know how to follow up with you and/or you follow up with them.
- Option 2: Pitching a business idea/plan. We live in a world where everyone now has the opportunity to become an entrepreneur
through many different platforms. Do you have the next big idea or invention that's
going to make you the next millionaire while also having a positive impact? We want
to hear it! In your presentation make sure to cover the functionalities of your product,
why it is needed, what makes it unique, and why it is deserving of someone's investment.
It is important that you end your presentation with an ask and follow up--tell them
exactly what you are asking for and make sure they know how to follow up with you
and/or you follow up with them.
- *Note* - This cannot be a current or existing business. We want to hear your idea for
a pitch & not a business you currently have.
Career Development