You are going to want an Elevator Pitch!
During your pre-interview visits, a number of people, especially more senior ones, are going to ask you to “tell me something about yourself”. You do NOT want to be droning on about the contents of your CV and you need to be conscious that first impressions count. the CEO, Medical Director, Clinical Directors etc all have a tendency to start their time with you this way. They are also all busy people with a low tolerance for waffle and they will remember their first impression of you.
DURATION
It’s best pitched at around 30 – 60 seconds in length (the principle of an elevator pitch is finding yourself stuck in an elevator with say Bill Gates and having 30 seconds to get your idea across sufficiently he wants to connect).
EXAMPLE AND CONTENT
My best advice is watch the short video from Biron Clark, who makes the top business-like and sensible, not funky and sensational.
ADAPTING IT FOR MEDICINE
Biron makes it staright forward and business-like but out context isn’t ‘business’, although you could well be pitching it to the business side of a Trust. So, it’s worth considering some strategic adaptations, and here are a few to get you started:
- I am passionate about Neonatal Medicine and in particular, early respiratory care
- I knew this was the area for me from medical school and so I have devoted myself to really developing depth in it from a very early stage
- I’ve been fortunate enough to train in 3 of the tertiary centres most recognised for respiratory care
- My special interest is in improving outcomes by optimising delivery room respiratory management and so I am looking for a Trust in which I can make a real practical difference in this area. For instance, in my current Trust is am leading an optimised induction in respiratory care for new juniors and multi-disciplinary education around The Golden Hour.
- I am happy to expand further if you’d like?
Each specialty and scenario is slightly different but I hope this has stimulated you sufficiently that you’ll be ready for the first 30 seconds with a senior individual.