E-Paper
The CV versus the Elevator Pitch
The Elevator Pitch is the 21st century successor to the CV, say authors Bill Faust & Michael Faust in their book Pitch Yourself. They claim that the Elevator pitch is better than the CV and compare the two by dissecting their respective strengths and weaknesses.
The Elevator Pitch is the 21st century successor to the CV, say authors Bill Faust & Michael Faust in their book Pitch Yourself. They claim that the Elevator pitch is better than the CV and compare the two by dissecting their respective strengths and weaknesses.
The strengths of the CV are that it is a) historical, rational, b) conventional and traditional, c) shows why you were paid for previous years, d) chronological – shows consistency, e) linear. The weaknesses are a) cannot really answer ‘What does this person do or offer me?
What is the value add?’ b) contains all information rather than pertinent, relevant and selective information in a “Take it or leave it menu”, c) hides your value beneath chronological façade, d) fails to emphasise fit between you and the job, d) need for someone else to decipher and understand your real value, e) not distinguishing and distinctive, lacks soul, f) static, linear and conventional.
The strengths of the Elevator Pitch are that it a) easily answers ‘What does this person do or offer me?’ b) present pertinent, relevant and selective information in a ‘Take it or leave it menu’, c) showcases your real value, d) emphasises fit between you and the job – buyer pull view of the world, e) no need for someone else to decipher and understand your real value, f) maximises opportunity in hiring, g) dynamic, non-linear, modern, h) unites career variety and highlights career singularity, i) proven ability to deliver, forward looking, establishes rapport, flexibility and adaptability, j) result- driven, k) aids recruitment by highlighting relevant information in a concise format.
However, while the CV may be on its way out, the Elevator Pitch is set to become the new currency of recruitment.
