Job Interview Tips: Make That Successful Pitch for Your Dream Role!

If you've clocked some experience in the workforce, you may reach a point where you feel ready to take it to the next level. Whether you've been working for a few or several years, you'll know when it's time to move up in your career.

Your motivation may vary -- from wanting a higher salary and needing a change of pace to shifting industries. Regardless of your reasons, you must present yourself in the best way possible to land that dream job.

According to this JobStreet report, Singapore companies took around 46 months to promote employees. This is 13 months longer than the region's average. Based on the report, employers looked at a combination of attitude, leadership attributes, on-the-job skills, performance, and tenure in candidates.

You may create an impressive resume based on these criteria, but you must also nail the interview to win the role. Apart from looking the part, you must be able to convey your greatest strengths clearly and concisely. This is where a great pitch comes in. Not only will you be able to introduce yourself, but you will also demonstrate your impact and highlight your achievements.

Ready to nail that pitch? Here are successful job interview tips so you can effectively position yourself and walk away with a job offer in hand.

What's an Elevator Pitch?

You may have heard already of elevator pitches. The term itself explains that it is a pitch that you must manage to deliver within the duration of an elevator ride. That means you only have 30 seconds to two minutes to win the recruiter over. If you're writing your pitch down, it must be fewer than 200 words. With such a short period, you need to have a prepared spiel that will help you illustrate what you bring to the table.

Now, it's unlikely that you know that you're with a hiring manager in an elevator. But the point of an elevator pitch exercise is to be prepared to promote yourself at any given moment. Here are job interview tips and some dos and don'ts in developing a winning elevator pitch.

Be razor-sharp about the position you're eyeing

With any transition, you must be crystal clear about where you're headed and where you want to see yourself. It's important to note that the pitch will rely heavily on the specific role you're targeting. Based on the job, you'll be able to find inspiration to craft your pitch accordingly. The more precise you are in your approach, the higher the likelihood of success.

You may want to take your cue from life coach Han Sam Lai, who guides professionals transitioning in their careers. Here are some of Coach Sam's examples of ideal pitches for a variety of industries. Use these as a peg when you craft your cover letter, too.

• Sales roles:

"Sales executive with 14 years and above experience producing over $150M in revenue and consistent 10-15% business growth. Success in leading and developing cross-functional teams of 10-25 direct reports. Expertise in new market entry gained through 3 separate products/services."

• Project management roles:

"An experienced project manager with a strong track record of meeting deadlines on high-impact projects that have saved employers $10 million and boosted revenue $15 million over five years, earning three corporate awards and widespread company recognition. A strong leader who has brought together colleagues of various professional disciplines to work as a team to achieve corporate goals."

• Freelance/solo contributor roles:

"Dynamic multimedia animator with a unique background at Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. Recently featured in LA Weekly's 'Top 10 Animation Artists to Watch' article. Schooled in both traditional and digital animation fields, and hence able to work with a diverse range of clients."

Notice that each pitch takes on a different tone. Professionals in sales, for instance, will need to highlight their results, such as those revolving around revenue and business growth. Being a data-driven industry, candidates should emphasise numbers and percentages.

Meanwhile, people seeking project management roles need to leverage their level of efficiency and strength as a leader. Any history of recognition and contributing to company savings and profitability merits mention.

For freelancers or solo contributors, on the other hand, experience in leading companies matters, as well as a diverse clientele. Being adept in both conventional and more breakthrough techniques also provides a sense of adaptability to current industry trends.

Make it memorable.

As with any presentation, you must get your audience's attention and make them fall in love with you. You have a few seconds to make the listener want to listen to what you have to say.

You might want to open your spiel with a relatable experience or involving the recruiter in a dialogue. Whatever way you decide to start your pitch, remember to be yourself so that you give an air of authenticity.

Avoid clichés or generic statements.

The last thing you want to do when delivering a pitch is to bore or confuse the interviewer. Consider that they've probably listened to hundreds of applicants' spiels already and have repeatedly heard overused phrases.

Be specific about the specific career details you'll share and avoid mentioning anything to make the recruiter doubt your qualifications. This is not the time to sneak in a negative comment about a past employer. The key is to give a sense of your personality, showcase your successes, but also look towards the future. More than listing career milestones, paint a picture of your next role and what you can contribute to the company.

Ask for a fresh pair of eyes.

No matter how convinced you are that your pitch's outline and draft are perfect, nothing beats getting feedback on them. Having someone you trust give their honest opinion allows you to check if your speech will get your message across.

You could also have them pretend to be your interviewer so you can deliver the lines and see their reaction. Do a job interview role play where a friend asks you questions. After all, writing a pitch and saying it out loud are two different things altogether.

Practice Makes Perfect

We hope these job interview tips help you to make your next career move. Having developed your elevator pitch, keep rehearsing it so that when the opportunity presents itself, you can execute it flawlessly. You'll want to appear every inch the confident and talented professional that you are.

There may be instances when you don't necessarily get the results that you want but just stay the course. Make refinements as you go along, keep practicing, and keep your eyes on the prize.