Developing your interview

“elevator pitch”

Preparing for an Academic Career Workshop

Earth Educators’ Rendezvous July 15-17, 2024

“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

Goals of the interview elevator pitch:

Start a conversation

• 60 seconds (~125 to 150 words!)
• Ignite interest

Make a positive impression

• Passion
• Perspective
• Practice!

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Possible audience(s):

dean, search committee, graduate students, etc.

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Possible audience(s):

dean, search committee, graduate students, etc.

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• These are people who matter for lots of reasons, including hiring you and possibly funding your work.

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Possible audience(s):

dean, search committee, graduate students, etc.

​

• These are people who matter for lots of reasons, including hiring you and possibly funding your work.
• Remember that you have a lot to offer: sell yourself and don’t be too humble!

​

Possible audience(s):

dean, search committee, graduate students, etc.

​

• These are people who matter for lots of reasons, including hiring you and possibly funding your work.
• Remember that you have a lot to offer: sell yourself and don’t be too humble!
• You want to capture their interest and keep their attention!

​

Possible audience(s):

dean, search committee, graduate students, etc.

​

• These are people who matter for lots of reasons, including hiring you and possibly funding your work.
• Remember that you have a lot to offer: sell yourself and don’t be too humble!
• You want to capture their interest and keep their attention!
• They are likely not going to be specialists in your field.
• Avoid jargon, use imagery.

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“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

There is an art to communication. For your message to be heard, how you communicate matters just as much as what you communicate

“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

As scientists, we tend to tell chronological stories:

“And - and - and”

this can be very boring to non-specialists, don’t fall into this trap!

“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

How we tell stories...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijC2g6FBdXI

As scientists, we tend to tell chronological stories:

“And - and - and”

this can be very boring to non-specialists, don’t fall into this trap!

“And, but, therefore”

“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTdFz8bkPtk&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTdFz8bkPtk

Which one was more effective at capturing your attention and why?

“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTdFz8bkPtk&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

Which one was more effective at capturing your attention and why?

Started the storytelling with a hook.

“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTdFz8bkPtk&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

Which one was more effective at capturing your attention and why?

Started the storytelling with a hook.

The hook also was also relatable.

“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTdFz8bkPtk&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

Which one was more effective at capturing your attention and why?

Started the storytelling with a hook.

The hook also was also relatable.

Weaved in her path / academic background without a chronology

“What we know”, “this is what I study”, “this is how I study it”

“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTdFz8bkPtk&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Sandte Stanley, Ph.D.

Which one was more effective at capturing your attention and why?

Started the storytelling with a hook.

The hook also was also relatable.

Weaved in her path / academic background without a chronology

“What we know”, “this is what I study”, “this is how I study it”

Ends with a powerful “why this matters”

“So tell me a little bit about your research ……”

Tell me what you do, how you do it, and tell me why it matters

Elevator pitch essentials

• Know your audience and relate to your audience
• Use simple language (avoid jargon)
• Keep it short (1 minute!)

Organization:

Paper vs Pitch

Background

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modified from https://www.aslo.org/science-communication/get-communicating/

Organization:

Paper vs Pitch

Background

Methods

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modified from https://www.aslo.org/science-communication/get-communicating/

Organization:

Paper vs Pitch

Background

Methods

Supporting �details

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modified from https://www.aslo.org/science-communication/get-communicating/

Organization:

Paper vs Pitch

Background

Methods

Supporting �details

Relevance

modified from https://www.aslo.org/science-communication/get-communicating/

Organization:

Paper vs Pitch

Background

Methods

Supporting �details

Relevance

Bottom line

So what?

Supporting details

modified from https://www.aslo.org/science-communication/get-communicating/

Take a few minutes

to answer these 4 questions and then

share with those

around you.

1. Simply stated, what do you do? �(I’m looking at how/why ____________. )
2. So what? (the why it matters!)�(Knowing more about this can help us better predict/develop solutions for _______________.)
3. What don’t we already know? �(Explain background information as simply as possible. Analogies and imagery work great here!)
4. How is your approach novel and add to the discipline / field? �(Emphasize the directions your work is heading, potential collaborations, applications, etc.)

Elevator pitches go BEYOND your dissertation!

I suggest you write your draft this way (A-D).

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Then go back and add a hook at the beginning (and end).

Credit: example lesson provided by Lisa Gilbert

Other types of elevator pitches you want to have handy for a job interview

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Some job interviews won’t have research as a topic. Or, you may want to be ready for other questions that will likely come up in the interview/conversation.

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Other types of elevator pitches you want to have handy for a job interview

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Some job interviews won’t have research as a topic. Or, you may want to be ready for other questions that will likely come up in the interview/conversation.

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Consider preparing for one of these instead (or in addition!):

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• “Tell me a little about your teaching interests…”

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Your teaching interests and background, your teaching philosophy / style, what courses you envision bringing to the department

Other types of elevator pitches you want to have handy for a job interview

​

Some job interviews won’t have research as a topic. Or, you may want to be ready for other questions that will likely come up in the interview/conversation.

​

Consider preparing for one of these instead (or in addition!):

​

• “Tell me a little about your teaching interests…”
• “Tell me about how you build partnerships with local groups…”

Your teaching interests and background, your teaching philosophy / style, what courses you envision bringing to the department

How your research / teaching will leverage local resources / build relationships

Other types of elevator pitches you want to have handy for a job interview

​

Some job interviews won’t have research as a topic. Or, you may want to be ready for other questions that will likely come up in the interview/conversation.

​

Consider preparing for one of these instead (or in addition!):

​

• “Tell me a little about your teaching interests…”
• “Tell me about how you build partnerships with local groups…”
• “Tell me where you see your research headed in the next 5 years - what big proposals are you planning to submit?”

Your teaching interests and background, your teaching philosophy / style, what courses you envision bringing to the department

How your research / teaching will leverage local resources / build relationships

Your big-picture research vision - this is different than what you currently do! You want to show that you are thinking big and that you have a plan!

Tips!

Remember: you can’t tell the WHOLE story in 1 minute

• keep it simple
• Hook their interest and give them something to remember.
• Use it to your advantage! Set up your interviewer with some good questions!
• Be prepared with a few versions of different types of audiences
• Dean / faculty in your field / faculty not in your field / graduate students etc

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Find ways to build a little tension

• (“we’ve never been able to…”)
• consider demonstrating growth / learning from a mistake or misconception / overcoming a barrier

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Tonight: Write your pitch & practice it by yourself at least 1x

Your mission….

Tonight: Write your pitch & practice it by yourself at least 1x

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Tomorrow: Come ready to practice your pitch and receive / provide thoughtful feedback.

Your mission….