We’ve written before about how hiring proactively instead of reactively allows business owners to scale effectively and ensure they’re ready to hire the right person for the right job…at the right time.
You never know where you may meet your next potential team member. It could be through a friend, at an industry conference, or even in a cafe. What’s important is what you say to them when you do meet them.
Desperation is never a good look on anyone, which is why you don’t want to end up practically begging someone to come work for you. Instead, you want to make a real connection, learn more about that person and introduce them to your company, telling them just enough that they’re interested in what you do and want to stay in touch.
This is why it’s crucial that you have an elevator pitch and you can explain who you are, what you do, and what makes your company so great in 30 seconds or less. And this pitch needs to sound both enthusiastic and professional, without making the listeners eyes glaze over. No pressure.
No one wants to hear your detailed business plan or autobiography. Your pitch should be an overview of who you are, what your company does, and why that person may want to work with you in the future.
Here are some tips for creating the perfect pitch:
Make it Easy
People like to have a reference point, so if you can think of an example or analogy to immediately get your lead on the same page as you, you’ll be able to quickly grab their attention.
Be Genuine
Jargon is confusing and people are unlikely to appreciate you using big words instead of focusing on being easily understood. Keep it simple and be authentic and this will come across in your pitch.
Be Memorable
While you don’t need to have a song and a dance, there should be something about you that is memorable for your lead. One of the best ways you can do this is to cultivate your charisma by focusing on your body language, looking your lead in the eye, speaking clearly (avoid ums, and uhs), and maybe throwing in a few jokes.
Get them Interested
Once you’ve explained a little about your company, now’s the time to drop a few hints about why you would be so good to work with. Whether you have an amazing policy in place for annual leave, your salaries are more
than competitive or you work on super interesting projects, the point you mention may depend on the person you’re talking to- someone with a young family may appreciate more of a work/life balance, while a younger developer may be all about improving their skills.
Have a call to action
Now that you’ve introduced yourself and your company, you want to have some way to stay in touch with your lead. Ask for their business card so you have their contact details, and you may even want to test the waters to see if they’re happy with their current company.
People love to be asked about themselves, so find out a few things about their interests and work life so you have a reason to send through some interesting articles or take them out for a coffee the next time you’re in town.
Practice makes perfect
Now that you’ve got your pitch ready, you need to practice until you’ve got it down. You may find that it’s a little long initially, so try it out on your friends, family members and colleagues and ask for feedback.
Having a pitch ready to go can make a huge difference when it comes to your hiring strategy. By being able to easily explain who you are and why your company is so awesome to work for, you’ll be establishing connections with people you can see yourself working with in the future.
Of course, there are many ways to find talent, and one of the most popular strategies is to use LinkedIn. We’ll be discussing this in next week’s article, so sign up to our email list, or follow us on LinkedIn to learn how to proactively find the best talent for your company.