With many MBAs actively engaged in job searching right now, we are fielding a lot of questions about how to be more effective in that search. One key element is knowing how to talk about yourself, including responding effectively to the prompt “Tell me about yourself” in both casual networking and formal interview settings.
This can be tricky to master. You need to explain exactly how your experience has prepared you to help and thrive in your target areas. You must also find a balance between confidently promoting your track record of success and demonstrating humility. To help develop your “pitch” (also known as your “career narrative,” “positioning statement,” or simply “story”), consider using one of the two following frameworks.
Framework 1: Destination Focused
This approach, explained by communications expert and LinkedIn Learning instructor Jodi Glickman in this video, involves starting your pitch with the most relevant pieces of information for your target audience. Presenting your target destination (i.e., the job or role you want) first and then delving into your skills and background allows you to curate your experiences in a way that connects them to your target role (and to the listener).
Framework 2: Theme Focused
This approach involves crafting a pitch around the themes that are common across all your professional experiences. These themes could be your strengths (e.g., three or four key skills), your work experience (e.g., industry expertise, how you can contribute, what types of problems you can solve), or your personality attributes. As you pick themes to focus on, make sure they correspond with the needs of your target audience. Then, provide evidence of these themes using details about where you have worked and your specific accomplishments.
Other Important Elements
Regardless of the framework you use to build your pitch, you should adapt its content and length with respect to several key factors:
- Audience: How close are you to your target audience? What are their needs? What is culturally appropriate?
- Type of Delivery: Will your pitch be delivered via email, over the phone, or in person?
- Purpose: What is your goal for the interaction? What is most important to your audience? Will this be in a networking/informal setting or a formal interview?
You want to help the other person understand your areas of interest and how you can add value. If you are too vague, the listener/recipient will have a more difficult time helping you with referrals, facilitating introductions, or advocating for you to the hiring manager. Remember, this is all about relationship building.
