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Get hired for the job you want with Alexa Shoen's #ENTRYLEVELBOSS elevator pitch template.

#ENTRYLEVELBOSS: How To Get Any Job You Want by founder and CEO Alexa Shoen is the ultimate guide to finding your first job, finding your next job, or changing career paths entirely. Resumes, cover letters, and networking (oh my!) bog down what would ideally be a straightforward path to getting hired. But if Alexa's book taught me anything, it's that she is supremely skilled at simplifying the job-hunting process into easy, actionable steps that pay off.

Here's just one example. In her book, Alexa helps job-seekers transform ye olde Objective/Mission/Profile paragraph into a clean, clear statement that tells hiring managers and networking contacts exactly what they need to know. She even made a bite-sized explanation to make it even easier (which I didn't think was possible):

To recap, here are the three basic questions Alexa suggests readers answer before they ever send out a single resume, email, or application:

1. 1. 1. "role" = What kind of role do you want?
      2. "geography" = Where are you physically going to get hired?
      3. "industry" = Which industry do you want to work in?

That last one, "benefit to the P&L?" It's the clincher to this pitching-yourself template, but we'll get to that in a minute. For now, focus on answering those three main questions. The more specific you get with your goal at the outset, the easier it is for people to identify ways to help you—be they LinkedIn connections, friends of friends, or hiring managers. Plus, by condensing these core elements into one simple sentence, you're also creating a succinct, simple way to express exactly what you want.

Promote yourself, and sound great doing it.

Now, I want to bring your attention to that fourth "BONUS" question. This is the key to closing the sale (if by "sale," we mean job and if by "closing," we mean you getting hired for that job). The point is: explicitly identifying how you currently or could potentially benefit a company answers a hiring manager's first question right off the bat.

Ever heard of the die-hard marketing mantra: WIIFM? AKA, What's in it for me? As much as getting hired should be about hiring managers trying to get to know candidates and find the right person for the job, "What's in it for me?" is really the question they want answered.

It's your job to prove you can do one of two things: make the company (more) money or save the company time. If you can state how your "unique skillset" can help execute one or both of these tasks in one clean sentence, you not only set yourself apart but look confident and convincing doing so.

Ready to try it yourself? Remember these simple steps:

1. Define the role you want as specifically as possible. If you can't find a job title that fits, describe it. For instance, if Social Media Coordinator and Data Analyst are pigeon-holing you, try saying, "I'm looking for a role that leverages data analysis in social media..."

2. Pick a place, any place, that you really want to be. Saying you're "open to relocating" isn't enough. Keep in mind that while roles may be open to remote work now, the company may want you in the office M-F in the future. Pick a physical location to pursue, and stick to it.

3. Choose the exact industry you want to work in. Hiring managers would rather hire people genuinely excited about their industry. Don't let imposter syndrome get in the way, choose the industry you're passionate about or fascinated by, and go for it.

4. Show your worth with clear, simple words. You're trying to connect with a human being—just like you—who wants to find someone who will help them make money or save time. Whether you speak it or type it, make your pitch as clean and succinct as possible, and prove you're that person.

5. Master your pitch, and use it everywhere. Add it to your LinkedIn bio, use it as the first line on your resume, in a networking email, your cover letter, a tweet! The benefit of crafting a super-explicit, bite-sized pitch is that it's also extremely versatile.

Take the panic out of job-hunting with more advice from Alexa Shoen.

For more #ENTRYLEVELBOSS job-hunting tips, check out "Navigating the COVID-19 Job Search with Alexa Shoen." To purchase her book #ENTRYLEVELBOSS: How To Get Any Job You Want in bulk quantities for your school, book club, or community, visit our website. Happy reading, and good luck on your job search!

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