I took this from Harvard Business Review online. It’s not the actual story, How to Perfect an Elevator Pitch About Yourself, it’s actually from a follow-up comment the author left after readers had asked questions.

Thanks for your comment and great question on what a makes a personal “headline” work. I think in order for a 1-sentence encapsulation of who you are and what you can offer to really resonate with an employer, it needs to have 3 characteristics.

1. It needs to be utterly genuine. What do you think your value to en employer really is? What have you been proudest of in your work life? What do you love to do? If you focus on those things, your energy will come through.

2. It should focus on things that most managers and leaders find difficult, or grapple with. What thorny problem can your particular talents solve?

3. It should paint a picture of a rosy future for the hiring manager him- or herself, and/or for the corporation. Who doesn’t want to “shine”?

Here are a few examples that I have heard in the past, and found really compelling. They are specific, but then again, all personal taglines need to be.

“My specialty is taking messy and complex processes and streamlining them.”

“I can teach any junior person how to work effectively with data and numbers.”

“I’m a ‘fixer’. I’ve turned around distressed businesses and departments before, and those are the situations I thrive in.”

“My core skill is gathering information, often from people who don’t want to give it up. I’m persistent, curious, effective – and I dig deep.”

- Posted by Daisy Wademan Dowling