Build your elevator pitch for an interview

“Tell me about yourself” is the first question in most interviews and the one people prepare for least. This prompt generates a tailored elevator pitch based on your background and the specific role you’re interviewing for.

For background on what makes a strong pitch, see our guide on elevator pitch examples for interviews.

Copy this into ChatGPT, Claude, or your AI tool. Fill in the brackets.

I need to prepare my "tell me about yourself" answer for an upcoming interview. Generate a 60-second elevator pitch I can use as a starting point.

**The job I'm interviewing for:**
[Paste the full job description]

**My background:**
[Paste your resume, or describe: current/recent role, years of experience, 2-3 top achievements with numbers]

**My situation (pick one):**
- Standard: I'm applying for a role in my current field
- Career change: I'm switching from [old field] to [new field]
- Returning to work: I've been out for [duration] for [reason]
- Moving to management: I'm an IC stepping into a leadership role

**What I know about the company (optional but makes the pitch much better):**
[Recent news, product launches, challenges, culture. Paste company research prompt output if you have it.]

**Instructions:**

1. Generate 3 different versions of a 60-second pitch, each using a different approach:
   - **Version A: Achievement-led.** Open with my single most relevant achievement, then connect to the role.
   - **Version B: Research-driven.** Open with something specific about the company, then connect my experience to their challenge.
   - **Version C: Based on my situation.** If I'm a career changer, use the bridge framework. If returning to work, lead with recent activity. If standard, give me a different angle than Version A.

2. For each version:
   - Keep it under 60 seconds when spoken aloud (roughly 150 words)
   - Include at least one specific metric from my background
   - End with a sentence that explicitly connects to this specific role
   - Make it sound conversational, not scripted. Short sentences. Natural phrasing.

3. After the three versions, tell me:
   - Which version you'd recommend for this specific interview and why
   - The 3 keywords I should memorize (not the full script) so I can deliver it naturally
   - One thing to avoid saying based on my background and this role

Rules:
- Don't start any version with "I am writing to..." or "My name is..." — jump straight into the substance
- Don't use "passionate about" or "results-oriented professional" or any generic filler
- Only reference achievements from my actual background. Don't invent.
- If I'm changing careers, don't hide the transition — own it with a clear bridge
- If I'm returning from a gap, lead with recent activity, not the gap

Tips

• Pick one version, then customize. Don’t try to memorize all three. Pick the one that feels most natural and adjust the language to sound like you.
• Practice out loud, not on screen. A pitch that reads well might sound stiff when spoken. Say it to your phone, a friend, or a mirror. If any sentence feels awkward to say, rewrite it.
• Use the 3-keyword method. The prompt gives you three keywords to anchor on. Practice hitting those three points in different words each time — that’s how you sound prepared without sounding memorized.
• Run it again for different interviews. The last sentence (connecting to the role) should change for every interview. Re-run with a different JD to get a fresh connection.
• Practice out loud with the voice practice prompt. It’s designed for ChatGPT or Claude voice mode — you deliver your pitch, get scored, improve, then handle a pressure-test follow-up question. This is the fastest way to go from “written pitch” to “I can actually say this naturally.”
• Pair with the mock interview prompt to practice delivering your pitch under pressure and get feedback. And use the interview prep prompt for the rest of your interview preparation.