If you’re looking for a new position, you probably already know that networking can be your best bet for finding an inside connection that lands you that otherwise elusive interview. But do you have an effective “elevator pitch” to go along with all that good networking? For those of you who are not familiar with an elevator pitch, it is a prepared answer to the question, “Who are you and what do you have to offer?” But it is brief enough that you could deliver it to someone in an elevator and finish before arriving at your floor.

Networking, particularly at a networking event with lots of recruiters and prospective employers, can be a little bit like speed-dating in that you have about 30-60 seconds to establish the possibility of a match before moving on to the next person. A well-crafted elevator pitch can be your most effective tool for bringing to light that match when it exists. So how do we put together an elevator pitch that maximizes your chances of being discovered as “the perfect candidate” for an open position? Here are some basic rules.

1. Your elevator pitch should be no more than 15-30 seconds for a networking event.
2. Start by filling up a page with what you would want a hiring manager to know about you. Cut that in half, and then continue cutting in half until you’re left with three bullet points that give a snapshot of who you are.
3. Don’t try to cram your entire resume into those 15-30 seconds. Your elevator pitch should just be a quick highlight of your most saleable skills and experiences. Remember—you’re looking for that person in the room who’s going to respond with a “Hey, I’m looking for someone like you—we should talk.”
4. Likewise, if you don’t have the skills and background that person is looking for, you want to find that out quickly so that you can continue on to the next prospective employer or recruiter.
5. As corny as it sounds, it doesn’t hurt to practice your elevator pitch in front of a mirror or a friend so that you can learn to deliver it cheerfully, naturally and casually.

Elevator pitches aren’t just for networking events, however. A good friend of mine sat next to someone on a plane who asked him what he did and, well practiced with his elevator pitch, it easily rolled off his tongue. The stranger sitting next to him said she knew someone that was looking for those exact skills, and several weeks later my friend had landed a new job. So if you haven’t already, take an hour to put your elevator pitch together, practice it until it’s a naturally sounding response to the question “So, what do you do?” and then get yourself in front of lots of people who might ask you that question.