1. Making a Good First Impression: The Elevator Talk
Heather Macdonald and David McConnell
Photo and some content from Carolyn Gale’s presentation to 2006 Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences workshop

2. Elevator Talk Imagine that you are in a elevator (or on an escalator)
Someone asks you, “What do you do?”
You have seconds to tell them.
Now what?
Michael Tobias

3. Consider these questions
What is the field I work in?
What is the work I do?
Why is it important?
What makes it new/different/significant?

4. Some Situations Audience Other scientists, other geoscientists
the Dean or Provost during an interview (this person may not be a scientist)
Undergraduates during an interview
Graduate students during an interview
Program officers from funding agencies

5. Clarity, content, delivery
Clarity appropriate to audience
Watch out for technical terms
Short sentences
I rather than we (when possible)
Making the content compelling
What excites you most about your research? Start with what you do (not a history of the discipline).
Why should we care? What is the significance of your research?
Delivery
Show passion/enthusiasm for your work (being true to your personality and style)
Vary the tone of your voice
Establish eye contact
Concentrate on a "I'm glad you asked" expression and posture
Watch the time and watch for eyes glazing over
It’s a conversation

6. Additional advice
Audience should learn something new, but not learn EVERYTHING there is to know about your work.
Goal: “That sounds really interesting. Tell me more (about your work).”
If this is during the interview, consider yourself as a (faculty) colleague, not as a graduate student
It’s a bridge for further discussion.