You don’t need a flawless résumé to make a great first impression. What you really need is a story that connects with people.

Whether you're applying for internships, jobs, or just figuring out what’s next, your story is your superpower. It’s what sets you apart in a sea of applications, LinkedIn profiles, and elevator pitches. I always remind my students:

Facts tell, stories sell.

Potential employers care about more than just what you’ve done. They want to know who you are. When you share your journey in a genuine and relatable way, people remember you. They root for you. They trust you.

At the end of the day, people won’t remember your GPA or the buzzwords you use on your resume. They remember how you made them feel.

And the best way to make someone feel something? Tell your story.

The 30-Second Script That’ll Make People Want to Hire You—or at Least Not Forget You

Most students think they don’t have a story yet. Wrong. If you’ve ever spiraled at 2AM, wondering what you’re doing with your life, you’ve got a story. You just haven’t told it yet.

When someone asks me the dreaded, “So, what do you do?” this is how I answer:

“I help college students who are spiraling about their future stop doom-scrolling and start building a real career plan. I’ve been a business strategist, a full-time mom, and now I teach, coach, and co-host a podcast with my kids where we get real about what it actually looks like to build a career you’re excited to wake up for every day. Yes… That sort of career actually exists! 

You want to be memorable—in a good way. 

Not “robotically listing your GPA and three internships” memorable. 

More like “I’d hire them just to keep things interesting” memorable. The kind where people think, Okay, I like this person. They get it. They’re self-aware. I want them on my team.

The Elevator Pitch That Got Me Through My First Grown-Up Interview

Back when I was fresh out of college and facing the dreaded “Tell me a little about yourself” interview question, here’s what I said:

“Hi, I’m Marita McCahill. For the past four years, I played volleyball at the University of Michigan and worked my way into the very specific role of serving specialist. Translation: I wasn’t the star player, but I was basically the hired assassin of the team—sent in at high-pressure moments to stay cool, nail my serve, and secure a few points. I was thrilled to have found my niche, a role that played to my strengths and supported the overall team goals. That’s exactly how I would work in the business world too: I know my role, I show up for my team, and I deliver when it counts.”

Let’s break it down:

• Hook: College athlete—but in a non-flashy, high-pressure role. 
• Struggle: I wasn’t the star, but I still brought value as a skilled team member.
• Solution: I stayed calm and delivered when it mattered most. A skill employers value.
• Takeaway: I bring that same energy to my professional work.

It’s confident without bragging. Honest without being boring. And most importantly, it’s memorable.

Try This Fill-in Template

Not sure where to start on your 30-second elevator pitch? Use this story starter to build your own intro, then make it sound like you:

“I [do / love / obsess over] __________ in a way that __________ (unexpected or vivid). Recently, I __________ (weird flex: specific result or story). I’m a __________ (student identity) who loves helping __________ (who you serve) with __________ (your thing). I’m curious, __________?”

Sample script for a Career Networking Event: 

I’m a finance major and former college athlete who got a crash course in startup life this past summer. I interned at a marina and helped design the pricing strategy for a brand-new boat rental club. It was part finance, part sales and marketing, and a whole lot of figuring things out on the fly. Helping to build a pricing model made me realize how much I enjoy the intersection of finance and strategy, and this is where I think I would add the most value in my next internship. I’d love to hear what drew you to finance.

Let’s break it down:

• Hook: Finance major + former athlete who thrives in fast-paced, figure-it-out environments.
• Struggle: First time building a pricing strategy—for a startup boat club, no less.
• Solution: Mixed finance with sales + marketing to design a real pricing model.
• Takeaway: Discovered a passion for the strategy side of finance.
• Follow-up: I’d love to hear—what drew you to this kind of work?

Pro tip: Ditch the default. Instead of leading with “I’m a junior marketing major at XYZ college…” try:

I’m a digital marketing nerd who’s endlessly fascinated by what makes people click ‘Buy now.’ I’ve always loved following fashion trends—especially watching how Gen Z brands sell style as a vibe, not just a product. This summer, I interned at a local clothing store where I helped revamp their paid ads. I tested new copy and creative, tweaked their targeting, and boosted ROI by 37%. I love helping brands turn casual scrolls into real sales and learning what makes people stop mid-scroll and actually click. I’m curious: what’s one ad you’ve seen lately that made you stop and pay attention?

Flip the script on boring elevator pitches. Here’s a pitch that shows how a so-called flop can turn into your strongest talking point (and prove you’re someone who learns fast and figures things out).

I once spent a month crafting Instagram and TikTok content to get email signups for a class project. We got six in total! It should’ve been embarrassing, but it turned out to be the best marketing lesson I’ve had yet. Moving people off social is hard when you’re not offering a discount or a dopamine hit. I learned how much the right hook and CTA matter—and that likes don’t pay the bills, conversions do. Now I’m obsessed with building content that actually gets people to click. What’s the last campaign you saw that made you stop scrolling and take action?

Key Take-Away: When you write your version, run it through this filter: “Would I remember this stranger in an hour?” If not, keep revising your first line until the answer is yes.

Now Let's Hear Yours

What’s your personal version of “Hi, I’m a junior majoring in panic and imposter syndrome”?

Hit me with your best 30-second intro—like we just bumped into each other at a career fair. Then I’ll try to help you make it even sharper.

Got a friend who's spiraling over their future—or worse, their elevator pitch?

Send this article their way. It might just save them from starting every intro with “Hi, I’m a junior majoring in panic and imposter syndrome…”Sharing is caring (and possibly career-saving). 

Let’s keep this career thing going.

👉 If you’re sitting there thinking, “Cool... but what kind of life do I actually want to build? You’re not alone. Before you write your story, it's incredibly helpful to have a clear direction of where you want to go with your career.

📍Start with the getCAREERcurious Compass. It’s a free, personalized tool that helps you get clear on your values, aptitudes, and interests—aka the foundation of a career (and life) you’ll actually want. Think of it as your jumpstart to figuring out what you want before you’re five years into a job you hate.

🎧 Wanna explore careers without the awkward small talk? Sometimes the lowest-pressure way to figure out what you want is just listening in on someone else’s story. Good news: I already did the awkward informational interviews for you. Just pop in your headphones and binge the getCAREERcurious podcast—real conversations with real people in high-growth careers (no corporate buzzwords, promise).