I work at an employment agency so in my work environment there’s a lot of talk about the value of a good elevator pitch. Typically used in interviews and networking situations, an elevator pitch is your 30-second response to “tell me about yourself.” I may work at an employment agency, but I’m here to tell you that a good elevator pitch is a good thing to have in your pocket beyond just the interview/networking. Here are three times when I regularly reach for my elevator pitch in conversation.

First Dates. I met my boyfriend through an online dating site. We chatted for a while online before deciding to meet in person. While he knew my title and where I worked, one of his first questions was: “tell me more about what you do for a living.”

Family Reunions. My paternal grandfather comes from a family of eight children. That’s a lot of cousins and second cousins that I don’t see very often. Catching up with them at the reunion I often get: “What are you doing for work these days?”

Dentist’s/doctor’s offices. I’m blessed to have a doctor and dentist who are genuinely good people. While they check up on (oral) health, they’re always chatting away and seemingly interested in my well-being. I see my dentist every six months, my doctor even less often so when I see them, one of their first questions is: “where are you working right now?”

Think about how you would respond to such questions for yourself. Be specific and authentic to who you are and what you do. A good elevator pitch will serve you well.