If you're in the market for a job, you need to be able to communicate your value as a potential employee in 15 seconds or less. That may be all the time you have with a recruiter or hiring manager. Your message has to be crisp and tailored. Say specifically what value you bring — for instance, "My specialty is streamlining messy, complex processes" — but don't pile on so many details that you struggle to get everything in. Delivering an elevator pitch at breakneck pace is extremely off-putting. Speak at a steady pace that shows you're calm and confident. You want the listener to see you as a thoughtful, deliberate candidate — not as some manic babbler.
Source: Today's Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Getting the Right Job.