When Kate Winslet accepted her Academy Award for best actress she said, “I’d be lying if I hadn’t made a version of this speech before. I think I was probably 8 years old and staring into the bathroom mirror. And this would be a shampoo bottle,” she said, referring to the Oscar in hand. If job hunting, that’s precisely what you need: a well-crafted spiel you’ve been practicing for your audience.

You need several versions: A long, short and skimpier one for impromptu moments. Which version of this well-rehearsed, tight and meaty overview of your career you’ll whip out depends on whom you’re talking to and how long you have. Let’s walk through these versions.

Longer spiel. This can be shared in a face-to-face job interview or an informational meeting. It could be the response to the ice-breaking question, “Tell me about yourself.” Use it to cover seven key, broad points that can lead to more details.

These points – not necessarily in this order – are: 1)Why you’re in the situation you’re in; 2)What you were doing before this, and if applicable, are doing now; 3)Your greatest strengths; 4) A summary of your knowledge and expertise; 5) How you’ve made a difference in your work; 6)Why someone would want to hire you and 7) What you want now.

It might go like this:

“I just left my position at Harrison Financial after 10 years as a financial consultant. Like many firms, they are going through a downsizing and unfortunately, my position was eliminated. Before that I worked at the Dugan Supply and Feed Company as controller. I have extensive expertise in fiscal operations and management and a wealth of knowledge in risk management administration, new facility planning, business valuation and tax research.

“In these positions I contributed my strengths to analyze business operations and complex financial data, integrate management and accounting systems and build trusting relationships. My work resulted in tripling business volume in one year and increasing revenues by $10 million. When someone hires me they know they will be getting a take-charge leader. Now I’m looking for the chance to lead others to plan and create sound and orderly financial operations and implement business expansion.”

Shorter spiel. This is a briefer response to “Tell me about yourself” or “What were you doing before this?” Use it on the phone or any time you’ve got a shorter time frame. You might say: “I’ve worked in financial management for the last 14 years and my company went through a downsizing. My background includes extensive expertise in fiscal operations and management where I developed a reputation for helping companies triple business volume while creating sound, orderly financial operations through my effective leadership skills.”

Skimpy spiel. Use this when introducing yourself in a group meeting or when someone asks, “What do you do?” It can be as simple as: “I help companies build their business through sound, orderly financial operations with my strong leadership and financial skills.” Give details when asked.

Do not wing this and figure the words will just come. Practice, as Winslet did, in front of a mirror. See how it rolls off your tongue. Where you get stuck, which you will. What sounds idiotic and forced, which it will at first, and what sounds brilliant – which will also happen after a lot of editing and practice. Speak it out loud until you’re sick of hearing yourself. This will take time to craft, but you will thank me for it when you get your moment in the spotlight.â–