People often remember you based on their first impression of you, which is why it’s vital in life for you to know how to introduce yourself properly. Hence, you need to create and portray an accurate image of yourself to positively impact the person you’re speaking to. A good introduction is often able to show signs of friendliness, which makes the hiring managers as well as your new acquaintances feel comfortable to be around you.
So, what exactly is a self-introduction, and what does a good one look like? A good self-introduction often describes who you are as a person, what you do, and what others should know about you. It only requires a few sentences to cover your good points. It should also include your name, occupation or desired occupation, and necessary details about you. And, don’t forget to wear a smile along the way, greeting everyone with a simple hello is a sign of good mannerisms.
The first thing you should inform people about yourself upon arrival is to do a simple introduction which includes telling them about who you are and what you do professionally. And what’s better than using a straightforward sentence in delivering this sort of information.
Considering the context and settings you’re in are probably two of the most important things in preparing your introduction. You must align your introduction with the environment. Imagine talking about your favorite food as part of your introduction in a technology workshop. It’s entirely irrelevant to the context you’re in.
This section of your introduction is closely related to your job titles and descriptions. Everyone you will be working with will most likely be interested in your previous contributions to the professional line of work. Explaining what you’ve achieved previously will give them an idea of the areas you’re able to help them with.
Depending on your job and the title that you hold, you might need to explain and describe more about what you do. Little did you know that most job titles other than CEO, Director, and COO (you get the gist) don’t mean much to others. If you believe that your job title itself doesn’t talk much about what you do, then you should talk about them yourselves.
Assuming you’re introducing yourself in an international setting, you might offend some people without knowing if you did not take into account your audiences’ cultural context.
When you receive an invitation for an interview, it’s a good habit for you to research and learn more about the hiring company. Before attending their interview, the things you should know about the company include their mission and vision, services and products, past contributions, current clients, their targeted audiences, and even their competitors! Jot down this information in a paper and prepare some answers for their questions about themselves. This will help with your fluency, which is one of the vital points of your introduction.
a. Before the interview
The process of introducing yourself for an interview begins the moment you arrive at the company. It’s a basic courtesy to introduce yourself to the receptionist and state why we are here at their company. A simple “Hi, I am [Name], and I have an interview at [time] for the role of [name of the job] if your company” would be enough.
b. During the interview
Once you’ve been taken to meet your interviewers, it’s crucial to greet them with a firm handshake. And when everyone’s ready, you can begin to introduce yourself to the interviewers. During the interview, make sure you answer their questions with determination and don’t talk too fast. It’s okay to pace yourself when you speak.
c. After the interview
Once you’ve finished your interview, remember to give a proper farewell to your interviewers. Expressing your gratitude to be given a chance to be interviewed might help you create a better impression on your interviewers.
Of course, having to use body language helps you emphasize the words coming out of your mouth. It shows that you’re confident and are sure of who you really are. However, overusing your body language isn’t a good idea either. So, remember to keep yourself relaxed with your chest up high to help you make a better impression and communicate better with your interviewers.
“Hello, my name is [Name]. I am from [place], and I completed my [bachelor’s degree] from [University] in [year].
I have been working with [company’s name] for almost [time that you’ve been in the company]. During my time there, I have learned all of the operational procedures, and I managed to get promoted from an executive to a manager.
I am confident that with my qualifications and working experience, I am best fitted for the hiring role. Not only am I passionate about [your field of work], I am also [explains the soft skills that you have]. I am looking to join your company in hopes to explore new dimensions in order to develop my skills further.”
Hello, I am [Name] and I am from [place]. I completed my [bachelor’s degree] from [University/college] in [year].
As a student, I’ve accomplished [name your accomplishments]. I’ve also participated in [name the clubs/societies you’ve participated], which help develop my skills in [name the soft and hard skills you’ve acquired].
I also took extra language classes, and currently, the languages that I can use include [name the languages that you can use].
I look forward to hearing from you again, and I will be happy to answer any queries that you might have for me.”
When you’re doing a self-introduction, the first thing to remind yourself is to avoid narrating the contents of your resume and cover letter. Your hiring managers probably already know about you, based on the documents you’ve submitted. It’s crucial to show them that you’re more than just what you portray in your resume and cover letter.
Read more: How To Write An Effective Cover Letter That Stands Out (With Samples)
Another important thing to remember is your body language. How you present yourself is just as important as what you say about yourself. A strong and calm voice, steady eye contact, and open body language will all shape the delivery of your message. This is backed by research which found that 20% of interviewers said they rejected applicants if they crossed their arms, while 65% of interviewers said lack of eye contact led them to reject a candidate.
Read more: Top 12 Most Common Reasons Recruiters Are Rejecting Your Job Applications
You should also avoid taking a lot of time when you’re introducing yourself. In other words: Don't ramble on and on...and on (no need to narrate your life story!). Explaining and highlighting specific qualities and experiences that can be related directly to the job role would be enough to impress them.
Last but not least, do not ask your interviewers, “What do you want to know?” This shows your interviewers that you’ve come unprepared, and have not thought of what to say during the interview.
Regardless of whether we’re in a professional or a casual setting, it’s very important for you to prepare a good self-introduction as it helps you make a good impression on others. When you’ve gone to a place unprepared, you’ll often find yourself consuming a lot of time figuring out how to best describe yourself when you’re approached by anyone new. Hence, it’s very useful if you already have a well-thought self-introduction that portrays you perfectly.