now, no signup required!
They say your first impression is often the last impression.
That’s why a self-introduction—be it a self introduction for a networking session, a self introduction for interview or a presentation—can be daunting and challenging.
If you want to stand out in a job interview, the first step is to make an impactful self introduction for interview.
Before you do that, ask yourself who you are, where you’re from and what the listener needs to know about you.
Think of an elevator pitch. You have 60 seconds to describe and summarize an idea. A self introduction for interview or otherwise is an extended version of an elevator pitch where you are the ‘idea’.
A self introduction for interview, for instance, would comprise your name, your current designation and a few experiences tied in with the job role. It can set you apart in a job interview, make you stand out at a networking event and captivate the audience during a presentation. Your introduction can be what gets your foot in the door. If you want to distinguish yourself in a job interview, your introduction is your best shot.
Harappa Education’s Speaking Effectively course can teach you the basics of introducing yourself with the Rule Of Three and the PAM (Purpose-Audience-Message) framework. Learn how to present yourself, master your speech and understand the importance of storytelling. Our course is curated for professionals and graduates who want to change their world of work for the better. Communication skills are essential for the modern workplace. Discover how you can build your elevator pitch and knock it out of the park.
-
What Is A Self-Introduction?
-
How To Craft An Effective Self-Introduction?
-
Things To Keep In Mind For An Impactful Self-Introduction
-
Self-Introduction Examples To Get You Started
-
Know Yourself, Speak Yourself
WHAT IS A SELF-INTRODUCTION?
A self introduction for interview, presentation or a work meeting is your entry into a conversation. It’s the one thing that’ll determine how the conversation progresses. For someone who’s never met you before, you can help them understand you a little better.
Let’s look at an example of a short self introduction for interview.
“Good Morning. My name is Jinnie and I am a communications associate at YX Inc. I’m passionate about digital media marketing and I always stay on top of trends to connect with our readers.”
When you talk about who you are, what you’ve done professionally or personally and where you’re from, you are essentially providing the listener a glimpse into your life. A self-introduction that’s relevant and powerful can alter the course of an event. And if this event is your job interview, you need to pay a lot more attention.
What you say can give the listener a chance to ask follow-up questions about your experience or skills. In this case, the listener will obviously be the hiring manager or recruiter. A self introduction sets the pace for how your interview will unfold. Whether it’s a structured or unstructured interview, you’ll likely be asked to answer “tell me about yourself”. If you’re wondering how to give a self-introduction, remember that being authentic and true to yourself is one of the most effective ways to make a good impression.
Say you have to deliver a presentation on sustainable tourism. A good self-introduction, in this case, could include instances that depict volunteer experience where you contributed toward ecotourism to help local communities. Talk about something you’re passionate about or have hands-on experience in to enrich your self introduction. You can elevate your introduction with personal experiences because they add substance to your profile. They’re what make you, you.
HOW TO CRAFT AN EFFECTIVE SELF-INTRODUCTION
It may seem simple but writing and preparing a self introduction for interview or something else can take a lot of work. What you need to do is to start with the basics. Your name, experience, current role can be the first few things you add to your self introduction. Understanding how to give self introduction takes practice and experience.
Here are some steps on how to give self introduction:
1. STRUCTURE YOUR CONTENT WELL
The classic interview question, “tell me something about yourself” can either be the easiest or the most difficult question to answer. The best way to tackle self introduction for interview is to prepare beforehand. If you have a structure in place—where to start, the middle, and how to end—you are more likely to say what you want in a way that is crisp and simple. Illustrate with examples and talk in a lively manner to convey your enthusiasm.
2. STAY CALM AND COMPOSED
It’s all right to feel nervous and a little flabbergasted when you introduce yourself. However, it’s good practice to take deep breaths, think about your answers, and speak slowly. You don’t want to rush through what you have to say because you want to get it over with. No one will fault you for wanting to pace yourself. You can do a much better job if you’re composed and thinking clearly.
3. STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
Whether you are speaking in front of a crowd or introducing yourself in a job interview, a self-introduction helps you establish your authority. It is important to supplement your professional experiences with personal information.
Talk about your passion, your hobbies, your family, or your dreams. But remember to keep it relevant and brief. Whether you decide to discuss your pet cat or that one trip to Japan, it’s important to keep in mind that you are in a professional setting.
Networking events are a great way to connect with industry professionals and build lasting relationships. For example, if you attend a networking event for investment banking and fund management, you can talk about personal financial achievements to build on your professional aspirations.
4. DON’T BE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Many times, especially during a job interview, you may hesitate to talk about your strengths or weaknesses. It’s important to have a clear idea of what you’re good at and where there is room for improvement so you can deliver a job interview self-introduction that is honest and aspirational.
Talk about how you overcame a challenge at your previous organization. If you helped a colleague with their work to meet a deadline, share that too. Talk about any other example that showcases your role—either as a team player or a leader.
If you’re talking about your weaknesses, on the other hand, mention ways in which you turned them into a strength. It’s a good way to let the hiring manager know that you are open to change, growth, and improvement.
5. BE PREPARED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
What you say as part of your self introduction for interview determines the kind of questions you will be asked. Support your claims, corroborate your skills with results, and end in a way that keeps the conversation going. Be honest about your achievements and failures because you don’t want to end up fumbling for being untruthful about an event. If you’re delivering a presentation, your introduction can even set the tone for how the Q&A will proceed.
A self introduction for interview will take a lot more practice. Give it time, prepare yourself and reach out to friends and family for help. You can take their feedback and improve your self introduction for interview. There are some things you can be mindful of while preparing for and delivering a self-introduction. Along with the verbal aspect of your introduction, you have to also be careful of your body language, gestures and expressions.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR AN IMPACTFUL SELF-INTRODUCTION
A self introduction for interview isn’t just about the words you say, it’s also about how you present yourself through your expressions and your attitude. Talking about yourself and the things you’ve done doesn’t have to be difficult because you already know the answers.
HERE ARE A FEW POINTS TO NOTE ON HOW TO GIVE A SELF INTRODUCTION:
- Keep it short and easy to understand
- Remember to add personal references
- Define your professional goals clearly
- Support your experience with examples
- Leave room for questions
1. SELF-INTRODUCTION EXAMPLES TO GET YOU STARTED
Here are a few self-introduction examples to help you understand how you can frame it in a way that’s useful to your objective. Each example comprises the speaker’s name, occupation, and past achievements. They even shed light on what the speaker wants to do and why the listener will be motivated to hear their pitch.
2. SELF-INTRODUCTION SAMPLE FOR A JOB INTERVIEW
“Good morning. My name is Amrita Singh and I’m a graphic designer at Rebrand Design. I’m an art enthusiast and I’ve worked with our design team on a project to digitize famous works of art. I’ve won various art and design competitions that have helped me refine my skills. Independently, I’ve worked on projects such as painting a mural for my neighborhood cafe and designing social media campaigns for brands. It would be an immense pleasure for me to work with your team. I would love to work on creating digital sets that showcase valuable art history and learn about creative geniuses in the process.”
3. SELF-INTRODUCTION SAMPLE FOR A PRESENTATION
“Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening. I’m Ravi Prasad from Golden Birds. I work as the logistics head and I am responsible for the design and implementation of our warehouse operations. I am here to present a new and improved technology-based planning system that will help us cut costs, save time, and work more efficiently. To illustrate, based on our team’s practice run last month, I’m happy to announce that with this new system, we were able to increase the delivery rate by 27% and reduce fixed costs by 15%.”
4. SELF-INTRODUCTION SAMPLE FOR NETWORKING
“Hi. Nice to meet you, I am Manisha Rai. I work as a hiring manager for Sontag Solutions. We recently devised an interview-feedback strategy that will help companies reach out to applicants with critical feedback on their job applications. I would love to discuss this with organizations in our business park so that together we can implement a feedback platform or grapevine to streamline the hiring process.”
KNOW YOURSELF, SPEAK YOURSELF
One thing to remember when you have to give a self introduction for interview, presentation or otherwise is that you know yourself the best. You know who you are and what you’ve done to get to this point in your life.
Speak about the things you’re proud of and don’t shy away from mentioning things you could’ve done differently. As long as it serves the purpose of the situation, turn your experiences into trophies that you can flaunt without hesitating.
Talk about your aspirations, values, belief system and things that motivate you. Always be ready to answer questions such as “why did you choose this particular topic?” or “how are you the best person for this role?”
Mention awards and competitions that you are proud of, the skills you’ve picked up during your professional life and your hobbies, be it reading, playing the piano or drawing. Another way to master the art of self-introduction is to practice in front of a mirror, present to a person you trust or do it on camera. Recording your introduction on video will help you figure out where you need to take a pause and if you’re speaking too fast.
A sound self introduction for interview can help you succeed if you know what to say and how to say it. Execution is just as important as preparation. Harappa’s Speaking Effectively course teaches you numerous ways to ace public speaking.
It’s not just the oral aspect of your speech, but also hand gestures, body language and emotions that can help you refine your communication skills. You’ll be able to navigate meetings skillfully and do well at interviews.Whether it’s a self introduction for interview, a presentation or a networking event, learn to overcome your fears and stay calm. Mahatma Gandhi once famously said, “My life is my message” You, too, can summarize your life to express yourself.
Explore our Harappa Diaries section to know more about topics & skills related to the Communicate habit such as Interpersonal Skills, What is Communication, Process of Communication, What is Report Writing, Writing Skills and Professional Ethics.
