How To Introduce Yourself

We all know the saying, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” That first impression might include appearance, body language, and punctuality. But it definitely includes the first thing you say. 

A strong introduction is essential for several reasons. It can:

• Help you forge a positive connection and remain memorable in the minds of new contacts

• Establish your reputation as confident and personable

• Communicate your unique personality, value, and capabilities to a prospective employer, client, manager, or coworker

• Enhance your ability to increase your connections in your professional network 

• Support the conversation in continuing in a positive and productive direction

Conversely, a poor or lackluster introduction can make networking and making connections more challenging. That’s why it’s essential that you get clear on the best way to introduce yourself for a desired outcome. 

A good introduction = clear and intriguing

Do you ever find yourself in that awkward moment during an introduction, where you say, “Hi, I'm so and so,” and then you wait, hoping that they pick up the rest of the conversation? Do you wonder what you could say right away, to make sure that they know who you are, what you can offer them, or why they should remember you?

There are different situations in which you'll need to introduce yourself, and each will require different adjustments. Interviews, networking events, unplanned encounters, emails, and business meetings all have unique contextual factors that need to be taken into account. 

However, at its core, a professional introduction always has the same goal: to make a great first impression.

You can't go through life with a “Hello, my name is…” sticker on at all times. Introducing yourself requires commanding the moment and giving the information you want someone to know about you. Much like an elevator pitch, a good introduction gives a concise, thorough, and intriguing presentation of who you are.

How to introduce yourself the right way

The key to introducing yourself effectively is having a strong introduction prepared and ready to go. There are two steps to this: 

• Step 1: Figuring out what to say

• Step 2: Deciding how to say it

Step 1: Figuring out what to say to build the message

As you work on figuring out what to say when introducing yourself, there are three key elements to include: 

• Who you are and your current areas of focus: State who you are, including your name and professional title or area of focus. This is the present tense part of your introduction.

• What you have accomplished in the past: Provide a brief summary of what you’ve done in your area of expertise or line of work. This is the past-tense-focused part of your introduction. 

• Your why or future-focused reason for connecting: End with a brief closing that explains your why or reason for connecting with the individual. This is the future-oriented focus of your introduction.  

The Who  

Start with a brief summary of your professional standing. The first words of your professional introduction should include your name, job title, and the name of your employer. 

Instead of: “Hi, I'm Bob.” Try: “Hi, I'm Bob Mathers. I'm a Lead Analyst with PWC.”

If you're currently unemployed and seeking a new job, you may want to mention your education, certification level, or your current job search status.

“Hi, I'm Bob Mathers. I'm a Data Analyst. I just finished my MBA at CUNY and am starting to look for new opportunities.”

The What 

Next, give a one-line summary of your work experience and key accomplishments. This next step is to give them more context of who you are, what you've done, and, to be brutally frank, why they should be talking to you. This is your chance to go beyond the title. What has your contribution been to your current employer?

“I've been with PWC for about 10 years now, focusing primarily on risk management. I've covered 150 clients and helped to decrease their depreciations by an average of 20%.”

The Why

End the introduction by creating a bridge to the next part of the conversation. You could set up the “ask” or the “call-to-action” or, in an interview setting, guide the chat to a resume highlight.

“I've always been impressed by your team's work and believe I could be an asset. Do you have a moment to talk?”

Step 2: Deciding how to convey the information

Once you've created the content you wish to convey, it's time to refine the presentation and decide how you want to present it. Here are considerations as you develop how to say it:

• Consider the context

• Do your research

• Find a point of connection

• Keep it positively focused

• Remain professional

Consider the context

At a networking event, you might meet many people with little time to make an impression, so you'll want to get into the elevator pitch quickly.

They'll likely have no basis for knowing anything about you, so you'll want to give them specific context quickly. 

An interview is typically a more structured encounter, so it might invite a bit more small talk before plunging into the main introduction. They'll also presumably have seen your resume, so you might be able to be a bit more personal. 

Do your research

Know as much as you can about the company you're applying to. Know their market, research their products, and explore their company culture. Any information you can gather is useful knowledge when crafting an introduction, as it lets them know you will be a valuable asset.

Find a point of connection

See if there are any readily available points of connection between you and the person you're directly speaking to. Do you know any of the same people? Do you have any hobbies or educational backgrounds in common?

Keep it positively focused

It might be tempting to complain about something as a way of finding common ground - traffic, the convention space, the weather. However, negative icebreakers tend to create a negative emotional atmosphere around the conversation. 

Positive vibes at the top of the discussion have a much better chance of raising the good feeling around an interaction. A “Good morning, nice to meet you!” goes a lot further than a “Hey, parking is horrible around here, isn't it?”

Remain professional

You might be wondering, “Should I tell a joke or try to be funny?” 

While humor in cautious doses is fine, most interviewing experts advise against trying too hard to be funny. The essential question is, what impression do you want to leave them with? Do you want them to see you as a funny guy they want to hang out with, or as a professional who will add concrete value to their company? 

Also, consider the potential backlash of a joke not landing or being perceived as culturally insensitive. When in doubt, err on the side of being professional.

Examples of how to introduce yourself

Let's examine a few examples of how to introduce yourself in various scenarios.

How to introduce yourself at a networking event

"Hi, I'm Holly Pederson. I'm a marketing associate with SAP. I've been fairly heavily focused on the retail rollout this past year. We successfully generated 1,200 new subscribers for our vertical integration product, including three global retailers. 

I've heard that your IT firm is looking to roll out its new software internationally. Have you thought about your media strategy? I'm looking for a new employment challenge, and I'd love to work for a boutique software company like yours.”

How to introduce yourself in an interview

This scenario can be more easily conceptualized in two parts. When you're first called in and when you receive the inevitable prompt: “Tell me about yourself.”

When you're first called in:

“Good morning, I'm Ron Schwartz. It's a pleasure to meet you. John Moore, from accounting, says “hello.” We went to school together.”

After they say, “Tell me about yourself”:

"I've been a Graphic Designer for seven years and spent the last five at Moe's Designs. I handle the mass market accounts and was promoted to Design Lead last year. I've also recently completed a series of project management courses, as my ultimate goal is to work as an Art Director. I'm a big fan of your work here. 

I collaborated with Erik, one of your Print Artists, on an independent project and heard about the opening for Head Designer from him. I've been gaining experience managing design teams, and I would be really excited for the opportunity to do that for you.”

How to introduce yourself in an email

Although crafting an email to introduce yourself might be different than walking up to someone at an in-person event, the same rules of structure apply: who, what, and why.

Subject: Meeting request

Dear Mr. Johnson,

My name is Elliot Spencer, and I've been a freelance IT Security Specialist for over eight years. During that time, I've consulted for a variety of mid-sized accounting firms, similar to yours. Recently, I helped Empire Accounting to overhaul its firewalls and security protocols, eliminating the breach threat that they were experiencing. 

I understand from Todd Burrow, one of your Lead Accountants, that you're looking to hire full-time IT security personnel. I would be excited to join your team and believe that my experience could be a valuable asset to your firm. I hope to arrange a meeting with you to discuss this opportunity and the security concerns facing your company.  

Thank you for your consideration and time.

Sincerely,

Elliot Spencer

Mistakes to avoid when introducing yourself

Even if you have a well-crafted introduction, there are still some pitfalls to avoid when introducing yourself. 

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Don't slow-roll the beginning

Don't begin your introduction with “Well…” or “So…”. These stumble-starts take the air out of the conversation. Get to your point.

Don't ramble on… and on…

You don't want to drone on while the person you're speaking to glazes over with disinterest. After more than four sentences, they'll likely forget most of what you said. This is why we prepare and practice. 

Don't surrender the focus

If you only give a quick “Hi, my name is...” and then move straight to questions for them, they'll feel obligated to answer and end up doing most of the talking. By doing this, you surrender the opportunity to present your USP and leave them with a strong impression.

Don't make body language mistakes

Even the best-constructed introduction will be ignored if your body language is off-putting. Look them in the eye, give a firm handshake, stand up straight, and have a relaxed smile. 

Confidence and trustworthiness go hand in hand when introducing yourself. If you stare at the floor and nervously shift in your seat, nothing you say will be heard.

Don't turn your self-introduction into a sales pitch

This is a tricky one, because we often discuss the importance of giving a concise presentation of who you are and what you offer in your introduction. But the most important goal of networking is building relationships. 

The impression you're making isn't just about “this is a person with a product I need right now,” but rather, “this is a person with the ability to bring solutions to challenges I might face today and tomorrow.”

Don't make cringe-inducing jokes

We mentioned this above, but remember it's not a comedy routine. Humorous banter is a skill that can be improved with practice. However, beware that if this isn't in your wheelhouse, you're more likely to make a bad impression as someone who lacks situational awareness than as someone who is funny.

What happens after you introduce yourself? 

Be prepared for follow-up questions related to your self-introduction. Recruiters like to ask questions about what you just said for a couple of reasons. For one, they want to test your honesty - i.e., did you really go to school with Todd in accounting? Have you really worked for our competitors? Be as honest as possible when introducing yourself. 

They also ask about what you said because you might have checked a box on their list of needs, and they want to know more. That's a win! You want to be able to elaborate on anything you bring up. So, when preparing your introduction, also prepare answers to possible follow-up questions.

Put your best foot forward with preparation

A powerful introduction can leave a lasting positive impression and enable you to form connections that will support you throughout your career. At the same time, a poor introduction can have the opposite effect. 

To effectively introduce yourself, first consider your who, what, and why. Then, based on the context of the introduction, convey your message in a way that is positive, professional, and educated, and that connects you with the receivers of the introduction. 

Does your resume make a positive first impression? Submit it for a free resume review to find out!

This article was originally written by Robert Lyons. It has been updated by Ronda Suder.