12 Self Introduction Tips to Ace Anything
Walking into a job interview can feel a bit scary, right? Your first few words, your self-introduction, can set the stage. It’s not just about what you say, but also how you say it.
You want to show off your wins, but without sounding like you’re bragging. You might not want to tell your whole life story, but it’s important not to skip over stuff that matters.
Getting this balance right can seem tough. But remember, making a great first impression is key, and it’s super important to nail it. Don’t worry, though – we’ve got your back! We’ve put together 12 self introduction tips to ace your job interview and introduce yourself like a pro.
And to give you a little inspiration for your interview preparation, we’ve thrown in some examples of how to do it right and added some Blinks (Blinkist book summaries) to prepare yourself for the big day! Get ready to wow them at your next job interview!
12 Self Introduction Tips
There are many times in life you might have to introduce yourself. The most common is at the start of an interview. So, while these tips will apply to most cases, we’ll be focusing on what to say when an interviewer asks “introduce yourself.”
1. Brainstorm the Key Points Beforehand
Feeling flustered, or worse, sounding flustered, is never fun. You want to be able to introduce yourself confidently and professionally. After all, your self introduction sets the tone for the rest of the conversation.
So, to avoid stumbling over your words or forgetting anything important, take a few moments to prepare what you’ll say and brainstorm the key points you want to cover.
These key points may be very different depending on the situation.
For example, for an interview, you’ll want to highlight your education, your job history, and your key skills
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60 Seconds & You’re Hired!
- 12 min reading time
- audio version available
2. Briefly Explain Your Current Job
In most cases, your current job title and responsibilities will be the most important part of a self introduction. But you don’t need to share every gory detail. State what your job title is, company name, and then highlight two or three of your main responsibilities.
You can tailor these depending on whom you’re speaking to.
For example, if you’re interviewing for a social media job, and social media is only a small part of your current role, you’ll still want to highlight it.
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Get Hired Now!
- 21 min reading time
- audio version available
3. Mention Key Accomplishments
Don’t be shy, especially if you’re in an interview. Mention one or two of your key accomplishments. This could include any projects you were in charge of, big sales you made, or awards you’ve won.
You can also talk about your unique skills here or how your experience sets you apart. This is obviously important in an interview, but even when giving a presentation, people like to know they’re listening to an expert.
4. Share Key Points from Your Job and Education History
As well as your current job, briefly — and we mean briefly — talk about your previous jobs and education. This doesn’t need to be everything you’ve done since school, though.
If you’ve had many jobs, pick out one or two of the most relevant or most recent. You could also include how long you’ve worked in the industry, if you’ve worked in any other relevant roles, and where and what you studied.
For example:
- “Before Google, I worked at Facebook for three years in their legal team.”
- “I got a degree in marketing from New York University before working for several startups in the city, helping them build their social media from the ground up.”
- “I’ve been working as a freelance UX designer for five years now and I’m looking for a full-time job in the field.”
5. Mention Any Hobbies or Interests
Depending on the situation, you may want to mention your hobbies and interests, too. This can be especially useful if they relate to a job you’re applying for or if they’re unique and will help you stand out. When meeting new people, this can give the conversation a direction to go in, or you may find something you have in common.
6. Say Why You’re There
Wrap up your self introduction by saying why you’re talking to the person in the first place. If you’re in an interview, you might mention how the job you’re applying for fits with your skills and experience.
Oscar-winnig film producer Brian Grazer talks in this audio summary about The Art of Networking and shares some deep insights, as he used the skill of networking to become one of Hollywood’s most respected producers.
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7. Add Personality
Even though in most cases you’ll be introducing yourself in a professional setting and show your professional communication skills, don’t be afraid to add in some personality. You could bring up something unusual about yourself — such as a childhood event that inspired your current career, or mention any hobbies or personal interests. It’s completely optional, though – you should be sharing as much as you’re comfortable with.
When meeting new people, this can give the conversation a more personal tone, and help build connection with the interviewer. To learn more strategies of our all-time favorite topic, ‘Small Talk’, take a look at this Blinkist book summary:
The Fine Art Of Small Talk
- 19 min reading time
- audio version available
The Fine Art Of Small Talk by Debra Fine book offers practical advice for cultivating conversation skills. Drawing on anecdotes from the author’s own journey to becoming a confident small-talker, these blinks will teach you how to initiate, sustain and exit conversations with ease and grace.
Not only will this help people get to know you, it’ll make you more memorable.
8. Add a Bit of Humor
If appropriate, crack a joke or add in a tiny bit of self-deprecating humor. Some light-hearted comedy will go a long way to helping people like you and feel more comfortable around you. For example:
- “I’ve been working as a freelance writer for seven years now. I started off writing about cars, even though I can’t drive, and then worked in fashion for a few years, despite being hopelessly unfashionable. I finally found my happy place writing about travel, which I do know a thing or two about.”
- “I studied at Northwestern University, where, alongside getting a degree in engineering, I was captain of the ultimate frisbee team. In all honesty, it was the only sports team that would let me play for them, but I fell in love with the sport.”
9. Think About Your Body Language
What you say about yourself is important, of course, but so is how you say it. Body language has the power to convey a lot, and when we’re talking about ourselves, it’s easy to get nervous and start crossing our arms, avoiding eye contact, and fidgeting. While introducing yourself, make an effort to improve your body language.
That includes:
- Making eye contact
- Smiling
- Keeping your arms by your sides or in your lap
- Straightening your posture
In the book Presence, Amy Cuddy reveals some simple tips that can transform the lives of shy and self-conscious people into confident powerhouses, by examining body language and posture.
Presence
- 23 min reading time
- audio version available
10. Be Honest
We get that it’s easy to stretch the truth a bit. You might want to seem cooler or more amazing, but try not to. Being real is important. If you’re not honest, people might notice. And since first impressions mean a lot, making the wrong move at the start can stick.
11. Keep it Short
The optimal interview response time varies. For basic questions, keep it between 30 and 90 seconds. Behavioral questions? Aim for 2 to 4 minutes. While some people feel they need 4-5 minutes or more, extending to 6 or 7 minutes might risk annoying the interviewer. However, the 2-4 minute range generally works best. For more insights, visit this article about the proper length of interview answers.
If you’re not sure how long it takes you to share your self introduction, time yourself beforehand. This is where brainstorming ahead of time comes in handy. Pick out the most important and relevant things about you that you want to share and stick to them.
12. Practice
As well as brainstorming what you’re going to say ahead of time, practice saying your self introduction out loud a few times before you actually need to do it. This will help you discover if it’s too long, too short, or if you stumble over any parts in particular.
To really perfect your self introduction, film yourself and watch it back, or practice it in front of a friend or close colleague and ask them to share any feedback.
Self Introduction Examples for a Job Interview
Highlighting your work experience during a self-introduction in a job interview is crucial. Here are some examples of how you might do that and show your career development:
- “I’m a senior designer at TechCo. I’ve been working in design for the past seven years, mainly working with technology companies, helping to implement new designs into consumer apps. I studied literature at university, however, and I’m now looking to get back to my passion for books. So, I’m looking for a design position in publishing where I can bring my skills and passion together. PublishingCo looks like a great place to do just that.”
- “I’ve worked in marketing for the past eight years. I started out as a general marketer at Smart Inc, before moving into a content marketing role at a health start-up. I launched their blog as a team of one and grew it to 20,000 readers and a team of five full-time writers.”
- “I currently work in ad sales at J&Co. I studied sales and business management at university, but I actually got my start as a saleswoman at the age of 5 when I used to accompany my dad on his sales calls.”
With these 12 self introduction tips to ace your job interview, you will be untouchable in your professional career. But if you are still not ready yet, dive into How To Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes.
This book serves as a phenomenal handbook, guiding you with 92 little tricks through awkward conversations and social situations towards eloquent communication and meaningful interactions. It’s not merely about surviving in social situations but thriving in them, exuding confidence, and making an impact.
How to Talk to Anyone
- 25 min reading time
- audio version available
“I always try to turn the spotlight on the other person. The longer you keep it shining away from you, the more interesting he or she finds you.”
Leil Lowndes
Blinkist helps you grab the essence of this book quickly, saving your time without compromising on the knowledge that this enlightening masterpiece about great self introductions and much more has to offer. And the best part is that there’s a free 7-day trial!
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Vanessa is a freelance writer living in London. When not at her laptop, she loves to run, travel and scuba dive wherever she can.
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