“Hello, my name is,” that’s how we start, and we begin with confidence. But what after that? Let’s say if you are in an interview, you might talk about your educational qualifications and professional skills. But that’s already mentioned in your CV.
Well, that’s one scenario. What happens when you attend business events, annual office parties, or even at a family get-together when your uncle or distant cousins ask you, “so, what do you do?” How do you answer a way they could easily understand?
Let’s be honest, self-introduction might sound like a simple task but in reality, it can make or break your image and influence your opportunities and relationships in social settings.
Well, every day we involve in the process of communication. Especially in business settings communication, both internal and external make 80% of our day. And introducing yourself professionally is a part of professional ethics as most of the time the communication starts by introducing yourself either to prospect partners, company vendors, clients, or peers.
So, before we move further and understand how to introduce yourself professionally, let’s see how not to introduce yourself.
How not to self-introduce
“Hello, my name is Nisha, and I like to bake.” Well, doesn’t it sound irrelevant unless you own a bakery or want to work as a professional baker?
You must have understood the point here. Don’t say things about yourself that are not relevant to the larger context.
How to introduce yourself professionally
- Make it relevant
Well, you might like baking but don’t include it in your introduction unless you are a baker or taking part in a culinary competition.
Make sure you include points about yourself that are relevant to the context and setting.
- Go beyond your professional title
Let’s take the example of Nisha’s introduction again. “Hello, my name is Nisha, and I am a freelance writer. My job is to craft quality content that suits the client’s needs and engage their audience to achieve business goals.”
Better than the previous introduction, right? Now consider, what Nisha had stopped after telling her job title? Does her job title ‘freelance writer’ describe what does she do?
The truth is job titles don’t say much about the work you do. So, you should describe your job, role, and responsibilities while introducing yourself.
- Be original.
Now, you must have come across the trend of interview videos going viral on social media. Although taking ideas from those videos or even from your friends’ interviews might sound smart, it will hide your authentic self.
You don’t have to cross your comfort zone to impress with your introduction. Even something small like a smile will work magic.
- Prepare
Practice is always good before the final performance. Ask your friend or sibling to assist you during the mock interview. If you are still confused about how to introduce yourself, take a step back and think – what do you want to be known for?
- Be careful of your humorous side
Humor works great when introducing yourself. However, be mindful of cracking jokes as what you consider funny may not go well with your speaker.
One last point
When you are in the profession for too long, it may be difficult to move ahead of “I’m a teacher,” or “I’m a project manager”. In such cases, ask your friends and family what your major contribution is.
If you still need proper direction or better yet tips from professionals and industry experts, consider enrolling in online courses and workshops to learn more about the process of communication and hone your skills.