What do you remember about the first day of classes? Isn’t it the usual scenario of self-introduction? Do you still remember the school days when you were taught how to introduce yourself? Unless you’re a transferee for each school year, you used to do personal introduction in front of familiar faces. Well, transferring to a different school is nothing but a good reason why you have to introduce yourself to your new classmates and teachers.
Having said about the old days when introducing yourself seems like a routine rather than a requirement. You’re probably looking for ideas and tips on how to present yourself in a job interview, a professional or formal setting, and even on casual scenarios when you are required to tell who you are and what you do. Strikingly knows how important it is to do an impressive and effective self introduction. That is why we’d love to share with you these self-introduction tips to give you ideas on how to present yourself to different settings and audiences. You might be searching about ‘personals introduction’ on the internet. That’s why we have included some self introductions samples that you can personalize.
Why do we need to do self-introduction?
There are various situations where self-introduction is required, at least for formality sake or you just want to break the ice with a stranger. Here are a few settings that you’ve probably experienced already.
- You do self-introduction in job interviews. Sometimes, an interviewer will give you an idea of how to introduce yourself with a short self introduction example. This way you know what to tell the interviewer when it’s your turn. Yes, even an interviewer does self-introduction as well.
- Meeting a new acquaintance would need a casual self-introduction to loosen up the situation. In case that you’re it’s a professional setting where you’re meeting the company CEO or director, then you have to formally introduce yourself.
Speaking Engagements would also need a self-introduction in case the person who introduced you has forgotten some details about yourself that you want to share with your audience.
Image taken from George Clark III website
There should be a different approach in each setting when you need to introduce yourself. In a professional ambiance, you have to formally present yourself. On the other hand, casual settings do not require formalities. Unless you feel the need to be prim and proper, stick to the personality that you want to express. In fact you can even crack some jokes that will tickle the mood of your audience. We have to warn you to be careful though. Here are some tips to show you how to properly introduce yourself in different settings.
- Connect to the Social Context
Regardless of what setting you are in, relevant self-introduction should be taken seriously. You have to connect to the social context around you and talk about the things that mean something to your audience. For example, your self-introduction goes like this: “Hi, My name is Fred and I don’t like pickles on my sandwich.” You can’t do this in a professional setting, unless it's the way they like to get to know you. While this kind of self-introduction will work in a fast food chain when you order a sandwich, it won’t save you from the scrutiny of a professional audience. It simply does not make any sense to them. It’s how you connect your self-introduction to the social context. Talk about the things that they want to hear from you. Put down the topics that sound irrelevant and strange.
- Share what you do instead of your job title
In a job interview setting, the interviewer will ask about your past work experiences. You have to take advantage of this opportunity to talk about what you do instead of just mentioning your job titles or the positions you’ve handled. Anyone can tell what their job title is. If you want to sound more impressive, you have to talk about the job description, the tasks involved, and maybe some accomplishments. This is a very effective strategy as well when creating a CV or resume. Write down the things you’ve done to showcase your job experiences instead of just putting a plain job title on it. Both verbal and non-verbal self-introduction requires you to elaborate deeply on things that matter. For example, you can say “I was an English Language Teacher. I’ve handled a class and taught them the basics of English grammar, including writing and speaking activities.”
Image taken from Julianne Feir website
- Action speaks louder than words
This is true in the corporate environment. Slouching while you do self-introduction in an interview could mean that you are disinterested in getting the job. While standing straight and holding a firm grip when you shakehand with the boss can express sincerity and self-confidence.
- Less is More
Sometimes, it is better to keep a short and simple self-introduction. Let the questions be asked and answer them properly. They say that more talk, more mistakes. Don’t put yourself in an awkward situation when the person is just asking for your name but you went beyond your favorite movies and your pets. Remember to keep it short and simple so that you get a positive reaction when you introduce yourself.
- Be mindful of your audience
As much as you pay attention to your body language, you need to be mindful of your audience. What is their facial reaction? Do they seem interested? Do you need to throw a nice joke to keep them entertained at how you present yourself to them? You have to be mindful of their gestures.
- Listen and Acknowledge
When it’s their turn to talk, listen carefully. Pay attention and acknowledge what the person is telling you. If you want your self-introduction to be taken seriously, you have to show respect by listening and comprehending properly.
- Be prepared
Avoid dead air after your self-introduction. You have to be prepared with a smooth transition to tell more about yourself. In most cases, like job interviews or talent competitions and auditions, you are asked to tell more about yourself. Be prepared with a self-introduction that will impress the judges. Present yourself the way you want to win a competition or get the job you are applying for. When you tell them your name, you can take the initiative to tell them more about your skills and anything that is not written on your resume.
Image taken from Samir Goel website
- Wrap up and leave a good impression
Wrapping up is the crucial part because you have to leave a good impression. The person may have enjoyed talking to you but it would be better to sum up the things you’ve said and emphasize on your strengths. They say that first impressions last but, leaving a good impression is more important than the first five seconds that have passed.
Introduce Yourself Using Online CV and Personal Portfolio Website
As a website builder, we have witnessed successful individuals who made their way in building a curriculum vitae or CV on a website. Having a personal portfolio online can help you to look more professional to recruiters or clients. It’s not enough to create an online CV or resume that you can upload when you apply for a job position. With Strikingly you can choose from our personal templates and create your own site. We thought you’d like to see some of the CV websites we have.
Image taken from Chloe Hwang website
We understand how excited you are to introduce yourself to the world by creating a website with impact. Just don’t forget the tips we mentioned above in making self-introductions. You can also apply some of them in building your own CV online.
Image taken from Gary Sheng website
To wrap it up, tell your viewers what you do instead of just putting job titles. Always be relevant to the social context by talking about what interests them instead of the things that don't make any sense. Keep your self-introduction short and simple. You have to keep in mind that less is more, but if you need to elaborate on things, it’s better to be specific. Your body language can either make or break your image. Be mindful of your audience and listen as they speak. This way you can acknowledge things that matter to the both of you. Sharing the same interests can go a long way.
Let Strikingly guide you on how to make an impressive personal portfolio or CV online. You need not to be an expert in web design because we have multiple templates you can edit. We’ve designed a user friendly website editor where you can just upload images, edit texts, and publish in a few minutes. Impress your clients by sharing your website link to them. Having your own website doesn’t only showcase your skills but it adds a more professional image when you’re applying for a job or trying to get a project. All you need to do is to take the first step to introduce yourself and we will get you covered.
