- Top 5 things to do when you have to introduce yourself in an interview
- How to introduce yourself in an interview
- Interview Tips
A job interview is the most important moment for every jobseeker, and knowing how to introduce yourself in an interview is even more crucial to set the tone right.
Only after impressing the interviewer with your amazing self introduction can you move on to answering frequently asked questions.
If you have a job interview coming up, this is just the blog for you.
Read this blog to discover how to introduce yourself in an interview, interview tips, and interview etiquette to leave a lasting impression on your interviewer.
Let’s begin!
Top 5 things to do when you have to introduce yourself in an interview
There is nothing called being too prepared. This segment is for when you have been called for a job interview.
Follow these steps to ace your introduction for interview.
Research the company
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of researching a company holds for a jobseeker.
You will be spending 9 hours every day for 5 days a week in your new workplace. That is more than the amount of time you spend at your home.
So, it is only natural to review the company, its culture, its values, and what their employees think about the place to make a sound decision.
After all, you don’t want to get into a workplace where you may feel uneasy.
Also, this can help in tailoring your answer in a befitting manner when you have to introduce yourself in an interview.
You can read company reviews and what makes for a good company culture on AmbitionBox.
Understand the job role
It is said that when you enjoy what you do, it seems more like having fun than work.
So, to ensure that you don’t feel burnt out at work, read the job description thoroughly.
This will give you clarity on what your employer will be expecting from you and your course of action to live up to their expectations.
Not only that, knowing about the job role can also help in drafting your introduction for interview.
Tip: Make notes to ask in the interview if you find anything to be confusing or unclear.
Match the skills required to the ones you possess
A job description provides you with the skills required to get the job done.
You can go through the provided skills and match yours with it when preparing your introduction for interview.
In case you find yourself lacking a skill or two, you can pick up on it through online courses.
Also, having knowledge about the skills that you currently are missing can help you be prepared for any uneasy interview questions.
Familiarize yourself with your interviewer and their work
Now, familiarizing yourself with your interviewer does not mean you will start stalking them on Facebook and Instagram.
On most occasions, the interviewer is either your Manager or your Skip level manager and you will be working under them.
So, check out their work on professional platforms like LinkedIn.
This will help you to understand the type of work that will be expected of you and also provide you with some conversational topics in the job interview.
Also, it helps to calm your interview jitters when you know who will be interviewing and putting a face to a name.
Practice makes everything perfect introduction for interview
Practice answering how to introduce yourself in an interview to develop confidence.
Take the help of your family members or trusted friends when preparing for a job interview as they will be brutally honest with their feedback.
Practice also helps you to prepare the best answers to the frequently asked interview questions.
How to introduce yourself in an interview
In this segment, we will talk about your introduction for interview, before reaching the interview room and also during the interview process.
Before the interview begins
When you get to the venue you will need to introduce yourself to a few people before you reach your interviewer.
Remember, it is a job interview and you must maintain your interview etiquette at all times while you are at the venue.
Here are a few things to remember when preparing for a job interview.
Greet everyone politely
When you visit an office as a visitor, it is only natural that you will be asked for your introduction quite a few times by the security, at the reception, etc.
Here’s what you can do, irrespective of the person, step forward, smile and after greeting them.
Next, give them your full name, the purpose of your visit and also the name of the person you are meeting.
They might ask to see a document of the purpose of the visit. Keep the email out beforehand. This way you will save time and will showcase preparedness.
So, here’s a self-introduction sample that you can use to introduce yourself to people other than your interviewer.
“Hello, Good Morning. My name is (your name). I have an interview appointment with Mr. X (name of the person) at 12 pm for the position of (mention the role).”
Be patient
When appearing for a job interview at a new office, you might need to go through a series of security procedures and a bit of waiting to do before you actually reach the main interview room.
It is understandable that you are nervous and security layers or providing your introduction at every stage might be a little overwhelming.
Be patient, don’t lose your cool if you have to wait. Unnecessary snapping will not leave a very good impression on your interviewer.
Tip: You can drop a text to your interviewer that you have arrived to inform him on your behalf.
Read more about Self Introduction
During the interview
Now that you have finally entered the interview room, your interview etiquette need to be on point.
Take the time to get settled and take out a pen, notepad, and your resume as you wait for the interviewer to arrive.
Here are a few things to consider when you have to introduce yourself in an interview.
Prepare a short statement to greet
Basic interview etiquette is to stand up and shake hands with the interviewers as they enter the room.
You could use this introduction for interview to greet your interviewer.
Although your interviewer will know who you are and why you are there, doing so can help in exuding confidence and clarifying your name and purpose of visit.
“Hello, I’m (your name). A pleasure to meet you.”
Prepare a spot on elevator pitch
Once settled, hand over your resume and allow the interviewer to go through it. Once ready, he is sure to ask you to introduce yourself.
This is where an elevator pitch can help you to best introduce yourself in an interview.
An elevator pitch is a precise description that can help in your introduction for interview.
Here are some self-introduction samples that you can take inspiration from.
Self-introduction for freshers:
“To begin with I grew up in X city and graduated from ABC College with English Major.I have been at the top of my class both in academics and during my internship in EFG Publishing.
You will find the certificates attached. Writing has always been my passion and the works your writers have turned out have always been informative and impressive.
I believe it would be a great learning experience for me if I am given the opportunity to work here.”
Self-introduction for experienced candidates:
“I have been working for 5 years in the editorial team of leading publications.I have expertise in InDesign, Quark, SEO, and Digital Marketing.
I am now looking forward to enhancing my management skills and inspiring a great team of my own.”
Relevant Read: 7 Tips for Self Introduction in Interview for Experienced Candidates
Maintain body language
An important aspect of a job interview is to maintain good interview etiquette with everyone.
Nonverbal communication plays a crucial role in the way you introduce yourself in an interview.
So, do not underestimate the power your body language can leave an impression on your interviewer.
Here are a few things you can do, maintain a straight posture, keep your hands folded on your lap.
Your feet can rest on the floor or if comfortable fold at the ankles.
Similar to when you introduce yourself in an interview, always smile and stand up to greet the person approaching.
Tip: Refrain from fidgeting or moving too much. Find your comfortable position and maintain it.
Answer in a short and concise manner
One thing you must remember is that you are probably one of the many who have applied for the job role.
So, there’s a chance that the interviewer has heard all the long and plausible answers.
Here’s an interview tip to help you ace your interviews, use the STAR technique to answer any interview questions.
The STAR technique helps you to provide concise answers when you have to introduce yourself in an interview and field interview questions like Describe yourself in 5 words,What is your greatest strength? etc.
Tip: Practice answering using the STAR techniques to answer interview questions when preparing for a job interview.
A clear and concise answer leaves a great impression on the interviewer since they appreciate candidates who have clarity about themselves and what they need to do.
Answer slowly and clearly
Nervousness can affect everyone differently. Some speak extremely fast, some start stammering, some have sweaty palms, so on and so forth.
If you too are a victim of interview blues, here’s what you can do to calm down.
Take a few deep breaths and then answer. This will help you to normalize your heart rate and also fetch you time to gather your thoughts.
So, when the interviewer asks to introduce yourself in an interview. You can take a few seconds before answering.
After the interview
Here’s a thing to remember. Just because you have successfully answered all the interview questions doesn’t mean you can toss away your interview etiquette.
How you behave till the time you walk out of the building makes for your self-introduction in an interview.
Here is how you can leave a good impression after the interview is over.
Follow their lead
Once the interview ends, stand up when your interviewer leaves his/her chair. As a courtesy, smile and shake their hands and thank them for their time.
Here’s what you can say,
“It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for the opportunity, hope to hear from you soon.”
Send a follow up email
A follow-up email is a formal email that you send to your interviewer or the person of contact to thank them for giving you the opportunity to be considered for the post.
Tip: The faster you send this email, the better chance you have of landing a job.
Interview Tips
Apart from your introduction for interview, here are a few additional tips to make a great impression.
Dress for the job
The first impression is the last impression. This statement holds true for all cases and especially for a job interview.
As much importance you should be paying to practice your answers, you also need to choose the right outfit for the occasion while preparing for a job interview.
Also, take care of little things like fixing your hair, cleaning your shoes, and carrying the right accessories.
Don’t miss out on these just because they will be hidden from plain sight.
Do not be late
It is always better to wait at the venue for a few minutes than to arrive late.
Leave the house with around 30 minutes extra time in hand.
This will give you the grace time to still be on time if you get stuck in traffic or any other trouble.
Also, reaching the venue early can help you get accustomed to the ambiance thereby helping you calm down.
Tip: You can also inform your interviewer if you are being delayed by an uncontrollable circumstance. Give an estimated time and try to stick to it.
This will ensure them that you are serious about the job and your delay is genuine.
Carry extra copies of resume
You don’t know how many interviewers you will be facing so it is best to be prepared.
When preparing for a job interview make sure to carry 2-3 extra copies just to be ready.
Preparedness is most appreciated in a candidate as it highlights farsightedness and your seriousness regarding the job interview.
So, next time you have to introduce yourself in an interview, follow these interview tips, and interview etiquette while preparing for a job interview to leave a great impression!
All the best!
