There are many times in our lives where we have to tell others about who we are. Often it’s not that simple: your self-introduction speech at a business conference in the Silicon Valley will significantly differ from how you would talk about yourself with a new friend.
So how do you know what to say? To start with, understand what introducing yourself professionally actually means. When you talk to potential employers for the first time, you need to make it clear what value you have as an expert in your field and how you can be useful for them.
For students, a good self-introduction will mean greater opportunities, a more prominent status in their learning establishment, and, of course, good grades.
Now, what exactly does a successful speech include? Below we discuss some persuasive speech ideas.
How to Start a Self-Introductory Speech
Before you say anything, you should greet the interviewer and tell them your name in a calm and polite way.
The next step would be to tell them what your qualifications are and what you’re specialized in. However, it’s not that simple - your degree or job title don’t mean a lot on their own. You have to explain what it is that you really do.
Give examples of the tasks that you perform and describe your achievements, something that differs you from other candidates - any awards, promotions, research papers, and competitions that you have won. This ensures that they know your true value as an employee or a prospective student. Experience any struggle? Get professional college essay help online from expert essay writers.
10 Questions to Ask Yourself
When preparing a self-introduction speech for an interview, ask yourself these questions:
- Why do I find this particular position attractive?
- What are the qualities in me that make me a good student/employee?
- What are my strengths and achievements?
- Why am I applying to this company?
- What do I want to achieve if I succeed?
- What are the relevant difficulties I have faced and overcome in the past?
- Is what I’m saying here relevant to the context?
- Do I sound engaged and interested?
- (If you’re applying for a job) How much do I expect to get paid?
- What are my ambitions for the future?
10 Tips for Writing a Self-Introduction Speech
There are a few tricks that can increase the chance of success after your interview.
Here are 10 self-introduction speech tips from us:
- Do your research. Make sure you become familiar with the organization you’re reaching out to;
- Use professional language. Your employee won’t appreciate slang;
- Be mindful of the cultural context. If you’re applying abroad, learn about the country and its customs;
- Rehearse. Practice in front of the mirror to sound clear and coherent;
- Control your body language. Your gestures and mimics tell a lot about who you are as a person;
- Stick to the topic;
- Prepare a few questions;
- Write a draft. Do a few versions and pick the best one;
- Be prepared for follow-up questions;
- Show the final result to an experienced person. They will point you at your weak spots.
What Structure to Use in a Self-Introduction Speech
Finally, you’re ready to practice writing your speech to introduce yourself.
Here’s an example of the perfect structure:
- Introduce yourself: your name, your job and your degree;
- Tell the listeners about the tasks that you do;
- Describe your experience and achievements;
- Talk about who you are as a person: what you like to do in your spare time and why it’s useful;
- Finish up by discussing your goals and motivations.
How to Keep Calm When Talking About Yourself
Introducing yourself can be a nerve-wracking task, and that’s completely normal.
Here are some tips on how to stay composed:
- Pace yourself - don’t talk too fast;
- Make sure you breathe evenly;
- Get plenty of rest before your speech;
- Engage with the subject, make it interesting to talk about;
- Don’t be afraid of the eye-contact with the listeners;
- Hold something in your hands to ground yourself.
Self-Introduction Examples
In this section, we review three self-introductions samples.
Self-introduction examples for students:
“My name is Jane Foster and my major is in Medical Neuroscience. I am specialized in molecular neuropsychiatry. My most recent research paper about the epigenetics of depressive disorders was published in several journals such as Nature Neuroscience. My side job is to write articles for a local newspaper. My ambition is to work in a neuroscience lab in West Virginia University after I graduate.”
“My name is Sandra Collins and I’m in my senior year of Journalism school. I specialize in criminal journalism. My famous exposé about a local government official was published in The Sun and reviewed in multiple internet journals. I work as a freelance photographer. I hope to work as a reporter for The New York Times in a few years’ time.”
Formal self-introduction example:
“My name is Ben Smith, I am a programmer and project manager specialized in Rust. I was a co-founder and a chief executive at an IT company that now makes over 50 million dollars of annual revenue. At home, I am a father of four children and proud American citizen. I see a lot of potential in this project and I believe that my expertise will contribute to its success.”
Remember what it is that makes you stand out
As Steve Jobs revealed at a conference in Stanford University in 2005, you have to believe in what you do for other people to buy it. That’s what really makes an excellent introductory speech. The speeches themselves can vary a lot, but if you stay calm and true to yourself, you’ll get there, no doubts.
Nevertheless, we understand how challenging it can be to write a high-quality self-intro, especially when you’re new to it. Our speech writing services are ready to help. We hire only the best specialists that will "write a speech for me", personal statement, or cover letter that will boost your employability and highlight the best parts of you. You’ll receive 24/7 support and get the perfect result within three hours of placing the order.