How to Introduce Yourself in an Interview

Appearance plays an important role when meeting someone new. Choosing what to wear to an interview will represent, in part, who you are to those you’ll be meeting.Different offices have different dress codes,so you’ll want to do some research on the company culture before you go to your job interview.For example, a financial consultant interview will likely require a more formal dress than that of a tech start-up. If you’re unsure, reach out to your recruiter or office contact beforehand and ask.This shows that you’re paying attention to the details and care about making the right impression.

Erring on the side of professionalism is safe.

Here are a few tips:

Be yourself. What you wear is a part of who you are, so use it to communicate your personality where appropriate.

Keep the focus on you. Try and avoid distracting visuals like extravagant jewelery or busy prints to ensure your interviewers pay attention to your conversation.

Be comfortable. Being professional doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable—make sure you’re feeling good in your clothes when you leave the house.

After you’ve got the visuals down, plan on the first few speaking moments of your introduction. Confidence is equally important as you begin to verbally introduce yourself, so apply the same principles as you begin talking with the person at hand.

To establish a solid foundation, boldly state your name. Don’t be afraid to speak up; you’ll want to avoid making people struggle to hear your name or ask for it again. A solid volume shows you’re confident, excited about the opportunity and want to be respectful of their time.

Body language is a key part of communication. When you’re meeting people during the interview process, keep in mind the attributes you want your body language to display. For example, if you want to communicate confidence, keep your shoulders back, chin raised and chest high. Maintaining eye contact as you introduce yourself is another good practice, showing interviewers you’re engaged in the conversation and capable of communicating well with your potential future colleagues.

Pro-tip: Unsure about how you may be presenting yourself during introductions?

Try recruiting a friend or family member for a practice session on introducing yourself including your dress, body language and even your handshake. The mirror is a great practice tool too.

Typically, you’ll be seated in a room to wait until your interviewer comes to meet you. You may want to use this time to get out your pen and paper for notes, take a drink of water and a couple of deep breaths to relax your body. When your interviewer enters the room, greet them confidently by standing up, extending your hand to shake theirs, stating your name and smiling.

It’s likely that your interviewer knows the role you are applying for and has seen your resume. Still, you should prepare a short statement to make sure they know who you are and what role you’re applying for.

No introduction is complete without a goodbye. After your interview has ended, follow the lead of your interviewer: stand when they stand, shake their hand again and thank them for their time with a smile. You can prepare to say a few phrases that will end the conversation on a positive note:

• “It was a pleasure meeting you. I appreciate your time today.”
• “Thanks for a great conversation. Hope you enjoy the rest of your day.”

If you have multiple rounds of interviews, be prepared to stand and greet your next interviewer, repeating the steps above.