Introduce yourself in english examples

Self Introduction in English

Table of Contents

What is self-introduction?

A self-introduction is a process in which you are going to introduce yourself directly in front of either a single person or a group of people in a presentation, meeting, or interview. The self-introduction part is a professional as well as casual speech mostly used for business purposes and in academics.

It can also be used in one-to-one conversations about our situation. In this conversation, first of all, you have to introduce yourself by greeting your audience and telling them something about you, your activities like who you are, what you do, etc.

Introduce yourself:

Introducing yourself is not only saying your name, but it is also much more than that. It is not that simple. Telling about yourself in front of others is nothing but an introduction of yours. Introducing yourself is a task in which you tell details about you and your personal as well as professional life.

There are many ways to introduce yourself in English. Like you can start by greeting them and begin with your name, qualification, then go with your age, your residence, about your family, your hobbies, etc.

Below are some questions and answers that tell us about the introduction and how we have to answer.

Name: What is your name?

Self Introduction: Address

Address: Where do you live?

What is your address?
What is your hometown?

Age: What is your age?

How old are you?

Family: How many people are there in your family?

Who do you live with?
With whom do you live?
Do you have any siblings?

Birthday: What is your birth date?

When is your birthday?

Phone number: What is your phone number?

Job/ Profession: What do you do?

What do you do for a living?
What’s your job?
What sort of work do you do?

Hobbies: What’s your hobby?

What do you like?
What’s your favorite?

Education: Where do you study?

What do you study?

Marital Status: What is your marital status?

Are you married?
Do you have any girlfriend/ boyfriend?

How to Confidently Introduce Yourself in English in Formal and Informal Situations

One of the very first lessons that English language learners get is how to introduce yourself in English.

But do these lessons line up with what happens in the real world?

Today, I’m going to go over all the English phrases you need to meet someone new and introduce yourself with total confidence in both informal and formal situations, even if you’re just starting to learn English for beginners.

Contents

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How to Introduce Yourself in a Casual Setting

Before we look at these expressions to introduce yourself in English, you may be wondering how you’ll ever practice or remember them all.

FluentU makes it easy by naturally teaching you common English words and phrases with entertaining videos, from greetings and introductions to everything else.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Click here to check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

Try FluentU for FREE!

These are the videos that native speakers actually watch, like movie trailers, music videos, inspiring speeches and more.

Every video comes with built-in learning tools like interactive subtitles (click any word for an instant definition!), flashcards, fun quizzes and vocabulary lists. It’s a fun way to build your confidence for real-world conversations.

For example, check out this clip from “The X Factor,” where you’ll hear an American English speaker introduce himself and talk about himself with the competition judges. It’ll give you a great idea of how introductions work in real English conversations.

Watch that video (and the full FluentU library) with all the learning features by signing up for a free FluentU trial.

1. Remember These Phrases to Break the Ice

“Break the ice” is a common English expression. It means “to get comfortable with someone.”

There are many ways to start talking to someone new. I recommend that you memorize only two or three, so you don’t forget them.

Pick ones that you can use anywhere, anytime. Which ones sound most natural to you? The most important thing is that you’re comfortable saying them when you introduce yourself.

Here’s the easiest one: just say hello and your name. Then, if possible, shake hands.

Amy: Hello. I’m Amy.

(Offer your hand.)

Brian: Hello, I’m Brian.

Amy: Nice to meet you.

See? It’s that easy. You can also break the ice by using other common greetings like “good morning,” “good afternoon” and “good evening.”

After the first greeting, the best way to break the ice is to ask for very basic information. This gives you a reason for starting the conversation.

Here are some examples:

Where are you from?

What are you doing here? or What brings you here?

Are you having a good time?

Another great ice breaker is a compliment. Find something you like about them and tell them.

Just be a little careful here when picking an object to compliment. A good rule of thumb is to avoid discussing permanent characteristics (e.g. someone’s physical appearance, accent, etc.) because it can really come off wrong. They might be offended or think it’s too forward (overly-friendly).

Instead, try a compliment like these:

I love your dress.

You have a beautiful dog.

Is that your car? I really like it.

2. Prepare Basic Answers About Yourself

Prepare some basic answers about yourself now, so that you can introduce yourself with confidence and perfect English in the moment.

Keep your answers short and simple so you have less time to make mistakes—and less time to lose someone’s attention!

Have answers ready for these questions:

Where are you from?

What are you doing here?

Do you like your job?

How was your trip?

Are you having a good time?

What do you think of the weather?

What do you think of the movie/event/conference/restaurant?

Even when questions are specific, you can have a general response prepared. Say something generally positive, then add in more detail. Adding the detail keeps the conversation interesting. Then you can ask a question.

Brian: What do you think of the restaurant?

Amy: It’s really nice. I especially liked the fish. Did you?

Brian: How do you find the conference?

Amy: It’s really interesting. I especially liked the first speaker. What did you think?

Brian: How was your trip?

Amy: It was mostly fine. I only had one layover. How was yours?

3. Ask Follow-up Questions to Spark a Conversation

Now you need to keep the conversation going. Part of introducing yourself is letting the person you’re talking to introduce himself/herself, too.

To do this, have more simple questions ready. Like before, have three or four questions memorized. These questions can be more general to spark a real conversation.

Questions are always better than comments, because they make the other person talk, and this gives you time so that you can think of new things to say.

Did you read the news about _____?

Have you seen [movie/TV show]?

Do you like this neighborhood/bar/city?

You can also use some of the questions that we discussed in section two.

4. Ask Even More Questions to Keep the Conversation Going

If you aren’t confident in your English skills, it’s much easier to listen to the other person than it is to speak.

Pay attention to the answers from your first questions and ask for more details. People like talking about themselves, so this won’t be a problem. Below are some sample conversations.

Amy: How are you?

Brian: A little tired.

Amy: Why is that?

Brian: I didn’t sleep well last night.

Amy: I’m sorry to hear that. What went wrong?

Brian: I’m a bit jet-lagged from my flight.

Amy: I bet. Where did you fly from?

Brian: I came from London last night.

Amy: That’s far! Was it a long flight?

Brian: Just a few hours. But I had a long layover in Frankfurt.

You can see how Amy keeps the conversation going each time by asking Brian for more information. When she does this, she also learns more about him.

Let’s look at another example:

Amy: Where are you from?

Brian: I’m from England.

Amy: Wow! That’s far! When did you arrive?

Brian: I flew in last night.

Amy: Was it a long flight?

Brian: Just a few hours. But I’m still feeling jet-lagged.

Amy: What’s the time difference?

We can see how this conversation is a little different, but the same questions still work.

When we meet people, we usually have similar conversations to introduce ourselves and get to know each other better. That’s why it’s important to practice these introductions and memorize some of these common questions.

Let’s look at one more example. Let’s say Amy and Brian are both at a business conference.

Amy: What are you doing here?

Brian: I’m here for the conference.

Amy: So am I. What company are you from?

Brian: I’m with the Sales team from Samsung.

Amy: That’s really interesting. Do you like it?

Brian: Most of the time, yes.

Amy: What do you like about it?

Brian: I get to travel to nice conferences like this!

When you’re traveling for business, asking what people do for work is always a safe bet. However, be careful to keep the conversation positive. Don’t say anything bad about their work in case they disagree with you!

5. Have an Exit Plan

Not all conversations are going to be good.

If you find you have nothing more to say or you’re not connecting with the person you’re talking with, you need a way to leave politely. Otherwise, there could be a lot of awkward silences. Here are a few key lines for leaving politely:

Excuse me, I need to [find my friend/go to a meeting]

Well, it’s been lovely talking to you.

Nice to meet you, Brian.

I hate to run off, but I need to go.

Let me give you my card before I go.

Enjoy your time here!

As you say these phrases, hold out your hand for a handshake, making it clear that you’re ending the conversation.

6. Smile and Be Confident!

You’re your own biggest judge.

Most people will be happy that you came and talked to them. Even if you make a mistake when you introduce yourself, keep talking. People will remember your smile and your confidence more than any small errors.

Finally, practice saying these expressions a few times at home or with a friend so that when you meet someone new, you’ll be prepared.

Introducing Yourself in a Professional Setting

1. Prepare Some Background Information About Yourself to Break the Ice

A professional environment, be it a job interview, a networking event or any other situation where you have to show your professionalism, is not the same as meeting a friend at a bar or introducing yourself to your classmates.

Being professional means you have to be a bit or much more formal (depending on the context), use properly constructed sentences and, above all, show the other person you’re a professional, an asset, a person worth having in their life or team.

If you’re supposed to take part in a formal, professional situation, prepare a little bit of background basic information so you can introduce yourself professionally.

Remember that first impressions are very important and normally impossible to change once they happen, so take this first step very seriously.

Instead of saying:

Hi! My name’s John.

Howdy, how you doing?

Hi, I’m John, from New York.

Good morning, my name is John Doe. Very nice to meet you.

I’m John Doe from New York. Nice to meet you, Mr. Gordon.

Good morning, sir. My name is Doe, John Doe. I come from the New York office.

Good afternoon, Mr. Gordon. I’m John Doe from New York. I have heard a lot about you.

It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Gordon. My name is John Doe. I just arrived from New York.

2. Prepare a Short Presentation About Your Career Background

In your head! You don’t need to go to the event with a projector and show them a PowerPoint presentation on who you are and what you do!

This will be the first real piece of information about you that these new people will be getting after you have introduced yourself, so be specific and choose the skills and qualities that match the kind of situation you’re in.

You don’t want to “kidnap” the conversation and make it all about you, and you also don’t want people to get bored because you’ve decided to tell them in detail what you did while you were working in Argentina for that amazing insurance company.

Be precise! If they have any questions, they’ll ask, and you can always introduce part of your story later in the conversation when it fits much better.

Let’s have a look at how our two friends, Amy and Brian, could briefly talk about their career background and make a good first impression:

Amy: I work for an IT company in Lower Manhattan. or I’ve been working as an editor for Select Magazine for 15 years.

Brian: I’ve been working as a freelance translator since 2002. or During the last 10 years, I’ve been in charge of managing translation projects related to marketing.

Avoid saying too much at this point, and try not to give too much information if it doesn’t suit the conversation.

Here’s an example of something you should avoid saying right away:

I’ve been a freelance translator for 20 years. When I finished studying Translation and Mediation, I decided that I wanted to start looking for a job, but finding a good one was so difficult that I gave up three weeks later. I started my own business and began looking for big clients so that I could get a stable income. A couple of years later I moved to Bosnia, and…

Remember to also show interest in the other speaker/s after you’ve introduced yourself and your career status. You can add one of the following questions at the end of your “presentation”:

What about you, Mr. Gordon?

Do you have any experience in IT?

What do you do for a living, Mr. Gordon?

I’ve heard you work in … as a …, don’t you, Mr. Gordon?

3. Prepare Relevant Information About Yourself Beforehand

As the conversation goes on, the situation you’re in will determine what you speak about.

If you’re on a job interview, you most probably will have to answer questions about your last job, your experience in this and that field, or your strengths and weaknesses.

If you’re networking or are taking part in a professional event like a convention or a business meeting, you’ll probably get asked several different questions depending on the kind of event you’re in.

Regardless of the kind of event and the type of questions you get, make sure you’re relevant and of value, and always try to answer the questions directly and to the point (unless they’re uncomfortable or very out-of-place).

When you’re getting ready for the event, try to think of possible questions you might get and how you’d answer them. Preparing in advance will help you know what to say when you’re actually asked those questions, and give you some confidence to answer other questions that you might not have prepared for specifically.

Whatever you’re answering, remember to stay on topic and avoid going off on a tangent (changing the topic or talking about unrelated things).

Here are a couple of examples of things you shouldn’t say unless specifically asked about (which would be weird, nonetheless):

Oh yes, I love kittens!

I think McDonald’s has the best coffee in town.

Facebook is full of handsome men and pretty women.

Instead, you might say the following:

I own my own translation company and I have four employees.

My biggest strength is being able to adapt very easily to almost any kind of situation.

I find it interesting that more and more people are deciding to attend this kind of convention.

I’m so glad you just asked that. As a matter of fact, yes, I am married and I have four amazing kids.

Note that this final answer to a potential question would be fine in a professional or networking situation, but it’s not okay for an interviewer to ask you about your marriage, children or family life—at least if you’re interviewing in America.

4. Think of Things That Make You Unique

Have you lived in five different countries? Are you a polyglot (a person who knows a number of languages)? Did you graduate with honors?

During a job interview or a professional event, there will come a time when you’ll have to brag (boast proudly about yourself) a little bit about yourself.

Use that moment to shine like a diamond and show you are a valuable asset and a person worth keeping close.

Be unique, be brilliant and do it in a professional way!

Make a list of things that make you professionally unique. It can be anything you’ve achieved in your life that makes you feel proud of yourself.

Don’t lie, exaggerate or beautify what you say. Honesty will get you further than lies, so don’t say you speak Swahili fluently if you actually only know a few words in that language.

Read what Amy and Brian have to say about their professional lives. Aren’t they something?

Amy: I met Bill Gates in 2005 when I was working as an assistant. He shared some thoughts on building your own brand. That was a turning point in my career.

Brian: I used to live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where I got to work with the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law. This allowed me to have an insight on the topic, which has certainly proved to be valuable for my job as a translator.

Avoid talking about things that could be detrimental (negative) for you or are so unimportant that they’re not even worth mentioning:

I’m punctual and very responsible.

My mom always packs lunch for me. (Seriously, Brian?)

I lived in Bosnia, where the food is amazing.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice!

Introducing yourself professionally and being able to hold a formal conversation in such a (sometimes) stressful environment can be daunting (difficult, intimidating), but if you get ready beforehand and prepare some sentences and answers before you enter the situation, you’ll be much more confident and calm.

Before you go to that professional event, it can help to practice possible conversations as much as you need until you feel comfortable and happy with your answers.

You can never predict (figure out beforehand) exactly what a conversation will look like, but you can be prepared for the most common situations! And the more comfortable you are answering the basics, the more confident you’ll be when the conversation goes somewhere that you didn’t expect.

Watching some videos of other people having professional interactions is also a very helpful step to becoming confident. FluentU has a few videos that can help, like this cute animated video that gives tips for doing well on your job interview or this excellent video example of how to move from small talk to business discussions (an important skill to know if you’re in business!).

Remember that being professional doesn’t mean having the best credentials or having graduated from the most prestigious universities. Being professional means knowing how to behave in a formal professional environment, knowing what to say at every specific moment and, all in all, acting in a way that will make people understand you’re reliable, competent and an expert in your field.

Here you have a final example of a conversation between Brian and Amy. They’re at a marketing convention, and they just got to know each other thanks to a mutual (common) friend:

Brian: Good morning, nice to meet you, Ms. Poltino. My name is Brian Gordon. Mr. Standford talks wonders about you.

Amy: Nice to meet you, Mr. Gordon. Please, call me Amy. So, what’s Mr. Standford saying about me?

Mr. Standford: I was just telling Brian about your amazing career and your recent move to San Francisco.

Brian: I love San Francisco! How are you liking it, Amy?

Amy: I love it here, the atmosphere is wonderful. Where are you from, Mr. Gordon?

Brian: Please, call me Brian. I was born in London but I only lived in England for six months so I really consider myself to be American.

Amy: Sounds exciting! I’ve never been to Europe. I’ve always wanted to visit Spain, but I got promoted to manager at my job and I’ve been very busy since. Where do you work, Brian?

Brian: I’ve been a freelance translator for 20 years. I have a passion for languages. What about you, Amy? Mr. Standford told me you work for an IT company downtown?

Mr. Standford: Nokia, can you imagine?

Amy: That’s right. I’ve been involved in some Nokia IT projects since 2014. I recently got an offer to come to San Francisco and I didn’t want to waste such a huge opportunity.

Brian: Sounds amazing.

Mr. Standford: Brian, did you know that Amy knows Bill Gates?

Brian: Really? Impressive!

Amy: Thanks! I met Bill Gates in 2005 when I was working as an assistant. He shared some thoughts on building your own brand. That was a turning point in my career.

Brian: Sounds amazing…

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to run. It’s been lovely talking to you about how to introduce yourself in English!

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How to Introduce Yourself in English With Confidence (Both Formally and Informally)

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You surely know how to introduce yourself.

But some of us are shy, and when it comes to introducing ourselves in English, things somehow don’t go as we’ve planned it out. At those moments, we look even weirder than we really are no matter if we speak English fluently.

So, if you don’t want these odd situations to happen to you, keep. reading because, in the following lines, we will go through all the English words and phrases related to introductions. You will also find tips on how to introduce yourself in English both formally and informally.

Now, let’s get started.

General Tips on How to Introduce Yourself

The tips below apply to every situation related to the introduction. How to introduce yourself to a group of people you see for the first time, or to one person is the same.

Follow these tips and you won’t have to worry about your shyness or uncertainty anymore.

Be clear. The essential thing is not to mumble so that your speaker doesn’t have to ask you several times. Speak clearly and use concrete and precise sentences.

Be friendly. Even on formal occasions, you can behave friendly. A little smile while introducing yourself says that you want to meet new people and that you are a pleasant, friendly person.

Be polite. No matter if you introduce yourself to a group of people or one person, you have to behave politely. Being friendly and having a smile is one thing, but telling a joke in a formal meeting is entirely inappropriate. So, when you introduce yourself, we suggest you stand up. You also use body language so that people have a good first impression.

How to Introduce Yourself Informally

If you are meeting with a group of people your age, you can informally introduce yourself.

Introductions Phrases

Here are some of the commonly used phrases for the introduction.

Hello, I’m … (here, you say your name). It is recommended to offer your hand for shaking. The other part will shake your hand and probably introduce himself the same way as you, that is ‘Hello, I’m…’

Nice to meet you.

I’m from… (here, you say the name of the town or country)

These English greeting phrases are a great way to break the ice and start a conversation using other phrases related to the introduction.

Here are some phrases:

Where are you from?

What brings you here?

Are you having a good time?

How long have you been learning English?

Giving a compliment to your speaker is always a good thing to continue the conversation. However, avoid mentioning physical characteristics. Try the following compliments, for example.

I like your dress/ suit.

What a beautiful dog you have.

You dance really nicely.

Questions And Answers to Continue The Conversation

When you’ve introduced yourself to someone if you want to continue speaking to that person, you have to prepare some questions so that the conversation flows naturally.

You and also prepare your answers to the questions.

Here are some common phrases:

Q: What do you do?

A: I’m the manager/ assistant/ teacher. (Here, you can put any other profession you do)

Q: Do you like your job?

A: Well, I have a lot of work every day, but I like my job.

Q: What do you think of the movie/restaurant/ event?

A: I think it’s really nice, especially the pasta.

Q: How was your trip?

A: Even though it was lost, mostly, it was fine.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I like taking a walk in the park and reading.

Phrases to Keep The Conversation Going

If your speaking skills aren’t so good, you can always keep the conversation going by asking for more information about the topic you are talking about with others.

Here is one example:

Person A: Where are you from?

Person B: I’m from Canada.

Person A: Well, that’s quite far away. How did you arrive?

Person B: I came here by flight.

Person A: Was the flight long?

Person B: Luckily, it wasn’t. The flight was comfortable too, so I had a feeling that I’ve arrived in less than an hour.

Phrases to Politely Stop The Conversation

Imagine the situation: you introduce yourself, start a conversation, but in the middle of the topic you realize that you simply can’t connect to that person.

In these situations, you have ‘to be equipped’ with some phrases that can help you finish the conversation politely.

Here are some common phrases you can use.

It’s been lovely talking to you.

Nice to meet you.

Enjoy your time here

I’m so sorry, I don’t like it, but I have to go.

Excuse me, I need to go to a meeting.

While using these phrases, don’t forget to shake hands with your speaking partner. This way, you will sound polite and sincere.

How to Introduce Yourself Formally

Formal conversations are different from informal ones. Even though you can smile and be friendly, there are some expressions that you can use, while others, more informal, aren’t recommended.

As you probably know, the first impression is very important, especially in formal conversations, such as business meetings or job interviews, so you have to pay attention to the phrases you are going to use.

Using specific, formal phrases you have to show the other side that you are a professional who is worth being a part of a team or someone whose business opinion can be considered.

Starting A Formal Introduction

Let’s take a look at the example of a job interview. When you enter the room, don’t forget to put on a little smile and introduce yourself. Behave friendly but politely, too.

Here are phrases you should use.

Good morning/ afternoon. My name is ….(here, you say your full name). Nice to meet you.

It’s a pleasure to (finally) meet you, Mr. X. My name is…( say your full name). I come from … ( here, you say where you come from)

Good morning/ afternoon. I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. X.

Phrases For a Short Business Conversation

In cases like this, you don’t want to talk too much, nor too little.

Finding a perfect balance can be pretty challenging.

What you need to have in mind is that you have to be specific and choose to talk about your skills that match the occasion.

That’s why we suggest you remember phrases like the ones from the following examples:

I work for a PR company in London.

I’ve been working for an IT company as an administrator for 10 years.

Just like on job interviews, at business meetings it is essential to be clear, polite, and formal.

Here are examples of how two colleagues can talk about it.

Person A: I’ve been working as a teacher in high school for five years. After that, I’ve decided to change my career and since then I work for a translation company.

Person B: I’ve been working for a translation company for about six years when I decided to move and started working as a freelance translator.

In situations like these, don’t forget to ask questions similar to the following ones:

Do you have any experience in administration, Mr. X?

What do you do for a living, Mr. X?

And what about you, Mr. X?

Always Find Some Time to Practice

You can never know in which direction the conversation goes, but you can be prepared in general.

Professionals don’t necessarily always have a perfect experience and the best education. In the end, it is all about knowing how to act and what to say at that moment and that with words you can show others that you can be a professional the others can rely on.

To understand the goal, take a look at the following example:

Person A: Goog morning, Mr. X. It very nice to meet you. I’m Mr. Y.

Person B: Nice to meet you, too Mr. Y. Your colleague, Mr. Z, talks wonder about you and your career.

Person A: That’s nice to hear. And what Mr. Z said about me?

Person B: He was talking about your fascinating career and your skills to solve any kind of business issue.

Person A: Thank you for the compliment as well as Mr. Z. I’ve heard that you’ve recently moved to the country. How are you liking it?

Person B: I like it very much. At first, I thought it would be difficult to get used to, but I can say that I’m entirely satisfied with this way of life.

Final Thoughts

At first sight, the introduction may seem hard.

It isn’t difficult, but, as we’ve mentioned, you have to be prepared in a way to know your audience so that you can act according to the situation.

You surely wouldn’t like to talk informally at a business meeting or be too formal at a party.

Phrases and expressions that have to be used in these situations are an ideal opportunity to practice your speaking skills with others. If you are still unsure about your skills, you can always practice with English tutors first.

How to introduce yourself in English?

Be clear. The essential thing is not to mumble so that your speaker doesn’t have to ask you several times. Speak clearly and use concrete and precise sentences. Be friendly. Even on formal occasions, you can behave friendly. A little smile while introducing yourself says that you want to meet new people and that you are a pleasant, friendly person. Be polite. No matter if you introduce yourself to a group of people or one person, you have to behave politely. Being friendly and having a smile is one thing, but telling a joke in a formal meeting is entirely inappropriate. So, when you introduce yourself, we suggest you stand up. You also use body language so that people have a good first impression.

How to introduce yourself informally?

Use introductions phrases, questions and answers to continue the conversation, phrases to keep the conversation going, phrases to politely stop the conversation

How to introduce yourself formally?

Formal conversations are different from informal ones. Even though you can smile and be friendly, there are some expressions that you can use, while others, more informal, aren’t recommended. As you probably know, the first impression is very important, especially in formal conversations, such as business meetings or job interviews, so you have to pay attention to the phrases you are going to use.

Introducing Yourself in English

Learning how to introduce yourself is an essential part of learning how to converse in English. Introductions are also an important part of making small talk at parties or other social events. Introductory phrases are different than the ones we use to greet friends, but they’re often used together as parts of the broader conversation, as you’ll see.

Introducing Yourself

In this example, Peter and Jane are meeting for the first time at a social event. After greeting each other, they begin by asking simple personal questions. Working with a friend or classmate, take turns practicing this role-play.

Peter: Hello.

Jane: Hi!

Peter: My name is Peter. What’s your name?

Jane: My name is Jane. Nice to meet you.

Peter: It’s a pleasure. This is a great party!

Jane: Yes, it is. Where are you from?

Peter: I’m from Amsterdam.

Jane: Amsterdam? Are you German?

Peter: No, I’m not German. I’m Dutch.

Jane: Oh, you’re Dutch. Sorry about that.

Peter: That’s OK. Where are you from?

Jane: I’m from London, but I’m not British.

Peter: No, what are you?

Jane: Well, my parents were Spanish, so I’m Spanish, too.

Peter: That’s very interesting. Spain is a beautiful country.

Jane: Thank you. It is a wonderful place.

Key Vocabulary

In the previous example, Peter and Jane are introducing themselves. Several important phrases that they use in this exchange are:

Introducing Other People

Introductions in Formal Situations

Introductions can occur between more than two people, for example at a party or at a business meeting. When you meet someone for the first time, it is common to greet them by saying, «It’s a pleasure to meet you,» or «Pleased to meet you.» It is polite to respond by repeating the statement back at them, as Mary does in this example:

Ken: Peter, I’d like you to meet Mary.

Peter: It’s a pleasure to meet you.

Mary: It’s a pleasure to meet you too!

Ken: Mary works for.

Introductions in Informal Situations

In informal situations, especially in North America, introductions are also made simply saying, «This is (name).» It is also common to just say «Hi» or «Hello» as a response in this informal setting.

Ken: Peter, this is Mary.

Peter: Hi. How are you?

Mary: Hello! Pleased to meet you.

Ken: Mary works for.

Common Introductory Phrases

As you can see in the previous examples, there are a number of different phrases that are commonly used to introduce strangers:

Saying Hello and Goodbye

Many people begin and end conversations by saying hello and goodbye to each other. Doing so is considered good manners in many parts of the English-speaking world, and it’s also a simple way to express friendly interest in whoever you’re chatting with.

A simple greeting followed by asking about the other person is all that is needed to begin an introduction. In this brief scenario, two people have just met:

Jane: Hello, Peter. How are you?

Peter: Fine, thanks. How are you?

Jane: I’m fine, thank you.

Once you’re finished speaking with someone, it’s customary to say goodbye as you both part, as in this example:

Peter: Goodbye, Jane. See you tomorrow!

Jane: Bye bye, Peter. Have a nice evening.

Peter: Thanks, you too!

Key Vocabulary

Key phrases to remember include:

More Beginning Dialogues

Once you’re mastered introducing yourself, you can practice your English skills with more exercises, including telling time, shopping at a store, traveling at an airport, asking for directions, staying at a hotel, and eating at a restaurant. Work with a friend or classmate to practice these role-playing dialogues, just as you did for these exercises.

By Paola Pascual on Sep 1, 2021 11:19:44 AM

How is it possible that one of the most basic aspects of business communication is also one of the most awkward ones? We’re talking about how to introduce yourself in a professional context –at a meeting, before a presentation, or meeting new clients. Perhaps you’re also thinking about how to introduce yourself in interviews.

How to introduce yourself professionally

Introductions are extremely important for your professional life. They are like your new business card. The first interaction you have with someone will impact how others perceive you, and also the relationship you’ll later have with them. Acing your introduction in office settings will give you a clear advantage.

A 3-step framework for professional introductions

#1 Who you are

The very first step is to mention your name. This part is easy! You can use the below phrases to introduce yourself:

#2 What you do

The second step might sound simple, but it’s actually the most important part. Usually, people say their name and their job title. But what else is there to say about you? What is it exactly that you do? The tricky part is to find the right length of your elevator pitch. You need to provide some key points your audience can hang on to without having to write an essay.

So, yes, you should still mention your job title, your company, perhaps even your department, but also add what you really do –in plain English. It should be short, so skip the details. A sentence is enough. What’s important is that people immediately understand what you do and want to work with you.

You can just memorize the phrases below:

Grab a piece of paper and write down a few sentences using this framework. Then, select the best introduction lines about yourself. Here are some additional expressions to describe your roles and responsibilities:

Here’s another example:

#3 What others need to know

The last bit of a professional introduction consists of adding other nice facts that are relevant to the people and the context. Here, you can show your contribution (what you bring to the table), and you can set the expectations for the meeting or presentation going on.

Here are some phrases you can use:

This should also be very brief, so you’ll want to sum it up in a sentence. And that’s it! You’ve learned how to craft a personal introduction that’s engaging and professional in 3 easy steps.

If you still need help to communicate effectively with other c ultures, get in touch with Talaera. This article works as supporting material for our podcast episode on how to communicate better with US Americans. You can read the transcript below. Make sure you check out all our other Talaera Talks episodes and subscribe to get new episode alerts.

Looking for more ways to improve your business English communication?

Take your professional English communication skills to the next level with Talaera.

For any additional information or questions, you can also reach out at hello@talaera.com. Interested in getting the best offers and receiving free content on Business English communication? Subscribe to our newsletter and we will keep you in the loop with offers, free events, and development materials!

If you enjoyed this article, keep reading:

If you are learning English, including new English words and expressions will help you with effective communication. Remember to check out our other episodes on how to make small talk, how to deliver engaging presentations, how to speak English fluently, and many more: visit the podcast website. Listen to it on your favorite platform.

0:24
Hi, how are you today? My name is Paola and I have a question for you. How is it possible that one of the most basic aspects of business communication is also one of the most awkward ones? I’m talking about how to introduce yourself in a professional context, like at a meeting or before a presentation or meeting new clients. We’re all able to say ‘Hi, my name is Paola and I’m the Marketing Director at Talaera’. But who are you beyond that? In this episode, you’ll learn an effective way to introduce yourself professionally in three easy steps. You can later find the transcript and more examples on our blog. So talaera.com blog, and you’ll see everything there.

2:24
So when it comes to introductions, every case is different, of course, and you will need to understand the room. When networking for example, introductions tend to be shorter. But in the negotiation, you’ll usually spend more time introducing yourself and bonding with the other party. But in general, a professional introduction should include three parts or steps. Number one, who you are number two, what you do number three, a detail that others need to know. Once you have those three, wrap it up, don’t go on and on until the end of time. Now, let’s look at each step individually. I’ll explain them in-depth and provide some examples.

3:10
Starting by number one, who you are. Alright, the very first step is to mention your name. This is easy. And you can use us use the phrases that I’m going to give you now. Oh, I don’t think we’ve met before. My name is Anna. Or if you have met them. I think we’ve already met. Again, remember, I’m Mel or Nice to meet you. Pleased to meet you. Let me introduce myself. I’d like to introduce myself. Or if you have a nickname, you can say my name is Melanie, or you can call me, Mel. Good. We have the first part. Easy, right?

3:55
Second one, what do you do? The second step might sound simple, but it’s actually the most important and perhaps even tricky part. Usually, people say their name and their job title. But what else is there to say about you? What is it exactly that you do? The tricky part is to find the right balance or length of your elevator pitch. You need to provide some key points your audience can hang on to without having to write an essay. So yes, you should still mention your job title, your company, perhaps even your department. But you also need to add what you really do in plain English. Forget about jargon and fancy words. It should be short, so skip the details, sentences enough. What’s important is that people immediately understand what you do and want to work with you.

4:57
When explaining what you do, don’t focus on tasks, don’t say, Oh, I do this and that and that. Focus on results. Talk about how you help people and be very specific. If you can craft an introduction that’s focused on the results, and the other person is looking for you have, you would think about the problems, they may have an offer a solution. And most importantly, adjust this message, according to your audience. So you can actually just memorize the sentences I’m going to give you or phrases I am at easy. I’m a software developer at Globex Corporation, you can describe what you do in two ways you can see well, officially, my job is to, or you can just say the nice result that you get out of your job. So but really, I what it’s all about, or, which is is a fancy way of saying, and here are some examples. I’m a copywriter. Officially, my job is to write content for advertising. prod is a little boring. But really, here’s where it gets exciting. But really, I help companies tell compelling stories about their brands. Or another example. I’m the CEO, which is a fancy way of saying that I’m making sure that the company is run in the most efficient way possible. Or I’m a talent acquisition manager. And my responsibilities include finding, recruiting, hiring, and retaining great candidates. Again, that’s the boring explanation. But then you can make it more exciting by saying, well, it’s all about that’s the phrase, it’s all about making sure the team keeps growing nicely. And then I understand exactly what you do. I’m going to add some more of these phrases to the blog. So again, talaera.com, go on the blog, and then you’ll see lots of other phrases to describe what do you do?

7:19
So we have the name, we have what you do. And now we go to the very last part, what do others need to know about you? So the last bit of a professional introduction usually consists of adding other nice facts that are relevant to the people and the context. And here, you can show your contribution, what do you bring to the table in this very specific moment. And you can also use it to set the expectations for the meaning or the presentation going on. Some of the phrases you can use are today, I’d like to walk you through, or for the next one minute, I’m going to explain. Or I’d like us to do this now and decide on a follow-up for these other tasks. My purpose today is to share inside information about this is if you were leading the meeting or giving the presentation, but if you’re just part of the audience, and you were just introducing yourself, you can say well, Anna, I’ll let to take the lead / the floor is yours, but let me know if you’d like me to jump in at some point. This should also be very brief. So you want to sum it up in a short sentence.

8:34
And that’s it. You’ve learned how to craft a personal introduction that’s engaging, and professional in three easy steps. Now, it’s your turn, prepare your own introduction. And remember to include all the steps equipment, we just mentioned. Number one, your name. Number two, what you do. And here you should include here your job title, but also how you help people. And number three, a detail that the others need to know, like what you bring to the table in that specific situation. And once you’ve included all three, end here. As the Alice in Wonderland quote goes, «Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end, and then stop.» And that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna stop here. Craft your message, drop it in the comments, and we’ll let you know how you did. I hope you enjoyed today’s episode, and I hope to talk to you soon.