Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Prepare your introduction
• Part 2 of 3: Practicing your introduction
• Part 3 of 3: Your introduction during the job interview
• Tips

"Could you tell us something about yourself?" If you have an interview soon, chances are the potential employer will ask you this question. While this may seem like an easy part of the interview, it is common for applicants to stumble upon this part if they have not prepared properly. When employers ask you to introduce yourself, they expect a concise, but also detailed profile. This allows them to get to know you better on both a personal and professional level. Read this article to learn how to prepare, practice, and successfully introduce yourself during a job interview.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Prepare your introduction

1. Review the material related to the application. Read your cover letter and resume carefully again to have a good idea of ​​what you have put on paper. Highlight or summarize things that you want to mention specifically during your introduction.
2. View the vacancy again. Identify the key skills the employer is looking for and make notes of them so you can include them in your induction. By specifically mentioning the skills, employers will be confirmed in their choice of your resume. This will also reinforce their sense that you are the best candidate for the position.
3. Think ahead of what they might want to know about you. Be sincere and be yourself, but realize that there is nothing wrong with highlighting the aspects of your professional experience that the employer is most interested in. Trying to determine beforehand what the potential employer is likely to want to hear will also help you consider what to include and what not to include in the introduction.
4. Ask yourself some questions. Ask yourself a few questions to help shape your introduction and determine what to include. Who am I? Why would I like to work for this company? What skills and professional experience do I have that make me eligible for the position? What do I hope to achieve in my career? Write down the answers to all of these questions and use them to shape your introduction.
   • You could start like this: "I recently graduated from ____ and have a degree in ____". Don't forget to mention any titles. If you already have a lot of work experience, use the following opening: "I'm working been as ____ for ____ years. " You can also add a small amount of personal information, such as "I have a passion for ____ (eg music)."
   • After your opening, talk about your skills. For example, say, "I am very good at ____ and ____." And then reinforce this by giving a specific example of a project you have been working on.
   • Finally, state the career goals you have in mind and how you can move towards the goals once you have the position within the company. For example, say, "My goal is to ____ and I look forward to discussing how your company may provide me with an opportunity to ____."
5. Think of a way to immediately draw attention to you during your introduction. Be creative and come up with a way to start your introduction so that the interviewers will remember you. Choose something that suits you. For example, if you enjoy reading, you can start by saying that you identify with a famous literary person. Then explain this on the basis of your skills. If you are a true IT specialist and want to emphasize this, you can start by mentioning or showing what appears on Google when you type in your own name. Use this to give more details about yourself and describe your skills.
6. Write your introduction on paper. To make sure you remember all the important points, it is best to convert your notes into paragraphs (3-5 sentences). Write down exactly how you want to say it. Start by providing basic information about yourself (Who am I?), Then move on to information related to professional skills and experience, and finish by briefly stating your main career goals. This last section is especially important, as it is a great opportunity to tell the interviewers why you are the right person for the position, without mentioning it explicitly.
7. See what you can simplify and / or clarify. Review the written introduction and determine if there are things that need to be simplified or clarified. Your introduction should be brief, but comprehensive.Realize that the potential employer is not waiting for a ten-minute presentation about you, but for a short but powerful overview of who you are.

Part 2 of 3: Practicing your introduction

1. Read your introduction out loud several times. Reading your introduction aloud will help you prepare as well as detect minor inconsistencies or things you have forgotten about.
2. Memorize the main points of your introduction. You don't have to memorize the introduction word for word, but you do need to memorize the main points and the order in which you will mention them.
3. Practice your introduction until it comes across as natural and untrained. Practice makes perfect! Practice the introduction several times until it looks like you haven't rehearsed it. You can enlist the help of a friend or family member. This person listens to your introduction and provides you with feedback if necessary.
4. Consider recording yourself practicing the introduction. It may feel a bit strange to see yourself again, but you can certainly benefit from it. You hear how you sound and see what you look like.
5. Make a cheat sheet with the most important points. Write the main points on cards and carry them with you so that you can take a look at them from time to time to refresh your memory just before an interview. Having these tickets with you will also improve your confidence, as you can always check the tickets quickly if you get nervous.
6. Relax. Take a deep breath and go to the interview. You have prepared very well for the introductory part of the interview, so nothing stands in the way of a great first impression. Remember that any nerves are not a problem. It will show the potential employer that you are desperate for the position.

Part 3 of 3: Your introduction during the job interview

1. Enter the interview with confidence. Don't wait or hesitate when the interviewer invites you to take a seat. Step into the room confidently and sit directly opposite your interviewer unless he / she instructs you differently. Sit upright, don't fidget with your hands, and keep your legs still. Fidgeting or shaking your legs radiates nervousness.
2. Shake hands with your interviewer. Make sure this is a firm handshake (firm, but in moderation) and keep it short. Shaking it two to three times is sufficient. Try to warm and dry your hands before the interview so that the interviewer is not confronted with an icy or sweaty hand.
3. When you first meet the interviewer, smile and be friendly. The interviewer may want to talk about small talks before the conversation starts. Smile and be yourself. Don't worry about naming your skills before the official part of the conversation begins.
4. Make eye contact with the interviewer. Even if you are nervous, making eye contact with the interviewer radiates confidence. You are not supposed to stare, but keep eye contact when the interviewer is speaking and talking to you. Letting your eyes wander or look down are clear signs of nervousness.
5. Introduce yourself directly. Do not hesitate if the interviewer asks you to introduce yourself. Allowing yourself some time to think before answering difficult questions from the interviewer is fine, but don't do this during the introductory phase when asked if you want to tell something about yourself. Not responding directly to the interviewer's question will give the impression that you are not well prepared or that you are not well aware of your strengths.
6. Do not deviate from the predefined points. Do not deviate from your carefully prepared introduction and do not add anything. Speaking for too long may cause repetition and appear nervous. Stick to the points you have prepared and practiced and then let the interviewer speak again. The interviewer will ask you additional questions if he / she wants more information or requires a little more clarity. EXPERT TIP

   Stay positive. Even if you feel that your introduction did not go as well as at home, remember that you have been invited to come for an interview because you meet the requirements. Don't let something small that you have done or said put you off, focus instead on the things that did go well.

Tips

• Never chew gum during a job interview. Before the conversation, take a peppermint for fresh breath. Make sure you have finished the peppermint before the conversation starts.
• Bring extra copies of your resume and hand them out to those present. Your preparation shows the interviewer that you are a reliable person.
• Make sure you are on time, arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the interview. The fact that you are a little early being late that you are punctual and that gives you a good opportunity to have a look at your cheat sheet before the interview starts.
• Whatever happens, stay friendly and respectful at all times.