Introducing Yourself

“So tell me a little bit about yourself”

This is not a good time to ad lib!

Think about why they are asking you this:

1. For reassurance on your background
2. To spark conversation
3. To see what you think is important

Rough template: (starting points for crafting your own introduction)

1. Who are you?¹1. e.g., present position, field, major.
2. What’s your background?²2. e.g., education, interested, previous experience
3. What’s a recent accomplishment which fits this position?

Additional Criteria

• Be organized and brief (30 seconds — 1 minute)
  • Be well-rehearsed!
• Convey confidence
• Have a professional demeanor
• Make sure it’s appropriate for the position³3. It’s very tempting to reuse a “good” introduction for everyone, but this is a mistake because you need to tailor it for each company!

Common Pitfalls

Remember: Your goal isn’t to rehash all the content on your resume!

Content

• It is very common to forget to introduce yourself / provide content.⁴4. Confidence without content tells nothing!
• Also, don’t come off as overconfident!
• Remember to demonstrate team skills

Demeanor

• Confidence
• Eye contact
• Fidgeting
• Poor posture