How to Introduce Yourself in an Interview
Congrats on landing an interview! Let’s do one final walk-through to make sure you’re all set.
Have you….
Researched your interviewer?
Printed copies of your resume?
Rehearsed your answer to the “tell me about yourself question”?
Prepared your questions for your interviewer?
Picked a few ways to make yourself memorable?
You’re in pretty darn good shape if you answered ‘yes’ to all of these. But there’s one more detail you need to sort out before you walk into the door: How exactly do you plan to introduce yourself? It can be easy to forget rehearsing such a miniscule component, but a practiced, strong, and confident intro is the way to go. It’s not superfluous, it’s super profesh.
When you first arrive at the office….
1. Don’t assume the first person you come into contact with will know why you’re there. It’s your job to make clear you’ve arrived for an interview. You can say something as simple as:
“Good morning, my name is Caroline Gray and I have an interview with Dave Smith at 2:00pm.”
2. Strong eye contact is a must. It’s the quickest and most effective way to project a sense of confidence and comfort. In addition, eye contact shows you’re engaged and interested.
3. A firm handshake is like an impeccably written cover letter. It won’t go unnoticed.
4. Introduce yourself to everyone who’s in the room if there are multiple people interviewing you at the same time. Take the time to look at everyone individually and give them all a handshake.
5. Say yes if someone offers you a glass of water. It’s a small gesture to show you’re an equal player in the game. You’re at the interview because you not only interested in what you can do for the company, but what the company can do for you. Accepting a small offer, even if it’s just a glass of water, is a small way to show this.
