Congratulations! You wrote a stunning resume that made you sound like the solution to every problem in the world, you wrote a fantastic cover letter that concisely stated who you are and what you are looking for and now you have the interview! That’s great but it’s just the first step. The next challenge is making the right impression in person.
Tips to introduce yourself in English
There are many tips that I can give you to help you in the interview like have a good firm handshake, repeat their name and use it so that you remember it, speak positively and in a friendly tone. What you really want to hear though is how do I practice introducing myself in English?
Rehearsing the language
Well, here is the practice that will help you to do this part confidently. Take a piece of paper, fold it into six parts and write the following words (one on each part):
Name, from, education, work, family and hobbies.
Now, write down up to 6 different ways to talk about each one.
My name is Glenn, You can call me Glenn. Glenn, nice to meet you. Bond, Glenn Bond…..
It is important to have different ways of saying them so that you are not just memorizing one script. If you can, get a teacher or native English-speaking friend to check them for you.
Now, it is rehearsal time. Get in front of the mirror and rehearse like you are introducing yourself at an interview. When you feel comfortable with this, move onto introducing yourself to real people. Each time you do it, say things differently. Use different combinations so that each time it is a different speech.
Be careful…
My first assumption when candidates are obviously saying a memorized script is that this person’s English level is low so make your introduction natural. Make it flow. There are some red flags that tell me if you are just saying a rehearsed speech.
The first one is an unnatural beginning. A lot of people start their memorized introduction the same way each time. I say, “so, tell me a little bit about yourself” and they say, “please allow me to introduce myself, my name…” If the conversation does not flow, it is obviously rehearsed.
The other one is when you look up at the ceiling when speaking. If you do this, you are trying to remember your lines not have a natural conversation.
Practicing the introduction in this way will help you to prepare for the interview and in the same way, you can practice common interview questions but the introduction should be very smooth to make a good first impression.
Good luck at your job interview in English!
You are not alone to prepare for your job interview in English
Rehearsing your introduction, your elevator pitch and typical job interview questions with our experienced English teachers can make a big difference to the outcome! They will help you prepare your answer so that they show not only a good command of English but also an effective pitch to convince the company you’re the right person for the job.
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