How to Introduce Yourself Like a Pro

Everyone knows the power of a good—or bad—introduction. Whether you’re listening to a popular panelist nail a presentation or awkwardly stumbling through your personal introduction in a Zoom meeting, that initial introduction sets the foundation for the pending relationship.

It may determine whether it gets developed at all. 

You only get one chance at a good first impression. So you have to make your introduction count.

If first impressions are that important, then knowing how to introduce yourself is an essential life skill we should all learn. Whether you’re hoping to land a dream job or simply seeking out new friends, knowing the right way to put yourself out there could determine the outcome. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to put your best foot forward in a self-introduction.

Introductions happen frequently in everyday life. Naturally, the first ones that come to mind are the most nerve-wracking, such as meeting a potential boss for a job interview or an in-person meetup for a blind date.

In reality, small introductions happen all the time. You meet the parents of your child’s best friend on a playdate. A coworker introduces you to an industry colleague at a conference. You meet your entire team on the first day of your new job. Your boss asks you to lead a virtual team meeting for another department where most of those listening don’t know you. Or, perhaps you’re a doctor who often meets new patients or a teacher who meets new students each fall. 

These moments make a first impression on those you meet. And whether you realize it or not, you’re leaving a mark that could last for years.

It’s your professional introductions that often have the most impact. In many work situations, you may have only a short time to tell a meaningful story about yourself. Those seconds or minutes could bend your career trajectory, so it’s critical to use them well.

There are several benefits to knowing how to introduce yourself well in such situations, such as:

• Emphasizing your most important qualities: A self-introduction is your opportunity to tell your story on your terms. When you’re well prepared, you can highlight your most relevant professional accomplishments or skills—your primary goal in a job interview, for instance.

• Establishing your authority: If you’re leading a presentation or meeting, participants may need context about your expertise before they trust you. A succinct overview of your experience or knowledge can build a firm foundation for the rest of the conversation.

• Putting your audience at ease: In some professional settings—medicine and education, in particular—your audience’s anxiety is the main barrier to an effective relationship. Introducing yourself is your chance to ease a patient’s or student’s fears and help them feel comfortable with you.

• Connecting you with other professionals: A good first impression may be the launchpad to a fruitful professional relationship with a new colleague. At the very least, it may set you up for a better social life at work.

• Boosting your confidence: Whether you’re speaking to a crowd or a single interviewer across the table, making a solid self-introduction can have psychological benefits that pay dividends. You'll feel more at ease and confident if you think you’ve gotten your point across well and established a good rapport with your audience.

To give you a jump-start on making a good first impression, here are three ways to prepare your self-introduction.

1. Consider your context

The most important thing to remember when preparing for introductions is simple: Context matters. You obviously wouldn’t go into a call with recruiters the same way you’d lead a sales meeting. An introduction email is different from a job interview, and your preparation should reflect the distinctions. 

What will your audience need to know to connect with your story or trust your authority? How much time will you have to get your point across? If you’re heading to a trade show to connect with sales prospects, what’s your elevator pitch? Is the meeting you’re leading serious or casual?

As you craft your self-introduction, consider the most critical points you want to convey and the right way to communicate them. Write down those key points and all the relevant details to align your process with your goals.

2. Succinctly summarize your role or background

Now that you know what you want to say, your job is to whittle down the message to its essence. What will you say when the interviewer delivers that generic “tell me about yourself” question? 

Go beyond your job title. What’s your role, background, and expertise? How many years of experience do you bring to the table? How can you cover that more succinctly and in a way that’s easy for your audience to grasp quickly and remember for a while?

Even when you distill the information and practice in advance, it’s easy to stumble over your words in the moment. If your situation allows, you might consider recording a video introduction that communicates precisely what you want to say and how you want to say it. For instance, sales agents often use a tool like Loom to create quick intro videos to connect with prospects and invite them to schedule a call or follow-up.

3. Set the stage for the conversation

Whatever the context or medium for your self-introduction, how you close it is as important as how you start it. Your goal should be to set up the rest of the conversation.

That might mean inviting others to introduce themselves or asking a question to provoke discussion in a meeting. In a job interview, your intro should close with a strong initial case for why you’re a good candidate. A sales introduction, meanwhile, should end with a strong call to action for a meeting or sales consultation.

The above steps can be considered the essentials for every introduction. Without proper preparation, you may quickly lose track of what you want to say. 

What if you want to make an even more positive impression, though? There are a few ways to make that first meeting unforgettable for your audience. 

Put your personality into it

The subject of your introduction is, well, you. So it doesn’t hurt to display a little of your personality. Even in professional contexts, your audience likes to learn a little bit about the human beneath the surface.

Prerecorded video introductions are excellent opportunities to let your unique traits or interests shine through. Try recording a Loom video with your favorite song in the background or fun photos of your pets, for instance. Even if your intro is live and not recorded, you can share a few fun personal tidbits or stories to add color to your intro. 

Add a dash of humor

Besides showing off your personality in general, sprinkling in some humor throughout your introduction can pay off in spades. Humor has a way of disarming defenses and creating more powerful connections with your listeners. It shows that you don’t take yourself too seriously—and inviting a good laugh doesn’t make you unprofessional. 

Emphasize your value

While it’s a good idea to add your own unique flavor to a personal introduction, don’t lose track of your main goal. At least in a professional context, it’s all about showcasing your value or emphasizing your authority. 

When preparing an introduction, take note of your specific skills, work experience, certifications, and other professional credentials that make you the right person to speak or the top candidate for the job. Going in with a clear list of key points will help you avoid rambling on about irrelevant personal facts.

Think about body language

No matter the type of communication, it’s important not to underestimate the power of nonverbals. Speaking in clear English is important, but when introducing yourself, gestures, eye contact, and other body language say as much—or more—than your words. If you look smug while rattling off a litany of impressive personal credentials, that communicates something very different from sharing them in a self-effacing way. 

Similarly, if you hunch your shoulders and look timid in a job interview, that will make a bigger impression on the interviewer than anything you say. 

Although it may feel awkward or unnatural, practice is key for preparing to introduce yourself. Working through what you’ll say and how you’ll say it will help you sand down the rough spots and remove any unnecessary bits before you say “hello” in real life.

Beyond wordsmithing your English, you also need to work on the visual element of your introduction—those nonverbals we mentioned. Practicing in front of a mirror can help you refine the nuances of your body language and facial expressions, and trying out your intro on a friend or coworker can provide invaluable feedback.

An even better option for practicing self-introductions is to use a video recording tool. Loom lets you record your practice sessions, watch the playback to assess your delivery, and even share the recordings with mentors or colleagues for constructive feedback. 

This capability makes it easy to seek input ahead of important meetings or networking events, where making an immediate positive impression is crucial. Loom’s ease of use and flexibility make it the perfect tool for personal presentation training.

Introductions are like your audition for relationships, whether personal or professional. They tell your audience a lot about you—the only question is whether that communication is intentional or accidental. 

Excellent introductions don’t usually just happen, especially in the professional world. They take careful preparation and plenty of feedback to perfect. A screen recorder is an invaluable tool in your tool belt as you craft your next greeting.

Prepare and perfect your next introduction with Loom. Start practicing today!