How to Introduce Yourself in an Interview

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Interview etiquette might have missed our readers’ priority lists during their job search, but that’s why we’re here to help. Read along for some valuable tips that can tip the scales to your side during the dreaded job interview.

We’ll get into that in a second, but let’s take a moment to finalize a few things. If you’re grinding and getting into that hustle, make sure that your resume has been thoroughly edited and optimized for ATS before sending it to any company.

The simplest things can be easily overlooked. Many job seekers tend to make a few common resume mistakes in their applications that you can avoid. For those who have that sorted out, let’s find out what you should and shouldn’t do after you land an interview here you can find some tips.

Here’s how you should introduce yourself and handle a job interview to make a good impression and get employed.

Research

There’s no secret to success at times. Hard work, preparation, and nerves of steel are some key ingredients. Job applicants need to prepare themselves. The more prepared they feel, the less nervous they will be during the actual interview. So, here is what you need to do in the first place.

Research the company. This will give any applicant a good idea of the company’s culture and branding. Moreover, this will help ascertain if the company suits your career aspirations and personal principles.
Research the role. This will help facilitate the interview process. You should know what’s expected of you in the position you want to occupy. Thus, you’ll be able to prove you have the key skills and work experience to fulfill your duties perfectly.
Look for additional information. Look beyond the job description and make a list of elements that you have found in your research that will help in the interview. Your goal is to demonstrate qualities and experiences that will allow you to rank higher than other candidates.

Greeting

Being in a professional environment doesn’t need to be stiff. Simply introduce yourself to the person interviewing you politely. It will help ease the mood. Shake their hand. Establish ties to transition to the next phase of the interview.

For example, a simple greeting like “Hello, I’m John Smith. It’s good to meet you.” can set the tone for the rest of the interview and engage recruiters without too much hassle. Keep it simple.

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Narrative

You can answer open-ended questions like “So, tell us about yourself?” or “Why do you want to work in our company?” without dreading if you prepare a narrative that can easily be modified if needed. Remember the principles of a winning narrative.

Share personal information but don’t mention any irrelevant details. The personal details must show why a candidate is fit for the job and what value they can add to the organization.
Include a small fact that makes you memorable. Stand out from the crowd.
Briefly outline relevant cases from your professional life. This can help as a bridge if you plan to talk about why you’re the right candidate at the end of your narrative.
Mention your skillset but be concise. The point is to inform potential employers of what you’re capable of and not to brag or oversell yourself.
Avoid politics and controversial topics.

Here’s an example narrative:

“I graduated from XXXX last year during the summer and immediately set out to find a job in the XXXX industry. The design industry has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I have some prints from my portfolio, and some of my works date back seven years ago.

I love biology and take inspiration from nature’s work. I spent recent years as a freelance artist, working on commissions. Now, I want to take what I’ve learned and contribute to your company’s growth. I am a skilled XXXX and have experience with XXXX…”

Try to memorize your narrative by heart. It will come off much more natural and appealing. Job applicants who choose to read their narrative out loud while looking at a paper must consider that it will be much less persuasive.

Additional Tips

So, it seems you have considered everything before the interview. Yet, there are a few things worth paying attention to as well.

Candidates should try not to overdo themselves and overthink. If a hiring manager initiates the conversation, let them speak without interrupting them, and fill in your part of the conversation when prompted.
Take short notes while being interviewed. There might be many details that you want to follow up on with the recruiter later on.
Be friendly but professional, and remain as authentic as possible. While putting on a professional persona can help, this should be done reasonably. By remaining yourself during the interview, job seekers can conclude if they’re actually going to fit in with the company or not.
Do not rush. Try to go through the interview in a calm manner. Pause and reflect on what to say next if you need to. Moreover, talking too fast can confuse both parties.
Be ready for follow-up questions.

Final Thoughts

All in all, nothing can beat a person with the strong will to land a job. If a job opportunity means the world to you, don’t skip over the necessary steps to succeed in winning over a recruiter. However, job seekers shouldn’t be too hard on themselves if they get rejected. There are plenty of opportunities if they choose to see them.