How do you introduce yourself in business English?
We all know that one of the best ways to practice and enhance your English skills is by talking to native speakers. But before you can start a conversation you need to introduce yourself.
Knowing how to introduce yourself when you are starting a new job at a business or company is something you need to know because we all know how important first impressions are.
Let’s have a look at how to properly introduce yourself in business English.
To make a great first impression you must be charismatic, confident, and come across as someone others will want to work with.
Your body language plays a big role when introducing yourself. Knowing which body language cues to use will help improve your first impression.
Next time you introduce yourself in business English remember to:
- Smile to appear as friendly!
- Speak in a clear and understandable voice.
- Greet people with a firm (but not too firm) handshake.
- DON’T slouch! Propper posture is important.
- Make eye contact when introducing yourself. This shows respect.
Now that you know what to do with your body when introducing yourself. The first step is always to mention your name.
Let’s have a closer look at the different phrases you can use to introduce yourself:
- Hello, I don’t think we’ve met before. My name is….
- Hello. My name is….
- It is nice to meet you. My name is….
- Pleased to meet you. I’m…
The next important step you must take is after you have introduced who you are you need to introduce what you do. Normally, people give their job titles along with a brief description of what they are expected to do. The key to mastering this step is to not have a long boring speech all about your job. Instead, try to provide key points by using easy-to-understand English.
Introduce what you do by using some of these phrases:
- I am a (job title) at (company/business)
- My job is to…
- The most important is to…
- My job is all about…
- I’m responsible for…
- I deal with…
- I ensure that…
- I oversee…
Now you know what to do when introducing yourself in business English.
Let’s look at a few things you should NOT do when introducing yourself:
- DON’T use or re-use the same introduction phrase, that is boring.
- DON’T be negative and complain about everything. You don’t want to be remembered as a negative person.
- DON’T constantly check your phone. This is rude and the person you might be talking to will think you are not interested in what they have to say.
- DON’T assume that everyone comes from the same cultural background. For example, in the West a firm handshake is acceptable but people from different cultural backgrounds might find a firm handshake uncomfortable or inappropriate.
Congratulations! Now you know the secret to successfully introducing yourself in business English. Remember to keep these easy tips in mind and you are sure to have many great first impressions.