Why a brief introduction is the best way to capture attention
Q: One of the things I always dread when looking for a job is meeting new people and knowing what to say. What do you say when people ask you to tell them about yourself? When I was working, it was much easier because I told them about my job. Now that I am searching for employment, I want to avoid turning people off by announcing that I need a job.
A: Knowing what to say when asked about your background can be somewhat awkward, especially when you are uncomfortable talking about a job search. It helps to step back and take a different perspective.
They are asking you to tell them about yourself and not your situation.
Shared interests are important when meeting others, especially when your goal is to gather more information about the marketplace and opportunities. You can have a great introduction in less than two minutes by following a couple of formats to help you address the dreaded question.
Practice your introduction until it becomes a part of you — no need to feel as though you will scare people because you are not asking for a job. You are simply telling them about yourself in a way that helps them visualize what you do and be memorable.
The best way to get comfortable with your introduction is to create several for different occasions. Meeting a new person is different from meeting a colleague. It can be easier for people to introduce themselves when working because most refer to their titles as a way to describe their current work.
When you are between jobs, it can feel like you have no identity rather than I am job seeking. Nothing could be further from the truth. A career transition can happen in several ways, such as leaving by choice or getting caught up in a reorganization with your employer.
In either scenario, you are still the same person with the same set of skills. The only aspect that has changed is your employment status. When meeting others, the fear that surrounds some people is the questions about their background when exchanging information. Without sounding “needy,” you can give a memorable introduction by creating a summary.
Most communication experts agree that you have one to two minutes to give a brief overview of your background and capture interests. If you reach the threeto five-minute mark, you are probably starting to ramble and are on the verge of losing attention.
Developing a mini commercial that sounds genuine takes practice rather than memorization. Many times, job candidates will give a rehearsed introduction that seems unnatural. Your goal in telling someone about yourself is to pique their interest while giving them an overview of what you do best.
Here are a couple of formulas to help you start outlining your answer to the question, “Tell me about yourself.” You can start writing your introduction using four areas as a guideline: brief personal background, early work experience, recent work experience with key achievements, and your current situation.
Another suggested outline would be to start with a personal statement beginning with one sentence using a title or profession: “I am a trusted project manager concentrating in the energy field such as exploration, production, and utilities.” The next steps are what you do, what makes you the best, and what you want to do to move your career forward.