How to Introduce Yourself in English (Like a Pro)

If yous have difficulty when it comes to introducing yourself to someone for the start fourth dimension, you shouldn't feel embarrassed. A lot of native speakers too become natural language-tied tongue-tied: not able to speak because y'all feel shy or nervous when talking about themselves!

Still, if your goal is to speak English more fluently, it'southward a good idea to develop a articulate and brief introduction for yourself.

That way, yous'll be ready to answer the virtually common questions that people enquire each other – particularly in professional situations and business concern contexts:

  • Where are you from?
  • What do you lot do?
  • What are your special skills?
  • What are you passionate about?

Below are some examples of phrases you can use to introduce yourself and requite other people a clear agreement of who you are.

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Matt Lemanski

Example of a Professional Introduction

Below is an example of a brief introduction in a formal manner. This style is normally used at a chore interview or business event, or in a embrace letter of the alphabet.

As you read it, find the words and ideas included – as well as what is omitted omit: to not include something or someone . There are no idioms, no phrasal verbs, no opinions.

Yous may besides notice that there are no contractions (I'm, I've, my name'southward), which increases the formal tone of the text.

The goal here is to communicate information about yourself clearly and quickly (in just 100 words), while showing a potential employer or client that you are a serious professional person.

self-portrait

Hello, my name is Matt Lemanski. I am the creator of Speaking of English, a blog for intermediate English language learners who want to become more than fluent in the language. I am originally from the United States and I currently live in Germany. I accept been a teacher since 2008, and specialize in business writing and IELTS preparation. Earlier becoming a teacher, I worked as a copyeditor for regime agencies in Washington DC and as a ghostwriter for startup founders and independent consultants around the world. In my free time, I savor hiking, practicing photography, and exploring the city by bicycle.

For more than examples of a business-style introduction, bank check out:

  • 5 types of LinkedIn summaries (The Muse)
  • How to give an 'elevator pitch' at a business event (Indeed)

In contrast to the formal mode above, let'due south now look at a more than breezy case of a cocky-introduction in the conversation below.

Instance of a Student Introduction (for IELTS)

If you take the IELTS, your self-introduction may audio a little different, since the Speaking Test is structured like a conversation. Watch the video below and listen to how this top-scoring candidate from Spain introduces himself:

To the question 'What are you studying, and do y'all enjoy it?' Xavier offers not only specific details almost the subject area he is studying, but also his opinions near the experience:

I'm studying law and I do relish information technology, most aspects of it. But in this concluding year there is a lot of hard work and a lot of reading, and I cannot say that I enjoy all of this reading. Only what I really enjoy is working on case studies. What I mean is discussing cases. I similar to substitution ideas with people.

His answer to 'What are your hereafter plans?' also includes some adept phrases:

I want to have a career in law, simply I accept to decide which area to specialize in start, and and then maybe report for another four or five years. I hope to specialize in environmental police force, which is the police that businesses take to abide by to ensure that their practices do not affect the environment.

For communication on 'torso language' at a social event, encounter WikiHow's illustrated guide.

IELTS Speaking Topics (with Example Questions + Answers)

Learn about the main topics in each function of the IELTS Speaking Test, and see examples of high-scoring answers from real students.

Speaking of English Matt Lemanski

Other Phrases for Introducing Yourself

  • I'chiliad based in London, but I live in New York. This phrase is used when you want to make information technology clear that your current living state of affairs is temporary, or y'all do a lot of traveling considering of your job.
  • I alive in New York, but I'm originally from Lisbon. English language speakers like to use this phrase when mentioning their native land or urban center. It'due south more common than phrases like I was built-in in / I grew up in.
  • I'one thousand a colleague of Jane'due south. When introducing yourself in a group or at an event (similar a party or a conference), it's helpful to explain your connection to other people in the group or effect. Similar phrases include: I work together with Jane / I'm Jane's blood brother / Jane and I both study Chemical science at Toronto Academy.
  • I'm the male parent of two immature girls. Y'all can use this phrase if you want to say something well-nigh your family (it's also a simple way for parents to explicate why they don't have much "gratuitous" time). Similar phrases include: I'chiliad the girl of ii psychologists / I'1000 one of eight children / I'g the son of Queen Elizabeth.

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Phrases to Describe Your Job or Studies

These phrases are good for both formal situations like task interviews, as well as casual situations like parties.

  • I work at English Experts in the Marketing Department. When English speakers desire keep their introduction elementary (and avoid giving long or complex titles like Senior Vice President and General Director of Northward American Sales for Behemoth Enterprises), they often just give the name of the visitor, and perhaps their department. This phrase too works for students: I study Chemistry at Toronto University / I'm a student at Toronto Academy, in the Chemistry Department.
  • I take worked at English Experts since 2012 / for 8 years. Details nigh time are squeamish to include in your cocky-introduction, but remember that English requires a unlike verb tense (known as the present perfect) when yous apply the prepositions for or since.
  • I'm responsible for managing the digital marketing campaigns. When introducing yourself to people in the same company or department, you lot tin use this phrase to describe the nearly important affair you do. Similar phrases include I'one thousand in accuse of and I bargain with. Notice the ing. This phrase requires a substantive (or a gerund, which the noun course of a verb), so you tin can as well utilise nouns with these phrases: I'yard in charge of the website / I deal with the suppliers.
  • I hold a master's degree in Chemical science from Toronto Academy. This phrase is useful when you want to highlight your educational achievements, but it is typically only establish in comprehend letters and formal documents. In conversation, English speakers utilize a slightly more informal phrase: I accept a master's in Chemistry / I accept an G.A. in Chemical science.
  • When non in the office, you can observe me on the football pitch. This is a nice culling phrase for mentioning other activities, peculiarly if you have many sentences that outset with I (I work... I'thousand responsible... I hold...). When not studying Chemical science, you can find me spending fourth dimension with my family. Notice the ing endings.
tell me about yourself
A good introduction tells a story with present, past, and future (The Balance)

Talking Near Yourself in an Interview

When introducing yourself in an interview, the person you speak with may desire to know more than a few short sentences and elementary details about you. They may ask you to 'tell me almost yourself'.

In other words, they want you to tell a story that ties together your present situation, past experiences, and future plans – topics that require slightly more avant-garde grammar:

  • For several months now, I have been working on a project. Notice the verb course here; it differs from the earlier phrase, I take worked. When talking about a project that you plan or hope to terminate in the almost hereafter, information technology'southward common to utilize the Present Perfect Progressive: take been doing. (Learning English language is also a project: I've been learning English since January.)
  • My passion for learning languages began ten years ago, when I visited Nihon. To tell a story, English language speakers typically utilise the Past Elementary tense (as in visited). It's as well proficient to requite details near identify and time, using agone to mark specific times in the by: a few weeks agone, five months ago.
  • I would like to become fluent in English language and then that I can attend university in Canada. When talking about your personal goals, you lot tin use the Provisional course: would similar. This mutual phrase tin can be used to talk virtually any project or action you want to practise in the future.

Photograph by Manja Vitolic