You might think introducing yourself is easy but to properly introduce yourself in different places in different circumstances and with different people is something different. In this article, I am going to tell you about the best ways to introduce yourself in English using phrases, cultural things that you should consider when you are meeting people abroad and when you are talking to native speakers or try to make new friends.
Initially take an exercise book and create at least 4 introductions that you would use to introduce yourself: Write different phrases for different circumstances. Consider the following circumstances:
- At a party
- In a formal situation (Ex. At work or at a university)
- In an email message
- In an Instagram DM
When you have written your own phrases for introducing yourself for the above-mentioned circumstances, now follow the following rules and then eventually compare your own phrases with the sentences and phrases given below and see the differences.
Best Ways to Introduce Yourself
Rule #1: Be Interesting
You have to be interesting in all kinds of circumstances when introducing yourself. For example, when you are at a party and everyone is having fun, always think about the context and approach somebody as follows:
- Hey, my name is Anne I am a Youtuber and I have over a million followers.
Remember not to get too long because your introduction’s whole purpose is to start a conversation not to make somebody super bored from the start. If you are in a formal situation then mention what you are doing for a living.
- I work for (company name) for (number of years).
- I have been working for them for 5 years.
In an academic environment:
- I am doing my MBA right now.
- I am in my fourth year of the Bachelor’s Program.
- I am just about to graduate from a university.
So it all depends on the circumstances or context but remember to be interesting in your introduction and not elaborate it.
Rule #2: Your Introduction Should be Short, Interesting and Exciting
When you meet somebody for the first time, your introduction should be short, interesting, and exciting and you don’t need to go into detail about yourself.
Formal Greetings:
- Hello
- Good evening/good morning/good afternoon
Informal Greetings:
- Hey
- Hi
- What’s up
Starting Your name:
- Informal: I am Anne
- Formal: My name is Anne
On the Phone:
- Hey/Hello! This is Anne speaking. I would like to talk to John from the marketing department.
- Hey! Anne speaking. Can I please talk to John?
You don’t have to say too much in your introduction, because people don’t have much time to read it all and the same goes for emails. Whenever you are writing an email try to be short and be concise. You don’t need to reintroduce yourself if your tag is already saying your name. For instance:
- In DMs: Hey! I have been following you for a couple of years. I want to ask a question. Do you….?
- In Email: Hey! This is Anne from (company name) I was wondering…
Rule #3: When You are in an International Environment
If you are in an international environment where people come from different backgrounds, you can mention where you are from and remember not to mention your age unless you are asked.
- I am originally from Russia, but I have been living in San Francisco since 2019.
- I was born and raised in Italy, but I moved to the United States 2 years ago.
- I grew up in France.
Rule #4: Ask a Follow-up Question
When you are done with introducing yourself start building a relationship and ask something that would provoke another person to reply. By asking a follow-up question you can start a conversation with the person. For instance:
- Hey! My name is Anne and I am a Youtuber > Do you watch anyone on YouTube or do you like YouTube?
This is the way you can start a conversation by asking a follow-up question. Make a person interested and have a person talk about themselves by asking the question like:
- What do you do?
- What brought you to this event?
- What brought you to San Francisco?
Rule #5: Importance of Body Language in Introducing Yourself
Body language is also a very important thing to remember when talking to someone, hence mind your body language when you are introducing yourself.
Body Language Advice:
- Smile
- Maintain eye contact
- shake hands
- Give hugs (in informal situations)
Remember About the Cultural Context
Always remember about the cultural context and it’s impolite to ask about the following aspects when not needed because it seems wired.
- Politics
- Religion
- Age
- Marital Status
Related:
- Most Used Phrases in Business English Writing
- Common English Idioms Used in Daily Conversation
- Most Used English Sentences And Phrases in Daily Life
- Essential Transition Words and Phrases for Writing