How to give introduction in the job interview?
Are you sabotaging your chances at landing your dream job by making this common interview mistake? If your introduction sounds like a chronological history lesson of your career, it’s time to change your strategy. Hiring managers don’t want to hear a bland summary of where you worked and when, instead, they want to know why you’re the best fit for the role. In this post, we’ll break down how to introduce yourself in a way that markets you as the ideal candidate. Follow these three steps to make a lasting impression and set the tone for a successful interview.
1) Establish your expertise
The first thing you need to do in your introduction is to position yourself as an expert. Start strong by highlighting your key skills and areas of expertise. This isn’t about listing every single skill on your resume, rather, it’s about highlighting what makes you expert in your field. You can use your years of experience to give authority to your statements.
Example:
“I’m an experienced product manager specializing in SaaS platforms, with a proven track record of increasing user engagement by over 20% through innovative design and data-driven decision-making.”
Why this is a good strategy? In this way, you are not just highlighting what relevant skills you have for the job, but rather you are establishing clear authority with your experience and measurable results. Interviewers like hearing how they can imagine you in the job role and what kind of skills you already have for it.
2) Showcase your impact with previous achievements
Establishing authority in a job interview requires solid evidence and proof of your achievements. Highlight the impact you’ve made in previous roles or projects by sharing measurable, relevant metrics. Use industry-standard KPIs or widely recognized metrics to showcase your contributions. This approach helps hiring managers clearly understand the value you’ve delivered and how it can translate to success within their team.
Examle:
“In my previous role, I led the redesign of our API platform, which resulted in a 9+ NPS score. I also spearheaded a series of A/B experiments that improved our search conversion rates by 16%, driving significant business growth.”
3) Connect your profile with the requirements of the job role.
Here’s where you close the loop. Connect your skills and achievements to the specific role and company you’re interviewing for. This shows that you’ve done your homework and understand how you can add value.
Example:
“My experience in AB Testing new features and optimising conversion metrics is also quite well aligned with this position. It is one of the reasons I believe this role can be a great fit for me.”
Conclusion
Your introduction sets the tone for the entire interview. Don’t waste it on a dull, chronological rundown of your career. Use it as an opportunity to market yourself as the perfect candidate by:
- Establishing your authority.
- Proving your impact with specific achievements.
- Connecting your skills to the company’s needs.
When you make this shift, you’ll not only stand out—you’ll leave the interviewer thinking, “We need this person on our team!”
Now it’s your turn! How will you craft your next interview introduction? All the best for your job search journey.