Introducing Yourself and Talking about Work

Beginner Level Conversations- Series 3- Lesson 5

So you wanna know how to introduce yourself in English with confidence, We got you! This lesson will be your guide to making a great first impression. We’ll break down all the things you need to know, from saying hello to ending the conversation. Let’s dive in!

Previous Conversation Lesson

Conversation Questions about Hobbies

Introduce Yourself in English With Confidence

Below, we’re going to go over all the English phrases you need to meet someone new. We’ll talk about how to introduce yourself in English in both informal and formal situations.

Say “Hello,” followed by your name
Say “Nice to meet you, [the other person’s name]”
Use common greetings depending on the time of day
Provide basic information about yourself
Talk about the things that make you unique
Ask basic questions about the other person
Compliment the other person
Give positive, concise answers to someone’s questions
Ask lots of follow-up questions
Prepare to end the conversation
Don’t forget to use your body language
Practice, practice, practice

1. Say “Hello,” followed by your name

The easiest way to break the ice (start a conversation) is to just say Hello, I’m [your name].

Sarah: Hey! I’m Sarah.

The other person will say:

John: Hi Sarah, I’m John.

2. Say “Nice to meet you, [the other person’s name]”

If the other person initiates (starts) the conversation, use this phrase to answer them.

Sarah: Nice to meet you, John!

3. Use common greetings depending on the time of day

You can also break the ice with time-dependent greetings like:

Good morning. If your clock says “a.m.,” use this greeting.
Good afternoon. Use this greeting from 12:00 p.m. to when the sun goes down.This is usually around 5 to 6 p.m.
Good evening. If it’s already dark outside and it’s not yet 12:00 a.m., use this greeting.

Here are other English greetings you can use based on how formal the situation is.

4. Provide basic information about yourself

To introduce yourself in English, give a little bit of information about yourself.

For example, in an informal context, saying where you’re from is a good conversation starter.

I’m from Paris.

In a formal context, like a job interview or meeting new co-workers, you want to have an elevator pitch. The reason it’s called an “elevator pitch” is because it answers this question: if you only have one elevator ride (or 30 seconds) to introduce yourself to a business associate, what would you say?

Let’s have a look at sample elevator pitches from our two friends, Sarah and John:

Sarah: I’m a software engineer, working on a project to develop new AI tools.

John: I’ve been working as a freelance teacher since 2014.

They can also say something like:

Sarah: I’ve been working as an author for 15 years.

John: During the last 5 years, I’ve been in charge of managing marketing projects.

See? These statements may be short and to the point, but they’re impactful because they go into the important details right off the bat (immediately). If you have any impressive qualifications (like Sarah’s 7 years of experience with Victoria Magazine), introduce yourself with those.

5. Talk about the things that make you unique

Once you’ve gotten the basics out of the way, you can go into a little more detail. You want to answer the question, “What makes you different?”

In an informal context, you can talk about your interests:

I’m a huge fan of classic rock, and I love going to concerts whenever I can.

In a formal context, you can summarize your skills, experiences and other things that make you stand out from other professionals:

Sarah: I’m passionate about using technology to solve social problems, and I’m excited to be a part of this team working on that.

John: I used to live in Chicago and Boston, where I got to work with the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law. I think this experience has improved my legal research skills tremendously.

No matter the context, it’s important not to lie or exaggerate (make something look better than it really is). Give the basic facts, plus a little bit of your opinion as well.

6. Ask basic questions about the other person

Although talking about yourself is important, you should let the other person talk as well. Not only is this the polite thing to do, but it also gives you a reason to keep the conversation going.

The safest question to ask someone you’re meeting for the first time—whether in a formal or informal context—is:

How are you?

People will usually respond to “How are you?” with “I’m fine, thank you,” though you should expect other answers about how they’re feeling or doing.

Here are some other questions you can ask:

Where are you from?

What are you doing here? or What brings you here?

Are you having a good time?

What do you do?

How was your trip?

7. Compliment the other person

Another great way to keep a conversation going is to compliment the other person. This means finding something you like about them and talking about it.

Hi, I’m Robert!

Just be a little careful when choosing what to compliment about the other person. Avoid discussing permanent characteristics like someone’s physical appearance, accent, etc. because it can really come off wrong. They might be offended or think it’s too forward (overly friendly).

Instead, try these compliments:

I love your dress.

You have a beautiful dog.

Is that your car? I really like it.

8. Give positive, concise answers to someone’s questions

Remember the questions we talked about in Tip #6? Make sure you know how to answer those questions as well.

Even when questions are specific (asking for detailed information), you can prepare a general response—i.e., an answer you can use in almost any situation.

Your answer can follow this template:

Say something positive

Add in more detail to keep the conversation interesting (optional)

Ask a question back to the other person.

Example 1:

John: How do you like the new Italian restaurant?

Sarah: I’d go back here again just for the pasta! How was the food for you?

Example 2:

John: How do you find the conference?

Sarah: The speakers have been really amazing! Which talks did you enjoy?

Example 3:

John: How was your trip?

Sarah: It was nice. I really enjoyed the three weeks there, but I’m also happy to be back! How did your trip go?

9. Ask lots of follow-up questions

If you aren’t confident in your English skills, it’s much easier to listen to the other person.

Pay attention to the answers from your first questions, and ask for more details. People love to talk about themselves, so this won’t be a problem.

Here’s a sample conversation with lots of follow-up questions.

Sarah: How are you doing?

John: A little tired. I didn’t sleep much last night.

Sarah: Ah, why?

John: I just came home from my flight, and I’m still jet-lagged.

Sarah: Travel can be really tiring! Where did you fly from?

John: I came from New York last night.

Sarah: Ah yeah, that’s a major time difference. How long did the flight take?

John: Just a few hours. But I had a long layover in Chelsea.

10. Prepare to end the conversation

Of course, you aren’t going to be talking to the other person forever. At some point, you have to end the conversation.

If you have nothing more to say, or you’re not connecting with the person you’re talking with, you need a way to leave politely. Otherwise, there could be a lot of awkward silences.

Here are a few key lines for leaving politely:

Excuse me, I need to go right now.

Well, it’s been lovely talking to you.

Best of luck.

Let me give you my business card before I go.

Enjoy your time here!

As you say these phrases, hold out your hand for a handshake, making it clear that you’re ending the conversation.

11. Don’t forget to use your body language

English conversations don’t only involve a lot of talking. They also involve the use of nonverbal expressions to communicate what you mean.

Here are examples of body language used in English:

Handshake. When meeting someone for the first time, and after saying “Hello” followed by your name, hold out your hand. Wait for the other person to hold out their hand, then take it. Make sure your grip is firm (strong), but not too tight.

Smile. Do this when you meet someone for the first time, when you agree with something they say and when you’re ending a conversation.

Nod your head. English speakers typically nod their head (i.e., they move their head down and up quickly) when they want to show that they acknowledge or agree with what the other person is saying.

12. Practice makes perfect

Before you meet someone new or go to a professional event, it may help to practice possible conversations as much as you need until you’re comfortable and happy with your answers.

It’s hard to know beforehand what a conversation will look like. But you can be prepared for the most common situations! The more comfortable you are answering the basics, the more confident you’ll be when the conversation goes somewhere you didn’t expect.

Here you have a final example of a conversation between John and Sarah. They’re at a marketing convention, and they just got to know each other thanks to a mutual (common) friend:

John: Good morning! Nice to meet you, Ms. Brown. My name is John Miller. Mr. Johnson mentioned a lot of great things about you.

Sarah: Nice to meet you, Mr. Miller. Please, call me Sarah. So, what’s Mr. Johnson saying about me?

Mr. Johnson: I was just telling John about your amazing career and your recent move to Los Angeles.

John: I love Los Angeles! How are you liking it, Sarah?

Sarah: I like it a lot here! There’s always something new going on. Where are you from, Mr. Miller?

John: Oh, you can just call me John. I was born in Westminster, but I only lived in the UK for six months, so I really consider myself to be American.

Sarah: Sounds exciting! I’ve never been to the UK. I’ve always wanted to visit, but I got promoted to manager at my job, and I’ve been very busy since. Where do you work?

John: I’ve been a freelance teacher for 20 years. I have a passion for languages. What about you, Sarah? Mr. Johnson told me you work for a tech company downtown?

Mr. Johnson: Cambridge, can you imagine?

Sarah: That’s right. I’ve been working at Cambridge since 2023. I recently got an offer to come to Los Angeles, and I didn’t want to waste such a huge opportunity.

John: Sounds great.

Mr. Johnson: John, did you know that Sarah knows Bill Gates?

John: Really? Impressive!

Sarah: Thanks! I met Bill Gates in 2017 when I was working as an assistant. He shared some thoughts on building your own brand. That was a turning point in my career.

John: Sounds cool…

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to run. It’s been lovely talking to you about how to introduce yourself in English!

Conclusion

And there you have it! With these tips, you’ll be introducing yourself like a pro in no time. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and start talking!

Next Conversation Lesson

Conversation Questions about Family

Related Conversation Lessons

None

Practice Conversation with HiCafe App

By using HiCafe App, you can join free discussion events and Practice English Conversation online or in-person and improve your verbal skills.

All Conversation Lessons

To see and read all of our conversation lessons, you can visit our Improve English Speaking Skills page.