Photo by Vladislav Klapin on Unsplash
You only get one chance to introduce yourself to your new teammates at work.
New professional relationships are essential, and how you present yourself for the first time can have a lasting impact on your new coworkers. According to Psychology Today, it only takes seven seconds to make a first impression.
In this article, we're diving into the best ways to introduce yourself at work, whether you're meeting your new coworkers in person or via email.
Let's make a good impression that will last.
Whether you're an entry-level employee or a brand-new boss, a good introduction will help you to communicate your past achievements, your future goals for collaboration, your best character traits, and a little bit about who you are as a person.
Table of Contents
- How to Introduce Yourself Professionally
- What Not to Do When Introducing Yourself
- What to Include in Your Introduction
- How to Write a Professional Introduction
- How to Write an Introduction Email (A Template)
How to Introduce Yourself Professionally
Now that we've discussed how important it is to make a good impression in a matter of seconds, let's get into the nitty-gritty. When preparing your intros, whether spoken or written, here are the most important things to remember.
1. Keep It Descriptive but Respectfully Brief
We know you're amazing and accomplished. That's why you're here! However, keep your introduction short, descriptive, and relevant. Share only the need-to-know information, and include a little "teaser" if your new colleagues want to get to know you more.
Example:
Hello, my name is [NAME], and I am so excited to be stepping into my role as [OCCUPATION] here at [COMPANY NAME].
I'm so thrilled to bring my experience in [EXPERTISE] to the team and to contribute to the awesome work you're all doing!
Please feel free to stop by my desk or email me at [CONTACT INFORMATION] if you want to grab a coffee or discuss [TOPIC OF CONVERSATION]!
I'm so thrilled to bring my experience in [EXPERTISE] to the team and to contribute to the awesome work you're all doing!
Please feel free to stop by my desk or email me at [CONTACT INFORMATION] if you want to grab a coffee or discuss [TOPIC OF CONVERSATION]!
2. Mind Your Body Language and Tone of Voice
Your body language will be as important as what you share in your first introduction. According to a study by UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian, body language accounts for 55 percent of your first impression, and 38 percent of your impression comes from your tone of voice.
Here are some dos and don'ts when it comes to body language:
- DO make eye contact.
- DON'T cross your arms or fidget while you introduce yourself.
- DO offer a firm handshake.
- DO smile or offer a friendly face when introducing yourself.
If you're not sure how your face looks or whether you're guilty of fidgeting while nervous, try a run-through in your mirror or on camera. You can practice what you share and how you share it in the mirror and then make adjustments. If you have a trusted friend to practice on, try that!
3. Encourage Further Touchpoints
At the end of your introduction, encourage your coworkers to learn more about you and to connect further. This is when sharing a small anecdote about your personal hobbies or passions might be appropriate.
For example, if you're an avid baseball fan and you know your company has a softball team, share that. If you love reading contemporary fiction, try something like, "I always welcome really good book recommendations!"
What Not to Do When Introducing Yourself
As with any advice on what to do when meeting new folks, there are a few things you should avoid. Think of some of the worst impressions another human has ever made.
They probably stand out more than the best impressions. That's exactly why it's important to weigh the dos along with the don'ts.
- DON'T limit the conversation to yourself.
- DON'T avoid eye contact or avoid questions.
- DON'T share too much.
- DON'T share off-color jokes. (Really, don't ever do this.)
What to Include in Your Introduction
If you're nervous about preparing your introduction for a job interview or an important networking event, write it down!
Yes, take out those old index cards you used to study for chemistry tests and get to writing. Here are some things to write about yourself, which can also help when fielding follow-up questions.
Things to include in your introduction:
- A friendly greeting
- Your career history
- Your excitement to join the team
- Your goals/plans for the future (this is especially relevant for a new manager)
- A little fun fact about you (if you feel like sharing)
How to Write a Professional Introduction
Just like any interesting story or piece of writing, a self-introduction should include the three key elements present in any strong introduction.
- A welcoming first sentence with an interesting hook
- A background detail about you that adds color to your experience
- A quick summary with a call-to-action
When writing or imagining what type of introduction you want to make and the kind of impression you'd like to have in your first meeting, think about how you want to be perceived.
- Do you want to be seen as open and approachable?
- Do you want to be seen as eager?
- Do you want to earn respect in an authority role?
- Do you want to make work acquaintances with your entire team?
Depending on the kind of impression you want to make, your introduction might vary. For example, a more "green" entry-level employee will make a different impression than an incoming manager or C-level executive. Of course, in considering all of this, it's essential to stay true to your work values and who you are on a human level.
How to Write a Professional Introduction Email (A Template)
If you're meeting your new team remotely, no problem! In this hybrid and remote work age, many coworkers meet their teammates across time zones and borders via email or workplace collaboration software.
The good news is that you can still make a great impression—whether you're meeting on Zoom, email, or a simple Slack message.
Here's how to write a professional introductory email that impresses all recipients.
Hello [NAME],
I'm the new [JOB TITLE] for the [TEAM NAME] here at [COMPANY], and I wanted to take quick moment to say hello!
Before becoming an employee here at [COMPANY], I am—first and foremost—a huge fan of the work you've been doing. I'm especially in awe of [PROJECT OR ACCOMPLISHMENT] and I cannot wait to work amongst you!
A little about me: I have spent the last [PERIOD OF TIME] working with the team at [FORMER COMPANY], and I am excited to bring my experience to the team.
Feel free to reach out to talk about [WORK-SPECIFIC SUBJECT, E.G., MARKETING STRATEGY, SEO] or the best movies you've seen lately.
[EMAIL CLOSING],
[YOUR NAME]
I'm the new [JOB TITLE] for the [TEAM NAME] here at [COMPANY], and I wanted to take quick moment to say hello!
Before becoming an employee here at [COMPANY], I am—first and foremost—a huge fan of the work you've been doing. I'm especially in awe of [PROJECT OR ACCOMPLISHMENT] and I cannot wait to work amongst you!
A little about me: I have spent the last [PERIOD OF TIME] working with the team at [FORMER COMPANY], and I am excited to bring my experience to the team.
Feel free to reach out to talk about [WORK-SPECIFIC SUBJECT, E.G., MARKETING STRATEGY, SEO] or the best movies you've seen lately.
[EMAIL CLOSING],
[YOUR NAME]
