How to introduce yourself at a job interview

How you introduce yourself is very important in building the right first impression. After all, this is the first time the interviewer and their colleagues will have met you. Therefore, it’s important to get this right as this can help set the tone for the rest of the interview. Here are some tips on how to introduce yourself when meeting the interviewer and other employees:

Meeting the interviewer 

When the interviewer arrives stand up to greet them and offer a handshake as you introduce yourself. Look them in the eye and smile – remember positive body language goes a long way. Use the interviewer’s title and last name when you meet them and throughout the interview unless they ask you to use their first name. 

“Hello, Miss Lewis my name is Jane Smith. It’s great to meet you”. 

The interviewer is likely to respond by introducing themselves. Here you can respond with something along the lines of: 

“Thank you for inviting me to speak to you” 

“I’m excited to learn more about this role” 

“I’m looking forward to telling you more about myself”

This is your chance to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and that you appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the role/company.

Be prepared to engage in a little bit of small talk but keep this to a minimum. You want to show that you are a good communicator without overwhelming the interviewer. 

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Meeting other employees 

It may not just be the interviewer you meet. It is likely you will interact with other employees For instance, when you arrive you will need to head to the reception desk to let them know you arrived. Introduce yourself and let them know why you are there.

“Good morning my name is Jane Smith and I’m here for a 1PM interview with Sarah Lewis regarding the Sales Manager role”

Another member of staff may show you to a waiting area or to the interview room (be sure to thank this person). You may also be given a tour of the office and be introduced to your potential colleagues. 

Remember, the interviewer may ask any one of those individuals how you interacted with them. One of the key things to keep in mind at job interviews is you can be observed at any point whilst you are in the building. 

Meeting other candidates 

Be prepared to meet other candidates during the interview process. The likelihood of this happening and how much contact you have depends on the style of the interview. For instance, during a group interview or an assessment centre, you will definitely be interacting with the other candidates. 

If you are meeting the interviewer/s alone for a one-on-one interview you may still meet the other candidates in the waiting area. 

Whilst technically you are trying to impress the interviewer by standing out from the other candidates this does not mean you cannot be nice to them. Introduce yourself and strike up a conversation with the other candidates whilst you are waiting. This demonstrates your communication and interpersonal skills to the employer (remember you could be observed at any point whilst you are in the building). 

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