At meetings, conferences, or even in the elevator, people invariably ask what you do. As these examples show, introducing yourself the right way can make a difference.
“What do you do?” This question is a golden opportunity – to network and to market an organization. The right response can open doors. Yet too many people give poor responses – too vague or too long-winded. That’s why it pays to spend a few minutes right now thinking about how to answer that question the next time it is asked.
Commit this answer, and perhaps a more in-depth follow-up, to memory. It is not crucial to know or say it word-for-word, but it is important to show yourself and your organization in the best light from the very start.
Vague Introduction Examples– Missed Opportunity
- “I work at a non-profit.”
- “I’m a volunteer coordinator.”
- “I work at an art museum.”
- “I’m a fundraiser.”
Better Introduction Examples
- “I’m the executive director of NAME, a non-profit that is geared toward solving the homeless crisis in XY County.”
- “I’m a volunteer coordinator for ABC Group. Our 200 volunteers help us fulfill our mission to improve literacy in City, State.”
- “I’m responsible for outreach programs at Amazing Art Museum. We bring inner-city kids to the museum, and art to inner-city kids.”
- “Have you heard of the Great Fun 5-K? Well, that’s one of the events I help organize to raise funds for Really Important Organization, a non-profit that’s dedicated to help find the cure for Really Horrible Disease.”
Developing an Effective Introduction
- Look at the organization’s mission and vision statements for inspiration. The point is not to recite these statements in an introduction, but it can be useful to paraphrase parts of them.
- Point out the most salient features of the job. If there’s a good chance people have heard of something you're involved in, point it out. If not, then state the thing that is most impressive or most important about what you do.
- Be specific. Mention your position (which might or might not entail giving a job title, depending on how clear it is) and the organization you work for.
- Introduce briefly. A one- or two-sentence explanation is enough. Hopefully, this will inspire the listener to ask more questions, but let them take the lead.
Tailoring an Introduction
When attending a conference or other event where one particular aspect of your work or organization is more important than others, it is a good idea to tailor in advance an explanation that highlights those features. For instance, to the general public, you might explain that you work with at-risk youth, but a more specific response might be better at a youth conference.
Detailed Introduction Example
“I’m the executive director of NAME, a 501©3 non-profit that was established in 1993. Last year we provided 3,500 beds, served 12,250 meals, and provided one-on-one job counseling to 234 homeless people in XY County.”
Introducing yourself this way one-on-one when informally shaking hands is a bad idea – at best it makes one look boring, at worst snobby. But when giving a speech or interview, something detailed like this might be appropriate.
Practise and Perfect Your Introduction
Introductions are part science and part art… and they take work. When introducing oneself, take note of how people respond and adjust accordingly.
