Tell me about yourself

A personal commercial (also known as an elevator speech, personal

introduction, 30-second commercial, etc.) is a quick, effective way to make an
impressive introduction. You will use your personal commercial when
introducing yourself to a potential employer at a job fair, an interview, or
anytime you are asked to introduce yourself professionally. It is also helpful
when responding to the popular statement, “Tell me about yourself.”

Try using these questions to organize your thoughts:

 What is your career goal?

 What skills, strengths, or experiences do you have that would help you
realize that goal?
 What accomplishment best represents how you use these skills,
strengths, or experiences?
 What are you searching for in a job or internship?
 How can you immediately benefit the organization?

Personal commercial template

Your personal commercial should be conversational and natural. The

statement should not sound memorized and you should take care not to
ramble. You want to appear confident, poised, and professional.

 Greeting: Hello, my name is (name). I am a (year in school) studying

(major) at Western Michigan University.
 Goal: I am looking for (internship/full-time position) at (employer name).
 Interest/passion: I am interested in (interests related to the
company/industry).
 Strengths: I have many skills to contribute including (strengths) and
(skills).
 Brief example of experience: Previously, I worked at (employer name),
where I (achievements and/or responsibilities - use the STAR method).
 Goal (informational interview): I am looking to gain a better
understanding of ...
 Question: Ask a question to keep the conversation going.

Ace the self-introduction in style

Let us break self-introduction for interview in parts.
Who you are
Greet your interviewers and tell your name to start the formal introduction. It
is always a good idea to prepare for this most expected question beforehand.
Do not hesitate to include some informal, personal information, such as your
hobbies, or what you do on weekends.

Example:

I have moved to this city three months ago. I love the street food here. On
weekends, I explore new eating joints. This way, I get to learn the routes of this
city and prepare myself professionally. Being a sales professional, my profile
requires a lot of traveling.
Do not get carried away with personal details and glide into talking about
professional life smoothly.

Where do you come from?

Mention the place you belong to, the location of your school, your college, and
so on. Some people do not consider it worth mentioning, but it, surely, gives a
lot about your background.

Example:

I have been born and brought up in Jaipur. I came to Delhi 3 months ago to
explore professional opportunities. I have already rented a place in West Delhi
and enjoying the Delhi winters.
What have you studied?
Give a brief account of your educational background such as your school,
graduation, post-graduation and so on. Mention extra-curricular activities you
have been a part of.

Do not list all the courses and certifications you have done. Just include what is
relevant to the specific job profile.

Example:

I have done my schooling from Jaipur. For my graduation, I chose Xyz program
at Abc University. It was a very enriching experience at the University as not
only we were actively involved in practical projects, but also got opportunities
to participate in a number of sports and other extra-curricular activities such as
plays and skits.
Who you are (as a professional)?
It is always a good idea to identify some worth-mentioning professional traits
before your interview.

 Start with your current professional profile. You must present your
previous work experience in a structured way.
Example:

I have been working as a Sales Professional for 5 years now. I joined as a Sales
executive and worked my way up to the position of Sales Manager within 3
years.
 Highlight your personal and professional strengths by mentioning some
previous projects.
Example:

I have a thorough understanding of Sales planning and business development. I

have been mostly involved in establishing effective client relationships.
I have also developed a superior understanding of customer service and
customer relationship with the span of time.
To give you an example, I would like to talk about a relatively difficult and
unique project that helped me increase the profitability and annual sales
volume of the company(briefly mention the project).
Note: Do not mention those work experiences in detail that are not relevant to
the current profile.
To sum it up:

"I have been working as a Sales Professional for 5 years now. I joined as a Sales
executive and worked my way up to the position of Sales Manager within 3
years.
I have a thorough understanding of Sales planning and business development. I
have been mostly involved in establishing effective client relationships.
I have also developed a superior understanding of customer service and
customer relationship with the span of time.
To give you an example, I would like to talk about a relatively difficult and
unique project that helped me increase the profitability and annual sales
volume of the company (briefly mention the project)."
Another example:

"Being an IT professional, I enjoy learning about the breakthrough in

technology. I attended a professional workshop about ‘new technologies’ last
year, where I learned about a new tool in the market (mention the tool), and I
used it in my last project (briefly mention the project).
I have excellent interpersonal skills, which have helped me carry out the
responsibility of leading the meetings with clients in my previous projects
(briefly mention the project)."
Note: Just provide an outline of such experiences. The hiring manager will ask
you more if he or she is interested. Excessive talking about your skills and
talents might go against you.
Always expect a follow-up question about your skills or a tool you have used in
the past. Some interviewers might ask you about some specific skills. Even if
you have no experience in that area, turn the tables by talking about a similar
experience.

Example:

I have not got an opportunity to work with this tool yet. However, I have used a
similar tool, ‘PQRS’ systems, in one of my projects.

Self-introduction sample for freshers

"Hi, I am Aayesha. I am from Bengaluru. I completed my B. Com (Honors) from
Christ College, Bengaluru in 2018.

My father is a doctor, and my mother is a social worker. I have a younger

brother who is pursuing his B.Tech.

I love playing basketball and have represented my school in many

competitions. My active participation in sports has taught me many skills. I am
also an active member of my school alumni club and take initiative in
organizing alumni meets.

I have a fascination for languages, so I am learning the Japanese language."

Also read: Self Introduction for Freshers

Self-introduction sample for experienced professionals

“Hi, I am Sunil Kumar. I am from Delhi. I completed my Bachelor of Engineering
degree in 2009 from NIT Patna.
I got hired by a renowned IT company through the campus placement. I have
been working with the company for almost a decade now. I have learned the
ins and outs of IT operations in my journey from a fresher to a manager.

My qualifications and work experience make me a suitable candidate for the

profile. I am looking to join your organization to explore new dimensions and
for the further development of my skills.”
Related: How to answer "Tell me about yourself?"

Self-introduction sample to download

Hello sir/madam,

It's my pleasure to speak with you. I am (Your Name). Basically, I belong to

(City Name). I have been living in (City Name) for (No. of years/months) now. I
stay here with my family. Besides my parents, there is a younger brother in my
family. Currently, I am exploring job opportunities in the (Domain Name) as I
have recently finished (Degree Name) from (University Name).

I am very interested in the (Domain of your interest). That was the reason I
chose to pursue higher studies in (Program Name). Post that, my internship
experience and other practical projects in the college further boosted my
interest in (Field name) as a full-time career option.

Not only am I passionate about the field I graduated in (Mention field), I am

also inclined towards creative activities such as dancing, painting, acting, etc. I
have always been an active student in school and college. I have participated in
many cultural events during my school and college days and have won many
awards.

In my free time, I enjoy going out with friends and trying new cuisines. I also
enjoy watching movies, listening to music, reading, working out, and going on
road trips.

I am looking forward to knowing more about this opportunity and I will be

happy to answer more questions.

Click here to download the above Self-introduction Sample.

Self-introduction tips for freshers

It is all the way more dreadful for freshers to prepare their self-introduction.
Most freshers are of the view that they don’t have much to talk about. Let us
keep this straight: You know you are a fresher; your interviewer also knows you
are a fresher. 😎
In addition to the above-mentioned points, following are some special tips for
freshers:
 Confidence is the key. Maintain good body language and communicate
your points well.
Also read: Interview body language do's and don'ts
 Take this opportunity of self-introduction as your chance to exhibit your
qualities in the right way.
 Talk about your educational background and achievements.
Mention relevant certificates and awards. For example, if you are giving
an interview for the profile of ‘content writer’, an awarded certificate for
essay writing is worth mentioning.
 Provide information about your family members. However, do not talk in
detail about their professional achievements. Remember: It is your
interview. 😃
 As a fresher, you have leverage that you can talk about your hobbies at
length. Showcase your qualities and personality while mentioning your
hobbies. By doing so, you can take charge of your interview. 😊
Also read: How to answer "What are your hobbies?"
Example:

I love playing basketball. I have played many tournaments and traveled a lot as
well. It taught me interpersonal skills. And, surely, I learned how to remain
focused.
 Do not get carried away while talking about your life experiences. Keep
them brief.
Related: Top interview questions and answers for freshers

General tips for self-introduction

Let us discuss some general tips on how to give a good self-introduction.

 A smile goes a long way

Wear a smile when you go for an interview. A smile adds up to your
 confidence and balances your body language. You also come across as a
friendly person.
 Greet everyone
A simple ‘hello’ can showcase your etiquettes.
 Introduce when you reach the venue
Inform the concerned person or at the reception of your arrival. You
should give a proper introduction about yourself.
Example:

Hi, my name is Priya. I am here for an interview for the post of ‘Community
Banker’. It is scheduled with Mr. Vikrant at 2:00 p.m.
 Maintain eye contact
It is important that you avoid distractions and maintain eye contact
while talking. The idea of self-introduction is not just limited to get to
know about the candidate.
 Prepare
Always prepare your self-introduction according to the job profile you
are giving the interview for. It gives you confidence and leaves a good
impression on your interviewers. This preparation also helps you to keep
your introduction concise, and you do not end up giving irrelevant
information.
Related: Interview preparation tips and Interview checklist for your big day

Things to avoid during self-introduction

Here are a few don'ts to take care of when giving a self-introduction.

 Do not simply narrate the content of your resume and cover letter.
Make it sound authentic by providing examples.
Also read: 21 interview skills you need to crack an interview
 Do not ask ‘what do you want to know?’. It shows that you are not
prepared.
 Do not narrate life stories. Just touch upon an experience if you want to
highlight any specific quality.
 Do not consume a lot of time giving your self-introduction.
The mantra is to prepare well and represent the best version of you while
giving your introduction.😎
Talk about yourself with pride, not fear. All the best!

Scattergories

Scattergories is one of the most simple word games for adults. This game
expands players’ vocabulary and is a fun way for teammates to engage and
interact.

To play:

1. Choose 12 categories. For example, fruits, names, and animals.

2. The players will randomly choose a letter, and each teammate has 60
seconds to fill in words starting with the given letter in each
category. For example, if the teammates choose the letter “S,” they
may fill in the given categories with “Strawberries,” “Sonia’, and
“Snake.”
3. Each teammate who fills each category within the allocated time gets
three points.
4. Players do not get any points for an answer if another player also
comes up with the same response.
5. At the end of the game, the player with the highest point wins.
6. Teammates can also play this game online on any video conferencing
platform or applications like Slack or Discord.
Here is a collection of team building Scattergories lists .