Networking? Job Interview? Here’s How to Introduce Yourself

For every procurement question we get asked as professionals, we typically have an answer. For example, we know the answer to the question: How should we comply with new product claim regulations? How should we boost supplier engagement? And even what is required to achieve the perfect work-life balance while still succeeding?

Despite this wealth of knowledge, one question that often stumps us – despite the fact that it should, in fact, be one of the easiest questions to answer, is this: Introduce yourself. 

There’s possibly not a single procurement professional reading this who hasn’t felt stressed when asked that question. Common panicked responses include saying your name and your job title only, really fast, and then deflecting to the next person as quickly as possible, or alternatively rambling on and on and on and boring everyone to tears at the same time. 

Yet both of these responses are inadequate, because, whether you’re networking, meeting new stakeholders or starting a job interview, first impressions are critically important. 

Here’s how to best answer the age-old question: Introduce yourself. 

1. Start with the Here and Now

Despite it being a seemingly easy question, it’s best to prepare an answer to the introduce yourself question. In order to do this, it’s first important to consider context, and then to follow a simple framework of now, before, and future. 

Let’s start with the ‘now’. 

Before you introduce yourself, first think about what the audience will want to hear. If you’re in a job interview, for example, the focus is going to be squarely on your career. If you’re at a social networking event, people might be more interested in you, as well as your career. 

The same goes for how much the audience will want to hear. Again, in a job interview, you should expect to talk about your career in detail. On the other hand, if you’re at a networking event where a lot of people are introducing themselves, then a few sentences about you will be more than enough. 

After you’ve considered the audience, start with a simple introduction with your name and a brief explanation of what you do. This could be something as simple as: 

“Hi, I’m Laura. I’m a Graduate Procurement Analyst. My focus is on supporting stakeholders in defining requirements, analysing spend, performing suppplier evaluations, and managing risk.”

If you have time, you can expand a little, and discuss a current project you’re working on. 

2. Discuss What You’ve Done Before

To paint a fuller picture of yourself, you need to expand beyond just the here and now. You’ll need to also detail what you’ve done before, in order to give your audience an idea of your areas of expertise. 

This can be a little tricky if you don’t have a lot of experience, but there’s always something meaningful you can say. 

Take, for example, Laura, the Graduate Procurement Analyst from before. She could say: 

“I recently graduated from a double degree in business and supply chain management, and I’m now in my second year of my career. I’m enjoying taking on more responsibility, including now conducting more in-depth supplier analysis.”

If you have more substantial experience in procurement, then provide a summary of how many years of experience you have, and what industries and areas you have focused on. 

3. Focus on the Future

Regardless of where you’re introducing yourself, it’s likely that you’ll want to build a relationship with the person for the future. Given this is the case, it’s important to add a final third piece to your introduction: a focus on the future. 

In order to make the end of your introduction memorable, try to make this as positive as possible. For example, if you’re in a job interview, emphasise your enthusiasm for the opportunity. If you’re at a networking event, think about what you might have in common with the person to continue the relationship in the future. 

Let’s say that Laura, the Graduate Procurement Analyst, was in a meeting discussing strategies for better supplier engagement. To make the best possible impression, she could finish her introduction by saying: 

“My supplier analysis has revealed several issues with how we manage suppliers. I’m happy to share them now (or later) to help move engagement forward.”

Introducing yourself is never as easy as it seems. Taking the time to plan your response is essential so as to make the best possible first impression.