How to introduce yourself — and get hired | Rebecca Okamoto
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Why do first impressions matter in personal introductions?
You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day. I'm your host, Elise Hu. In today's world of fleeting attention spans, you may only have a few seconds to turn a personal introduction into a career-building opportunity. In this talk, communication expert Rebecca Okamoto shares why first impressions really do matter. She presents an actionable step-by-step guide for how to introduce yourself in 20 words or less to leave a lasting positive impression. So if you dread answering, tell me about yourself or struggle to explain what makes you unique, this talk is for you.
What common challenges do people face when introducing themselves?
Tell me about yourself. Four simple words that can make anyone ramble or freeze. Even people at the top of their game can go blank when they hear those dreaded words. So what does that mean? Does your introduction really make that big of a difference? I never thought it did.
How can you create a powerful elevator pitch?
I thought my introduction wasn't nearly as important as my qualifications. For example, right after I started my business, I had the perfect opportunity to shine. I was interviewing as an instructor for a supply chain institute, and I knew I was the ideal candidate. I had over 20 years of expertise leading supply chains for one of the world's largest consumer products companies. As I prepped for my interview, I didn't want there to be any doubts about my qualifications. I created an elevator pitch and included a complete list of my accomplishments. When I heard, tell me about yourself, I was ready, and I proudly explained everything that I could do. When I finished, the interviewer said, uh, instead of talking about yourself,
What are the two secrets to engaging your audience?
It would have been more effective if you had explained what you can do for me. My interview lasted five minutes. She rejected me on the spot based off of one answer. That was my wake-up call. I realized it doesn't matter how smart you are, it doesn't matter how perfect a fit you are if you can't capture someone's attention. After that, I became laser-focused on cracking the code on introducing myself. I studied the science of first impressions. I researched viral headlines and what made them so irresistible. And then I discovered the secret of introducing myself perfectly in 20 words or less. Fast forward about six months.
How can you structure your introduction to focus on the listener?
I'm having coffee with the executive director of a business development program. She asks me, what do you do? I answer her in one sentence. I'm a communications consultant, and I help people with something to say but struggle to say it. She leans in and says three magic words. Tell me more. Fifteen minutes later, she hires me to give workshops for new entrepreneurs. But here's the thing. I was the same person who blew that interview just six months before. But this time, I got the job, even though I had way fewer qualifications.
What are the five effective ways to introduce yourself?
And the only thing different between success and failure, between that door of opportunity opening or slamming shut in my face, was my introduction. From that point on, I started to see my introduction in a whole new light. It wasn't just a way of grabbing someone's attention. I thought about all those times when I would hear no, and my inner critic would tell me that people didn't see me or hear me because I wasn't good enough or smart enough. But that was wrong. It wasn't me. It was my introduction. All right. Are you ready to introduce yourself in 20 words or less? I'm going to start with two secrets of getting people to say, tell me more. Secret number one. Think soundbite, not data dump. That's because with today's multitasking attention deficit audiences, it's been said you have a better chance of engaging with a goldfish than the person that you're talking to.
A 20-word introduction is designed to grab someone's attention and get them to say, tell me more. Secret number two. Do you remember what that interviewer told me? Don't talk about yourself. Instead, explain what you can do for them. I called the difference between an about me versus an about you introduction.
How can you use your passion, mission, or strength in introductions?
An about me introduction sounds like this. I'm an award-winning, best-selling author.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why do first impressions matter in personal introductions?
0:07–0:48
2
What common challenges do people face when introducing themselves?
0:48–1:09
3
How can you create a powerful elevator pitch?
1:09–2:02
4
What are the two secrets to engaging your audience?
2:02–2:57
5
How can you structure your introduction to focus on the listener?
2:57–3:44
6
What are the five effective ways to introduce yourself?
3:44–5:30
7
How can you use your passion, mission, or strength in introductions?
5:30–6:22
8
What final thoughts should you consider about your introduction?
6:22–11:31
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from TED Talks Daily
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