Some secrets to introduce yourself effectively

Tonight, you just met an HRD during a cultural exhibition and he quickly asked you the question "What about you? What are you doing? ". Absorbed by your thoughts, concentrated on the canvases, you managed somehow to stammer a few words in the mess but finally what will he retain from you? Did you say too much and he was drowned in the details or not enough to interest him? Did he retain the essential? Were you prepared enough to introduce yourself in seconds?Maybe not, and you've sworn to be ready for next time.

Whether it's a quick-fix chance encounter or a network interview , a job interview , a jobs dating , an oral contest , or a visit to a jury for an internal promotion, we do not escape. Come back to the eternal question of presenting oneself . We only have a few seconds, at best a few minutes for this difficult exercise and convince our interlocutor. How to do it ? Here are shared with you, the secrets to present themselves effectively.

1) The preparation

Fearing not to be natural, some are still reluctant to prepare for this exercise. Talking about yourself in interviews is not easy and is often a source of stress. Introduce yourself is working. Let's not forget that there is no communication that is not prepared. There is no good presentation without preparation. The preparation allows to give the illusion of the natural. Watch out for the trap of no preparation! Knowing how to present oneself effectively in 20 seconds, a minute or a few minutes are difficult exercises that can not be improvised. They require even more time than if it was to prepare a one-hour presentation. It is not a question of succumbing to the temptation to recite his text at the speed of lightning. It is out of the question to recite. We realize that the people mastering this exercise, never show up quite the same way, they are comfortable! Stay natural and use short sentences. A good presentation of one minute can take several days of preparation. The goal is to prepare to be precise and convincing! Getting ready is also a way to stand out from the competition. It's an opportunity to shine.

2) The structure of the speech

To the question "Who are you? "Some, too schooly, too normative, tend to recite their resume. Of course, everything else is expected. But then, what to say? in which order ? How to do it ? How to structure your ideas, your thinking? How to navigate between an ultra-fast presentation in an elevator and another a little longer sitting in front of a recruiter? And how not to forget to say the essential?

An introduction in which you explain your name, your profession, your sector, your job

The chronology: you present your course in 2 or 3 steps maximum and you explain each step in one sentence

Your expertise: here you explain how you are different from others. What is your speciality. What are your skills. And you illustrate with 2 or 3 successful achievements in line with the position.

Your training (optional)

Your professional project Be careful, this is the part that most interests your interlocutor. Describe here your target, your goals. Be specific and do not forget to name targeted companies.

And you in all this? What is your personal side? What is the other side?

The setting in listening. It is then time and important to give the floor to your interlocutor to listen to his need.

This structure is an excellent base to start preparing your first presentation. You can of course, modify it, adapt it to your personality, your context, your target and your interlocutor.

3) Keywords

Start by finding the 3 keywords that characterize you. You have one goal: your interviewer must remember you. You must mark his spirit. When you have finished presenting, he must remember these 3 keywords. It's up to you to distil and rehearse them all along your presentation.

4) Presentation in less than 3 minutes

I propose a method that relies on the use of mental maps ( minds mapping ). The idea is to make a graphical representation that will serve as a support for a presentation in less than 3 minutes, so a presentation oriented rather for use in recruitment interview or network maintenance.

The structure of a presentation in less than a minute will flow naturally and easily from the map created for the presentation in less than 3 minutes. Following the same procedure, this card will be lightened to finalize the card that will be used to support a presentation in less than 20 seconds. The advantage of this method lies in the fact that with a single card, you will be able to present yourself in any situation. It will be enough just to identify the time you have to present yourself.

The map of the presentation 3 minutes is the most complete, that which contains the 7 points. The 7 points of the structure are thus found in this mental map on the 7 main branches. You will find a detailed proposal for each of these branches. It's up to you to appropriate it and adapt it to your personal situation. The card is read in a clockwise direction.

5) Presentation in less than 1 minute

During a network interview, one minute will suffice to introduce you. I propose to delete the last points of the presentation in 3 '. And also less detail your expertise , especially by citing a single example of evidence .

6) Presentation in less than 20 seconds

For an ultra-fast presentation, elevator pitch type, you have only 20 seconds to present, 30 maximum. I propose to reduce the structure to 3 times:

Your name, your job

Your expertise

Your project

This is without a doubt the most difficult of presentations. He will ask you the most preparation .The danger is to be too long, to go into too much detail.

7) Orientation to the future

Do not forget that the heart of your presentation is your project. Your project is the future. This is what interests your interlocutor. He must be able to project himself and be willing to work with you.Consider this point in the time you give to the description of your project during your presentation.

8) The tests

Once your structured speech, your key words identified, your proven achievements identified and made explicit, get started! Quickly test your presentation with your friends, those around you. If possible, test your speech with a 10-12 year old child. If he understands everything, it's a good start! Test your speech if possible in front of someone who does not know your industry. He must be able to understand everything. Indeed, it is necessary to use words that will be sure, understandable by your interlocutor. Avoid all technical terms, acronyms, and franglais, as far as possible.

9) The training

It is practice makes perfect ! Train, practice, train! And aloud! And of course time! Do not be discouraged if the first few times your speech is much longer than 3 minutes. Then remove material to get to the point. Breathe, articulate! Control your speech flow, do not try to speed it up as much as possible! Use training to refine your speech to become clearer, clearer and more precise, without jargon, just going to the basics with simple words. Put the tone and emotion. Do not forget to smile even at the training! Finally stay upright and keep your feet firmly on the ground.There is nothing more annoying than hearing a person slam their feet on the floor, against a table or a chair, as it presents itself.

10) Fear to deceive you, to forget ...

If you are afraid of forgetting, misleading, or mixing brushes, prepare a small anti-dry. Indeed, during a network interview or a job interview, you have a notebook in front of you to take notes while your interlocutor speaks to you. The day before the interview, use the left page to copy the 7 titles of your structure and not a word more. So with a quick glance on this page, you'll always know exactly where you are.

11) Eeeeeeuuuuuuuuuuhhh

Nothing worse and more annoying than to punctuate his speech of euhhh. The technique to avoid this, is to look at your interlocutor in the eyes.

12) The perch

The purpose of the preparation is not to unfold his speech by heart at all costs. If your interlocutor after 30 seconds calls you, ask you a question, know how to grasp the pole he gives you to bounce right away on his invitation to think outside the box, to leave the frame. You can then return to your guide.

Credit picture : here