A good introduction is short, clear and relevant: who you are, what you work on, who you help and why you are here. Prepare a 10-second, a 30-second and a one-minute version, and treat them as openings, not scripts.
A good introduction is short, clear and relevant to the context. Its job is to give the other person an easy opening for a useful conversation.
Framework
How to introduce yourself at a networking event: the framework
Framework
Prepare three versions
Prepare all three. A conference corridor needs the ten-second version, a lunch table the thirty-second one, and a longer one-to-one the full minute.
Exhibitors and attendees
Examples for exhibitors and attendees
At your booth or on the floor
- I am [name] from [company]. We help [who] with [what].
- I am here to meet [type of person] working on [topic].
- Ask what brings them to the show before saying more.
In sessions and corridors
- I am [name]. I work on [topic] at [organisation].
- I came to learn how teams handle [issue].
- Finish with a question, not a statement.
Worksheet
Worksheet: personal introduction
| Who I am | |
| What I work on | |
| Who I help | |
| Why I am here | |
| 10-second introduction | |
| 30-second introduction | |
| One-minute explanation |
Once you have your introduction, choose your conversation starters.
Frequently asked questions
What should you say when you introduce yourself at a networking event?
Your name, what you work on, who you help and why you are here, in a sentence or two. Then ask a genuine question about the shared setting.
How long should a self-introduction be?
Prepare three lengths: about 10 seconds for a quick meeting, 30 seconds for a short chat and about a minute for a deeper conversation with an example.
What is a good elevator pitch for a trade show?
A short, relevant introduction that invites a conversation rather than a memorised sales pitch: who you help, what you do and why you are at the show.