Introduce Yourself in English at Work: Phrases and Examples for Finance, Hotels and Sales
By Paula, TEFL-certified Business English coach, London · 6 min read
You have just joined a new team, or someone turns to you at the start of a call and says, “Would you like to introduce yourself?” Your mind goes blank, and you end up saying your name and job title, then stopping.
You don't need a perfect speech. A good work introduction is short, clear and friendly, and it gives the other person something to talk about. In this guide you'll learn a simple structure, natural British phrases for different situations, and examples from banking, hotels and sales, the three industries I worked in before I became a teacher.
1. Start with your name and role
Open with a greeting, your name and your role. In the UK, first names are normal at work, even with senior people.
Useful phrases
- “Hi everyone, I'm Wei. I've just joined as a credit analyst.”
- “Hello, my name's Daniela. I'm the new front office manager.”
- “Nice to meet you. I'm Kenji, and I look after the Asia accounts.”
- More formal: “Good morning. Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Li Na, Head of Compliance.”
“Hi everyone, I'm Wei. I started on Monday as a credit analyst in the corporate lending team.”
2. Say what you actually do
A job title alone doesn't tell people much. Add one sentence about what you do day to day, so colleagues know when to come to you.
Useful phrases
- “I'm responsible for…”
- “I mainly work on…”
- “I look after…”
- “My role is to make sure that…”
- “I'm the person to speak to about…”
“I'm Daniela, the new front office manager. I look after check-in and guest requests, so if a VIP is arriving, I'm the person to speak to.”
3. Add your background in one sentence
One line about your experience builds trust. Keep it short; this isn't a job interview.
Useful phrases
- “Before this, I spent five years at…”
- “I've worked in sales for about ten years, mostly in…”
- “I've recently moved to London from…”
- “My background is in…”
“Before this, I spent four years in risk at a bank in Singapore, so I'm still getting used to the London weather!”
4. Adapt it for meetings and video calls
In a meeting, people want to know why you're there. Link your introduction to the topic of the meeting.
Useful phrases
- “I'm joining today because…”
- “I'll be supporting [name] on this project.”
- “From my side, I'll be covering…”
- On Zoom or Teams: “Sorry, can everyone hear me OK?” then your introduction.
“Hi all, I'm Kenji from the sales team. I'm joining today because I'll be managing the account once the contract is signed.”
5. Introduce yourself to a client
With clients, sound warm and professional, and focus on how you can help them.
Useful phrases
- “It's a pleasure to meet you.”
- “I'll be your main point of contact.”
- “Please feel free to get in touch with me directly if…”
- “I'm looking forward to working with you.”
“Good afternoon, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Sam, and I'll be looking after you today. Please take your time, and feel free to ask me anything about the car.”
6. Keep the conversation going
After your introduction, turn the focus to the other person. A question shows interest and stops the conversation from ending awkwardly.
Useful phrases
- “And how about you? How long have you been in the team?”
- “What does your role involve?”
- “I'd love to hear more about…”
- “It would be great to grab a coffee sometime.”
“…so that's me. How about you, Tom? How long have you been working on this project?”
Quick formula and checklist
Formula: Greeting → name and role → what you do → one line of background → a question back.
- Keep it to 20–30 seconds
- Use contractions: “I'm”, “I've”, “I'll”
- Link your introduction to the meeting or the client
- Add one memorable personal detail
- End with a question to keep the conversation going
Practise this with Paula one-to-one
Reading phrases helps, but saying them out loud with feedback is what builds confidence. With one-to-one coaching you get:
- The same teacher every lesson
- Lessons built around your real job, meetings and clients
- 45-minute online lessons on Zoom, at times that suit you
Lessons come in packs of 4 (£109), 12 (£317) or 20 (£517). See full pricing.
Questions
How long should a self-introduction at work be?
About 20–30 seconds, or three or four sentences. Give your name, role, what you do and one line of background, then ask a question.
Should I use my English name or my real name at work in the UK?
Either is fine. Use the name you're most comfortable with and say it clearly. If it might be new to people, you can add, “You can call me…”
How do I introduce myself in an English email to a new colleague?
Start with “Hi [name], I'm [name] and I've just joined as [role].” Add one line about what you'll be working on and end with “I look forward to working with you.”
How can I stop feeling nervous when I introduce myself in English?
Prepare and practise a short version until it feels natural. Most people only remember your name, your role and whether you were friendly, not small grammar mistakes.