Interview: 3 steps to present yourself in 3 minutes

“And now I'll let you speak. Introduce yourself.” Although it concerns the subject we know best - us! -This question is often the one that raises the most questions. What can you say about yourself that will be interesting for the employer? How can you have enough self-confidence (link to article on self-confidence) to put yourself forward without overdoing it? How can you be sure that you will make a good impression? The exercise can be more complex than it seems. Here are 3 simple steps that will allow you to prepare for this essential stage of an interview.

Position yourself: who am I?

This first step sets the tone for your employer. There is no question of reciting your CV, it is probably already in front of him/her. This face-to-face meeting must add value and not be a live reading of your career.

The question “Who am I” is a big one. You have studied and sometimes changed along the way. You have also accumulated several professional experiences and you naturally want to share them. But be careful, you only have a limited time, so you need to be concise and efficient. Your employer's memory can only retain a selection of information, and you are the one who will help him or her make this selection. At the end of the day, what should they remember about your profile?The basics

Start with your name and current situation. Of course, the employer should already know this, but spend time and repeat it, so that the next part of your application is natural. Still a student? Soon to graduate? Looking for a second professional experience? A short sentence - and a smile - will do. There's no need to hesitate here: you're sure of your name and your situation, right?

Your professional background

Your studies, your main training, the experiences you have had in the last few months... Don't make a list of accumulated experiences but choose two or three elements that are the most relevant for your employer. Here too, show confidence: you must be proud of the career path you have taken.

Don't hesitate to add small and unusual details. Do you have a passion for photography and have been involved in it for some time? A passion that may have pushed you to go simultaneously further in this field? These are elements that will impress the employer, make him or her smile, and make yourself unique.

One experience in particular

End this quick opening sentence with an experience that has made a particular impression on you. Either because you really enjoyed it or because it taught you a lot – ideally, both. Take the time to emphasise this experience, to say what it brought you that makes you all the more interesting and skilled: it will serve as an excellent transition to the second step.

Define yourself: what do I want to do?

Now that your employer has placed you on the application map, it's time to define yourself more thoroughly: your values, your desires, your expectations, your determination.

You have just finished a memorable experience, which will allow you to continue with your personality. For instance:

• And this affirmed me in my desire to...
• This confirmed my desire to...
• All these experiences have given me the skills to...

Your goal: that the employer understands what led you to be the person standing in front of him/her today. Avoid rambling information and be careful to create links to form a coherent presentation.

Develop your projects

What exactly are you looking for now? What do you hope to achieve in the future? In which field, which sector do you want to work? Be honest with yourself first. Don't forget to emphasise your motivation. Why do you want to do this?Where do you get your enthusiasm from?

To be quick and efficient, explain your values with key words. For motivation: desire, urge, drive, motivation, determination, interest, satisfaction... For work: teamwork, coordinating role, organisation, planning, rigour, internal communication, strategy, productivity, responsibility...Show that you know the sector

It is important that you have a certain command of the field in which you wish to work. Find out what tasks are usually assigned to the job and what qualities you need to have. Pick four or five and keep them as key words with which you will hammer your pitch. For instance, to work in marketing: study the target, conduct consumer research, be curious, have a creative mind, master software, and with the emergence of digital tools: social networks, online referencing, buzz/viral... To work in consulting: market research, cost estimation, rigour, perfect command of Excel and PowerPoint, organisation...

Justify with specific examples

Expressing your values and skills is good. But it can be a bit abstract for your employer. You should therefore justify everything you have said with two specific examples – or three, max. This could be a topic you worked on in school, a professional experience or, failing that, a personal experience. Are you rigorous? Why? When have you been rigorous? For instance: “x weeks ago I was given an assignment to do [...] The task required me to be very thorough, and I had to [...], I realised that without this thoroughness [...]”

Are you a team player? Prove it. For instance: “While working on a project, I realised the need to work in a team. Even the leader can't do everything: to be 100% effective, you have to know how to delegate, and it seems to me that this is an essential quality to be [...]” Or, if you are very much into team sports, this can be an excellent example of success thanks to team spirit.

Stand out: why did you choose this company?

Now we come to the most important part of your presentation. Why are you here? Why did you apply for this job in this company? Even if the exercise is to introduce yourself, you must keep in mind one essential point: this presentation must revolve around the company.

So why this company and not another? What are the educational qualifications that justify your place with them? What skills can you bring to the table? What experience do you have that will be useful?

Do not be anonymous

Don't be the anonymous candidate with the “right profile”. Stand out from the crowd by explaining why you, your background, your way of seeing, thinking and working can be of value to them. Be sure of yourself and explain why you are here today. You have several possibilities:

• You like their values
• You have looked into what they are doing (feel free to quote a project, show them you know what you are talking about) and you like it
• You have seen challenges that you can respond to
• You met someone from the company who stimulated your interest

This is the end of your presentation. It is therefore essential that the employer remembers you. Be clear about what you like about the company and what you can bring to the table. This is the time to make your mark.

Find the right timing

Yes, that's a lot of information and you only have a few minutes to introduce yourself. As we said, this is not an easy exercise. Remember to be careful with your timing. For instance, if you have to present yourself in three minutes, you should spend:

• 1st step: 30 seconds (you lay the foundations)
• 2nd step: 1 minute (you give a framework to your motivation)
• 3rd step: 30 seconds (you explain why you are interested in this company and not in another)

Leave your mark

Finally, don't forget that a successful interview is one in which the recruiter remembers you. Whether it is your dynamism, your willingness to work, your good humour, or even your curiosity or seriousness, make your mark. It also comes down to your attitude: your smile, the way you look straight into your eyes, your listening skills, your gestures to make your point, your upright posture, your clear and assertive voice... And above all, remember that you have nothing to lose, and don't forget that an employer will take you for what you are, in your own way.