The 1Minute Introduction: First Impressions

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The 1-Minute Introduction First Impressions

• APS Professional Skills Course
• Making Scientific Presentations Critical First
  Skills

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Why Bother Introducing Yourself?

• Meet others in your field or other fields
• You never know where it will lead
• Find out what other people are doing
  (networking)
• Advance your own agenda
• Get a job
• Get information on research methods
• Get a paper published

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Why Does It Matter How You Introduce Yourself?

• Promote yourself, your work, your career
• Generate interest for further conversation
• Platform for possible future contact
• Research collaboration
• Job information
• Colleague
• First impressions count

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When Does It Occur?

• At meetings
• Colleague (peer/senior) or speaker
• Editor/associate editor of a journal
• Possible employer/mentor
• Program officer (NIH, NSF) to discuss
  research/funding opportunities
• At seminars
• Colleague (peer/senior) or speaker
• Social events
• Colleagues at dinner
• Lunchroom/cafeteria
• Non-science professionals at social event

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Strategies for Introductions

• Keep it simple
• Keep it clear
• Keep it short
• Keep it genuine
• The key is to have an opening introduction to
  get the conversation started

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Consider it a Personal Commercial

• 30-60 second sound bite
• Must be audible and understandable
• If English is not your first language or that of
  the person you are speaking to, SLOW DOWN
• Should be informative
• Should be crisp and concise
• Should highlight your education, skills and/or
  accomplishments

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Types of Introductions

• Informal introductions
• Formal introductions
• Email formal introductions

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Informal Introductions

• Plane ride
• Meal or party
• Group of friends/acquaintances
• Childrens school event
• Gathering for any occasion

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What to IncludeInformal Introduction

• Name (first and last)
• Education
• College/university you are attending
• Stage of career
• Research area (very general)
• Future goals

Hello, Im Julie Smith. Im a graduate student in
the Department of Physiology at the University of
Bethesda. Im studying how a new type of drug
works on the movement of water in and out of
cells of frog skin. When I get my degree, Id
like to work at a university as a research
professor and discover the cure for skin cancer.
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Other Things You Might Include

• Your background
• Anything unique about you
• Anything unique about what you do

Im originally from Texas and it has been really
fun to live in several different states, as I did
my undergraduate work in Minnesota and now am
getting to see the sites of Maryland and DC. Its
also been fun to travel to meetings all over the
US presenting my research.
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What About Personal Topics in Informal
Introductions?

• Never
• Religion
• Politics

• Sometimes
• Hobbies
• Family/children
• Sports

Be guided by the conversation
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Formal Introductions

• Scientific meeting
• Networking with colleagues
• Job interview
• Reception or dinner for awardees/speaker

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What to IncludeFormal Introduction

• Name (first and last)
• Education
• College/university you are attending or have
  attended
• Major professor
• Title/description of research project
• Career information
• Stage of career
• Future goals

Hello, Im Julie Smith. Im a third-year graduate
student in the Department of Physiology at the
University of Bethesda in Dr. Michael Smiths
lab. Im studying loophole channels in frog skin
and have discovered a new pathway of action for
the channel blocking drug APSamide. Ill be
finishing up in 3 months and am starting to think
about my future plans and would like to get your
advice.
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Also Include

• Reason for introducing yourself
• Your background and why you are interested in the
  specific field (or lab or PI)
• Be honest and enthusiastic, but dont exaggerate
  or inflate
• Anything unique about you or what you do

I would like to talk to you about your research
on gut-parasite interactions in armadillos. My
research has focused on using molecular
technologies, especially cloning. I was wondering
whether you had considered using those techniques
in your model system or whether you might be
interested in trying that approach?
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What to Include Email Formal Introduction

• Subject line
• Request for ____ or Information on ___
• where the blank can be research probe, letter of
  consultation, etc.
• Introduction and question
• Introduce yourself
• Can be similar to spoken introduction
• Be sure to put your name first (not just in
  signature line)
• Signature line
• Your full name
• Your department and institution
• Contact information (phone and email)

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What NOT to Include

• Personal issues or topics
• Politics, religion
• Topics unrelated to science
• Sports
• Pets
• Children
• Previous non-professional jobs
• Too many details

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Why Not?

• Potential for immediate disagreement between you
  and the person you want to impress
• The person may not want to know personal things
  about you
• If its a job interview, the person isnt
  supposed to know personal things about you

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Getting It Right

• Write it out
• Say it out loud
• It should follow a logical sequence
• No tongue twisters or words that are hard to say
• No jokes
• Practice it over and over until you memorize it
  AND can say it clearly and slowly
• Record yourself and listen to how you sound

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One-on-One Introductions

• Undivided attention
• No audience
• Harder to approach
• May be formal or informal

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Group Introductions

• Stress of talking to a group
• Attention may be divided
• There may be nearby distractions
• Usually easier to approach people

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The Approach

• If the person is alone
• Approach confidently
• Ask if you can introduce yourself
• If the person is in a group
• Wait until the conversation reaches a lull
• Make sure your timing is appropriate
• Join the conversation and wait to introduce
  yourself when the discussion is over

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Introducing Yourself

• Be confident
• Give a firm handshake (in US)
• Establish eye contact
• Have a short opening line
• Hello, Dr. Smith, Id like to introduce myself.
  
• Give your introduction
• Say why you want to meet them

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Cultural Issues in Greetings

• Consider the cultural background of the person
• Recognize there are a diversity of greetings
• Do not over interpret a refused hand shake
  (religious, gender, health)

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Your Goal

• A polished introduction creates a positive first
  impression!
• And that leads to being asked
• Tell me more about yourself.

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Resources

• How to introduce yourself professionally Roger
  Willcockshttp//www.willcocks.co.uk/Introductions
  .htm
• Hot Tips for Projecting Professionalism at Your
  Next Job InterviewSara Parent, Canada Jobs.com
  http//www.canadajobs.com/articles/viewarticle.cf
  m?ArticleID1254
• Positioning Statements. Creating a Personal
  Positioning StatementsUniversity of Minnesota
  Carlson School of Managementhttp//www.csom.umn.e
  du/Page2343.aspx
• Its Not What You Say, Its How You Say It Joan
  Detz, 2000, St. Martins Press
• How to Get Your Point Across in 30 Seconds or
  Less Milo O. Frank, 1996, Pocket Books
• Thinking on Your Feet How to Communicate Under
  Pressure Marian K. Woodall (2nd ed.), 1996,
  Professional Business Communications
• How to be an Effective Speaker The essential
  guide to making the most of your communication
  skills Cristina Stuart, 1989, The McGraw-Hill Co.