How to introduce yourself for a job + templates that work

As I’m watching a marathon of non-exciting MCLE presentations, I especially appreciate this TED talk by Rebecca Okamoto, a former P&G exec, on how speakers can step up their game. And her tips directly apply to lawyers looking for jobs!

Key take-away on how to introduce yourself: make it short and impactful. Focus on the audience and how you can help them. I agree your first sentence should be 20 seconds or less. My add: for legal interviews after that first sentence, you can talk up to a minute more but only with relevant examples showing you can help the interviewer, and skip the boring back story.

Three templates on how to introduce yourself for a job:

1. This one focuses on your help: “I help [target audience] achieve [a benefit they desire].” The example Rebecca gives is: “I help worried job hunters confidently explain why they are the ideal candidate to hire.” For lawyers, it could be “I help tech companies launch products like …” or “I help companies get vindicated from XYZ charges” or “I help companies close ABC deals that …” Show you can solve the problem your audience is facing.
2. Same as #1 but shows your unique proposition by adding the word “without”:  “I help [target audience] achieve [a benefit they desire] without [negative consequence],” e.g., “I help established brands in competitive markets rapidly reach new audiences without increasing market spend.” For lawyers maybe it’s your ability to achieve the goal without friction or without extra cost or time or without legalese. I agree with Rebecca that adding this differentiator is powerful.
3. If you don’t have a lot of data points, or are trying to do a career pivot, then lean into your passion, mission, or strength:
   • Passion example: “I’m passionate about [something I value] to achieve [something my target audience values],” e.g., “I’m passionate about helping people in need and creating opportunities that change lives.” Yes, that of course works for lawyers!
   • Strength example: “I’m known for [my strength] to achieve [something my target audience values]: “I’m known for my critical thinking and turning information into actionable insights.” This one can easily be tailored to lawyers and should jog your memory for similar examples!
   • Mission example: “I’m on a mission to [ABC] to achieve [something my target audience values], e.g., “I’m on a mission to bridge the healthcare divide and make a lasting difference for vulnerable communities.” Again, this template is a great one for lawyers to adapt.