Step 1
Turn to a blank page in your notebook and write down every single thing you want someone to know about you. Don’t hold back – you’ll edit it down later. If you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself questions like: how do you stand out in your field? What benefit would you like to bring to the world? How will your current skills and experiences lead you to where you want to be?
Step 2
Now take what you’ve come up with and try to fit it on a square sticky note. This forces you to choose what information to prioritise and determine what’s not crucial to share in a first interaction. If you’re having a hard time narrowing it down, a good framework to use is simply: your job title + company + what that means in layman’s terms + why you love it.
See related
- How To Get Organised At Work And Get More Done
- Learn How To Say No At Work
- How To Manage Tech Distractions And Focus On Work
Step 3
Read it aloud to make sure it sounds like something you’d say in a conversation, not something you’re reciting from a piece of paper. And cut the jargon! Lofty industry phrases like “strategic insight” and “leveraging influencers” won’t help your case here. Find a simple, straightforward way to describe what you do so it’s relatable and easy to understand.
The New Rules Of Work (£9.99, Crown Business) by Alexandra Cavoulacos and Kathryn Minshew is out now
