Preparing and practicing a well organized, articulate, and succinct introduction about your specific knowledge, skills, qualifications and career achievements within about 60-90 seconds lays the foundation for a great interview. You appear confident and the interviewer is impressed by your ability to share valuable information. The purpose of this introduction is to inform the listener that you possess competence and enthusiasm. This is your opportunity to talk about your interest in the position, your goals, your current situation, and apply your skills set.

Your one-minute job interview introduction, also referred to an elevator speech, is your "ticket to ride" for a successful interview. It establishes your credibility and candidacy for the job. Do not make the employer work harder at the interview than you! In fact, the purpose of the one-minute introduction is to put the employer at ease and make his/her job easier. Many employers don't even know how to conduct an interview very well. They may not be willing or know how to unearth information from you about your background experience and abilities.

Often, an interviewer may begin by making a request: "Tell me about yourself." The interviewer is asking you to verify your competencies. It is a mistake to respond without having a solid, well-rehearsed introduction. This is your opportunity to provide an overview about your suitability for the job, to impress the interviewer with your accomplishments and abilities that match the job responsibilities. The interview introduction is the means by which you tell the interviewer why, specifically, you are the candidate the employer is looking for.

Once you have your interview introduction prepared, rehearse it with a friend, Career Counselor, or colleague until you are confident. Be prepared to customize and adapt it for different listeners and opportunities. Write it out on paper and practice in front of a mirror. Video tape yourself to check your diction, speed, and body language. Grab the interviewer with the most pertinent information about yourself in the first when you speak about your qualifications. This pre-planning activity is well worth your effort.

Regardless of how the employer begins, try to interject your one-minute introduction early in the interview process. Even if you submitted extensive paper work (resume, cover letter, references, and so forth), assume they have not read it and that they may not know about your background and qualifications. A good interview should last one hour and no less! For an example of a one-minute interview introduction, review Chapter 20 on Job Interviews in the book, Catch Me When I Fall: Smooth Landings for the Job Seekers.

Toward the end of the interview, paraphrase your introduction to reinforce your skills for the job. This is a second opportunity to clearly apprise the employer about your skills and career goals. In all likelihood, you will not repeat every word of your well-rehearsed interview introduction. The average listener can absorb about one or two minutes of information at one time. It is enough time for you to get across the pertinent information about how your qualifications match the job requirements.

Plan to spend equal time talking about your past employment history, qualifications, skills and accomplishments, as well as express interest in the specific position for which you are applying, why you are looking for work, and how your skills apply. Most importantly, you must convince the potential employer that you can get along with other people in the work environment. It isn't just your ability to establish relationships on the job, but ability to sustain relationships that is a key element to success.