Angela BennettWhether networking, interviewing, meeting new colleagues, or speaking with your manager and HR, you’ll inevitably be asked to “tell me about yourself.” Most people default to a chronological response, which includes where they’ve worked and the titles they’ve held. It’s accurate, but it’s not strategic.
What if you transformed that response into a clear, intentional story about your unique value?
A strategic introduction positions you for where you want to go. Here are five actions to help you shift from a recap to a compelling narrative:
1. Lead with Your “Why”
Start with what drives your work. What value do you aim to create? This is your human connection point. A clear sense of purpose helps others quickly understand what motivates you and creates a genuine connection with people.
Action: Write a one-sentence mission statement that captures why you do what you do.
2. Define Your Point of Difference
No one has your exact combination of experience, skills, and perspective. Your value goes beyond what you’ve done. It’s how you think, the judgment you apply, and the impact you create.
Action: Identify two to three examples where your approach led to meaningful results. Go beyond the outcome to articulate the strategic thinking behind it.
3. Make the Match
Whether pursuing a new role, promotion, or broader influence, decision-makers are solving business problems. Going after your next opportunity means clearly matching your experience to those needs. Talent managers and recruiters often aim for an 80% match, leaving 20% “new” responsibilities for growth.
Action: Uncover the top two to three challenges of your target role and explicitly speak about how you have the experience that matches up to help solve them.
4. Be Clear and Concise
As you grow in your career, clarity becomes a differentiator. Your introduction should be focused, memorable, and forward-looking. It should go well beyond a list of past responsibilities that no doubt, other candidates under consideration can also say.
Action: Create a two to three sentence headline that connects your career progression into a cohesive story aligned with where you’re heading.
5. Use Networking as Your Amplifier
Your story only works if you share it. Strategic networking is about clarity and consistency in how you communicate your value.
Action: Test your introduction with five to 10 trusted contacts. Notice what resonates and refine your message.
When you shift from telling your career history to articulating your value, your story becomes a strategic communication asset, not just an answer.
Angela Bennett is an executive and career coach dedicated to helping people navigate meaningful careers. Her beauty industry journey spans The Estée Lauder Companies, L’Oréal, and advising leaders of independent beauty brands. In addition to this new weekly column for CEW as part of our Career Accelerator Series, you can find her hosting the Coffee & Careers podcast and writing the Coffee & Careers Substack.
