32 Important English Phrases for Nailing Business Introductions
Making a business presentation?
Talking to an important client for the first time?
Since English is the lingua franca (global language that speakers with different native languages use to communicate) of the business world, it is useful to know how to speak the language before introducing yourself to potential employers, business contacts, potential clients or others.
Keep reading and you’ll have all the English phrases you need to make a great first impression!
Contents
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32 Important English Phrases for Nailing Business Introductions
Let’s learn how to nail business introductions so you’re prepared for the essential topics.
Introducing Yourself
Okay, let’s start with the most basic form of self-introduction. You already know this.
1. Hello, I’m/my name is + [your name]
“Hello, I’m/my name is Ben Franklin.”
You may say “Hi” instead of “Hello.” “Hi” may sometimes be considered to be less formal. But in general, both “Hello” and “Hi” are acceptable these days.
2. It’s nice to meet you.
You can also swap the word “nice” for other words like “great” and “lovely.”
3. Thank you for taking the time to meet me.
This phrase, or any variation of it, is a professional way to thank people for taking time out of their busy schedules.
Talking About Your Company Name, Location and Length of Service
You may choose to be very general by only mentioning the company where you work.
4. I’m with + [company name]
“I’m with Citibank/Federal Express/Samsung.”
You could get more specific by giving the location where you are based.
5. I’m based in + [location]
“I’m based in Japan/Chicago/our headquarters in Berlin.”
Let’s say someone asks you “How long have you been with this company?”
Here’s one way you could phrase your answer.
6. I’ve been with + [company name] + for + [length of time]
“I’ve been with Twitter for 3 years.”
Another way to phrase your answer would be “I’ve been with + [company name] + since + [year].”
“I’ve been with Twitter since 2011.”
Talking About Your Industry, Job and Responsibilities
Now let’s say you’re asked “What do you work as?” The most general response is to mention the industry (business) that your company is in.
7. I work in + [industry]
“I work in information technology/construction/banking.”
To be more specific, you could state your area of expertise (job skill) by saying “I work in + [area of expertise].”
“I work in software development/engineering/HR.”
You could also say that you’re one of the software developers/engineers/HR managers in your company.
8. I work as + [article (a/an)] + [occupation]
“I work as a software developer/an engineer/an HR manager.”
9. I’m + [article] + [occupation]
“I’m a software developer/an engineer/an HR manager.”
To be more specific, you could state your actual job title by saying “I’m + article (a/an) + [actual job title].”
“I’m a Senior Software Developer/a Biochemical Engineer/an Assistant HR Manager.”
Using the next two phrases, you can get as specific as you like to describe the job areas you’re involved in and/or are responsible for.
10. I’m involved in + [project/area of involvement]
“I’m involved in software development/engineering/HR management.”
You can also use the phrasing “I’m involved in + [verb]ing + [project/area of involvement].”
“I’m involved in conducting training courses for our new staff.”
“I’m involved in writing software apps for our latest model of smartphones due to be launched next October.”
You could also offer some details about your job responsibilities.
11. I’m responsible for + [verb]ing + [area of responsibility]
“I’m responsible for ensuring that our new staff are well trained.”
“I’m responsible for developing new software apps for our smartphones.”
This is a way to explain what you actually do as part of your job.
12. I head the + [department/project]
“I head the HR Department/the engineering project.”
To say that you “head” something means that you are the leader, or that you are in charge of it.
13. I manage the + [department/project]
“I manage the Finance Department/the sales project team.”
14. I look after + [department/project]
“I look after the Marketing Department/all the restaurants in this state.”
15. I’m in charge of + [department/project]
“I’m in charge of the Sales Department/the hotel construction project.”
You may also mention who you report to at work.
16. I report (directly) to the + [superior]
“I report (directly) to the Head of Finance.”
To see more ways people talk about themselves and what they do, you can watch videos about business English in FluentU, a language learning program that teaches English with authentic videos like news clips and instructional videos.
FluentU’s videos have interactive captions that help you keep up with fast native English speech and look up phrases as you go. There are videos covering a wide variety of subjects, including hundreds of clips under the “business English” topic.
Introducing Your Company
The next three phrases may be used to answer the question “What business is your company in?”
17. We’re + [article (a/an/the)] + [description] + company
“We’re a construction company.”
You may include more details about your company by adding a description or include a location with this phrasing.
For example: “We’re + [article] + [description] + company in + [location].”
“We’re the biggest construction company in Asia Pacific.”
“We’re a small consulting company outside the Los Angeles region (area).”
18. We’re + [article (a/an)] + multinational/privately-owned/public listed/startup company
“We’re a startup company.”
Here again, to include more details in the description of your company, you may add a description or include a location.
For example: “We’re + [article] + [description] + multinational/privately-owned/public listed/startup company + [location].”
“We’re the number one privately-owned company in the country.”
19. We’re in + [business/industry]
“We’re in manufacturing.”
This is a simple way of explaining the industry your company is in.
You can also say “We’re in + [article (a/an/the)] + [business/industry].”
“We’re in the manufacturing industry.”
20. We’ve been in business for + [length of time]
“We’ve been in business for 25 years.”
Instead, you could say “We’ve been in business since + [year].”
“We’ve been in business since 1990.”
Here are some ways you can talk about where your company and its offices are located.
21. We’re located + [preposition (in, near)] + [location]
“We’re located in Shanghai.”
“We’re located outside the greater Seattle region.”
22. Our headquarters is + [preposition] + [location]
“Our headquarters is in London, England.”
You can also use “located” before the preposition and location. For example:
“Our headquarters is located in London, England.”
23. Our main office is + [preposition] + [location]
“Our main office is in Rhode Island.”
“Our main office is located in Rhode Island.”
24. We have offices + [preposition] + [location]
“We have offices in New York, London and Milan.”
“We have offices on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Talking About Your Company’s Products and Services
Sometimes you may need to talk in greater detail about your company’s products and services.
25. Our main business is + [business]
“Our main business is outdoor photography.”
26. We specialize in + [products/services]
“We specialize in pastries and cakes.”
To specialize in something means to concentrate your or the company’s efforts in a particular area of an industry.
You may include as much information as you like by expanding on (adding to) the above sentence structure.
For example: “We specialize in + [verb]ing + [products/services].”
“We specialize in making pastries and cakes.”
Or even “We specialize in + [verb]ing + [noun] + [preposition] + …”
“We specialize in supplying pastries and cakes to major hotel chains.”
27. We make/produce + [noun]
“We make/produce home electronic products.”
Here again, you may expand on the sentence structure by adding more information.
For example: “We make/produce + [noun] + [preposition] + …”
“We make/produce home electronic products for export to the European market.”
28. We manufacture + [noun]
“We manufacture children’s toys.”
“Manufacture” means to make goods or items, usually in large amounts.
Let’s look at how you can expand on the sentence structure here: “We manufacture + [noun] + [preposition] + …”
“We manufacture children’s toys at our factories in Asia.”
29. We develop + [noun]
“We develop software applications.”
“Develop” is often used when talking about software.
How would you expand on this sentence structure? Try “We develop + [adjective] + [noun] + [preposition] + …”
“We develop customized software applications for two major mobile phone companies here in North America.”
30. We build + [noun]
“We build residential homes.”
I’m sure that, by now, you’re getting the idea. So let’s see how you do here.
Expanded structure: “We build + [adjective] + [noun] + [preposition] + …”
“We build affordable residential homes along the foothills in the suburbs of Tokyo.”
31. We supply/sell/distribute + [noun]
“We supply/sell/distribute automobile spare parts.”
As you can see, there are so many ways you can add on to a sentence structure to give more information about what your company does.
“We supply/sell/distribute automobile spare parts to some of the major automobile makers in this part of the world.”
32. We import/export + [noun]
“We import/export dried food products.”
“Import” means to bring items or goods in from a different country. “Export” means to send items or goods to a different country to be sold.
Okay, here’s the last one. Let’s make this a good one!
“We import/export 200 kinds of dried food products to the major markets in Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.”
So there you have it, 32 phrases you can use to make an impressive introduction to business contacts and potential clients, whether in person or in a formal presentation.
As you can see, there are many ways you can build on these phrases to paint a bigger, better and more descriptive picture of your job and company.
The good news is, you’re already halfway there.
Keep going and make your introductions shine.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
