Hi, what would be the best way to introduce yourself as a new colleague to Americans in a company-wide email? I’ve heard that you are more open to celebrate achievements and what could be perceived as bragging elsewhere is perfectly fine in the US. So my question is: If you state your degree and certifications in some sort of introduction, does it create the thought “wow, a new competent colleague is joining the ship, good to have him/her onboard” or is it like “what a show-off, who cares, I would like to know whether you like hiking” Thanks for your thoughts!
21 comments
I would not send out a company wide email announcing my hire unless I was asked.
I wouldn’t put my degree in. I graduated a decade ago. It’s not relevant. It’s more common to say what the last place you worked was. “I’m joining as a {new job title} on the {whatever} team after {number} years as a {old job title} at {old company’s name}.” Maybe add “I’ve been in the industry for 15 years.” I’d only mention your uni if this is your first job after graduating. “I just graduated from {uni name}.”
Definitely add a personal note, like a hobby or that you have a Irish wolfhound named Obi-Wan. (Hey look, that says you’re a Star Wars fan too.)
I work for the government, usually when someone is hired the director of my department will send an email welcoming the person to everyone. The person themselves does not send an email to everyone.
Sending a company wide email on your own behalf would be a bit weird in most settings unless you’re entering a top-level leadership position. Your boss *may* do this on your behalf.
You would gradually introduce yourself to your immediate coworkers and anybody whom you will be supervising. That’s usually about it.
>what could be perceived as bragging elsewhere is perfectly fine in the US.
This is not correct. Bragging is very much frowned upon here in a workplace environment.
>So my question is: If you state your degree and certifications in some sort of introduction, does it create the thought “wow, a new competent colleague is joining the ship, good to have him/her onboard” or is it like “what a show-off, who cares
Don’t do this. I beg you. I would immediately perceive this as somebody being arrogant or condescending. I assume you are compentent because you got hired. That’s good enough for me.
Are you being asked to do this? If not, please don’t.
Do not – I repeat – DO NOT introduce yourself by listening your degree(s) and certification(s); you *will* come off as a braggart and will make a bad impression on your new colleagues.
I wouldn’t do this unless asked. in my workplace, supervisors send emails prior to the new hire starting to introduce them, say what they’ll be working on, and a bit about their experience or where they’re from. unless a supervisor is asking you to do this, I wouldn’t do it.
introduce yourself to individual people you’re working with as it comes up, and keep it light, not braggy. what your role is, how it’s going so far, what your goals are early on, maybe one or two fun things like where you’re from or a pet you have.
There’s nothing I hate more than company wide emails. Everybody responds to them by clicking reply-all instead of just reply for some reason. Then my inbox is full of emails that just say congrats to whoever got a promotion or whatever.
In my experience, this would be done by the new hire’s supervisor or manager, not the individual. It would only go to the people expected to the person’s team and to others who might directly interact. If that group is small enough and in the office enough to meet regularly, it would be done in person rather than email (or in person to those in the office, and then email both to those and to others not in the same office).
Please don’t do any of this. Your manager should introduce you to the team. If they don’t then just start introducing yourself as you see more and more names that you’ll be working with. If you’re shadowing/training with someone they should be helping you contact the right people
Bragging here is very much frowned upon in most instances. Confidence is different. Stating where you graduated from and what your achievements are don’t show that you’re competent or a show off. It comes off more as unnecessary, and isn’t indicative of the work you’ll be doing as they might have significantly different practices than what you’re used to and doesn’t mean you’ll be great at your new position. Let your work do the talking. If you have direct experience say that. If you don’t say you want to learn and excited to work with everyone if/when you’re introduced
No…….just No.
If an all-company introductory email is sent out it would be sent by your boss or an internal communications team. And it’s rare for anything other than very high level positions.
Also your assumption that bragging is ok in the US is incorrect. There’s a difference between confidence and bragging. Being confident is fine. Bragging / showing off will not be welcomed.
It’s a tricky balance. My best advice is relax and be yourself. Americans may share more personal information quicker than you’re used to and ask you lots of questions.
If I can ask, what country / region are you coming from? I managed global HR programs for years and I’m happy to answer any other questions you might have.
You’re very misled or mistaken. Absolutely *do not* send this email, your CV, or your accomplishments to your coworkers. At best it would be taken as a weird cross cultural misunderstanding, many will think you’re strange or a blowhard.
Your supervisor will hopefully introduce you, if someone is interested in your qualifications they’ll ask. Humility is a valued character trait.
I second everyone else’s opinion that it would be weird to do this unless specifically asked to. However, I have been asked to do this at a previous job. I wrote up the short bio and then my boss sent it out. Was a normal thing for new hires at our office as a way to learn about people’s knowledge bases/expertises without explicitly having to ask. In general, they all seemed to follow the same kind of format:
Name, where you’re moving from (job and location). Degree and where it’s from. Previous work history (if relevant to your position). Personal info about you (hometown, how many kids you have, hobbies, any special work interests).
I would definitely talk with your boss or a coworker about what the norm is at your office/company.
Company wide email would be extreme unless you’re going into a C-suite position.
If I were to start at a new engineering position, if my supervisor didn’t do it on my behalf, I’d probably send an email introducing myself to my team with my credentials included. Nowhere near as detailed as my resume, but I’d want to give my coworkers a basic idea of my experience.
Dont do this
You would not introduce yourself to the entire company via email. That would be seen as quite weird. The only way you’d do this is if you were the new CEO or some other very higher-up.
You physically introduce yourself at meetings, and usually the first time you’re all together, your boss formally introduces you to the rest of the staff.
Company-wide emails should almost never be sent by lower level employees, and anyway, even if they are, you’d get the approval of your boss first. Like say your kid is selling Girl Scouts cookies. You wouldn’t just send a company wide email asking everyone to chip in; you’d ask your boss if that was ok to do. In some companies, the boos will then send the email on your behalf.
Don’t mistake friendliness for informality. American businesses are very aware of hierarchy. You are a new, low level employee, and therefore should behave as such. Announcing your degree and certifications will come across *at best* as really silly. At worst, you’ll sound like an insecure clueless snob. Please don’t do that!
Don’t, do this! Your boss should be the one to do this, and most people don’t give two thoughts or even read those emails. Just let it go. Create a social media account or LinkedIn profile and list all that stuff, that way the people who want to know can look it up.
Unless you’re the new CEO or some really high up exec I wouldn’t. At my company our head of HR will announce new hires and their titles and who they will work with/report to.
There’s no need for an email, just show up on the first day and introduce yourself with your first name.
MAYBE your team, and nothing more than your name, where you’re from, a couple of hobbies and interests, and you’re glad to be joining the team. This is something more done in person, not over email.
Oh my… so many bad ideas. Someone is giving you very bad advice.
Do not do anything that you wrote.
Do not send a company wide email. That would just tell people that you are socially awkward.
Do not share your education and especially your credentials. You were hired, so it is assumed that you are qualified. You may come from a culture where hierarchy and certification is important. Hierarchy alienates people here
Americans play down their accomplishments with each other. I have colleagues with Ivy league master’s and PhDs, and nobody talks about it. They talk about their family and interests. They say things that make them approachable.
So here is how I would introduce myself, if you are asked:
“Hi, I’m John. I’m really excited to join the company. I learned a lot in the interviews, and I am looking forward to jumping in.
Outside of work, I’m married to my wonderful and beautiful wife, Jane. We’re getting to know the area, so if you have suggestions on places we should check out, I’d love to hear them.”
If someone wants to know where you went to school, they can ask or look on LinkedIn.