Beginner· A1–A2Work & career6 min

Introducing yourself at a new job

Meet a new colleague on your first day, say what your role is and ask simple questions.

The scene

It is your first day at a new office. A colleague comes over to your desk to say hello and show you around.

Speaker A
New colleague
Speaker B
You (new employee)

Your goals

  • Introduce yourself with your name and job title
  • Ask simple questions about the team and office
  • Thank someone for their help

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

  • colleague

    a person you work with

    This is my colleague, Ana.

  • first day

    the day you start a new job

    It's my first day today.

  • team

    a group of people who work together

    Which team are you on?

  • to join

    to become a member of a group or company

    I just joined the sales team.

  • break room

    a room where workers rest and have coffee

    The break room is on the left.

  • to show around

    to walk with someone and show them a place

    Let me show you around.

Useful phrases

  • Hi, I'm …. I just started today.

    Introducing yourself on your first day

  • I'm the new …

    Saying your job title

  • What do you do here?

    Asking about someone's job

  • Where is the …?

    Asking where something is

  • Thanks for showing me around.

    Thanking a colleague for help

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

  1. New colleague

    Hi there! You must be new. I'm Tom from the design team.

  2. You (new employee)

    Hi Tom, I'm Aisha. I just started today. I'm the new marketing assistant.

  3. New colleague

    Welcome! How's your first morning going?

  4. You (new employee)

    It's good, thanks. Everyone is very friendly. What do you do here?

  5. New colleague

    I'm a graphic designer, so we'll probably work together a lot.

  6. You (new employee)

    That's great. Do you have a minute to show me where things are?

  7. New colleague

    Sure. The break room is down the hall, and the printers are next to it.

  8. You (new employee)

    OK, thank you. What time do people usually have lunch?

  9. New colleague

    Usually around twelve thirty. You can join us today if you like.

  10. You (new employee)

    I'd love to. Thanks for showing me around, Tom.

You speak 5 lines as You (new employee); New colleague is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

  1. 1. Introduce yourself to a new colleague: your name, your job and when you started.

  2. 2. Ask a colleague two questions about their job.

  3. 3. Describe your workplace or school: where people eat, meet and work.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

  1. 1. What is a 'colleague'?
  2. 2. Which sentence introduces your job?
  3. 3. 'Let me show you around' means…
  4. 4. How do you thank someone for a tour?

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

  • Avoid: I am new worker here.

    Say: I'm new here. / I just started here.

    'New worker' sounds unnatural; just say you are new or just started.

  • Avoid: I work like marketing assistant.

    Say: I work as a marketing assistant.

    Use 'as' plus 'a/an' for your job.

  • Avoid: What is your work?

    Say: What do you do?

    'What do you do?' is the natural way to ask about someone's job.

Tips

  • Prepare a one-sentence introduction before your first day and practice it aloud.
  • Repeat new names when you hear them: 'Nice to meet you, Tom.' It helps you remember.
  • Ask easy questions about the office; colleagues like to help someone new.

Questions about this lesson

How do you introduce yourself at work in English?

Say 'Hi, I'm Aisha. I just started today. I'm the new marketing assistant.' Then ask 'What do you do here?'

What is the difference between 'colleague' and 'coworker'?

They mean almost the same thing. 'Coworker' is very common in American English; 'colleague' sounds a little more formal.

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

Next lesson: Calling in sick to work

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