10 Useful Phrases for Introducing Yourself at a Professional Event in France

What if introducing yourself at a professional event in France became easier with just a few well chosen phrases? For many international talents, expat partners, and globally mobile professionals, networking in France can feel intimidating at first. You may know your value, your experience, and your goals, but when someone asks “What do you do?” or “What brings you here?”, the answer can suddenly feel difficult. The good news is that you do not need a perfect speech. You need simple, clear, and culturally appropriate phrases that help you start the conversation with confidence.

Before going further, two related reads can help you prepare your professional presence in France. On Absolutely French, Bonjour to Confidence: Learning French for Career Growth shows why language is not only a communication tool, but also a path to self confidence, autonomy, and career opportunities in France. It is useful because a professional introduction often begins with the courage to speak, even imperfectly. On Absolutely Talented, Networking Season: How to Find Professional Events in Paris This October explains how professional events can help expats and international talents become visible in the French job market. Reading both will help you understand one essential idea: to introduce yourself at a professional event in France, you need preparation, clarity, and a little cultural confidence.

Why Your Introduction Matters in France

In France, a professional introduction is not only about saying your name and job title. It is also about showing that you understand the rhythm of the conversation. French networking can feel more formal than in some countries. People may appreciate politeness, structure, and a clear explanation of who you are before moving into a deeper discussion.

This does not mean you need to sound cold or distant. On the contrary, the best introductions are warm, simple, and precise. The goal is to make it easy for the other person to understand your profile and continue the conversation.

For international professionals, this is especially important. Your background may include several countries, languages, industries, career breaks, or transitions. That richness is an asset, but it needs to be presented clearly. If your answer is too long, people may lose the main message. If it is too vague, they may not understand what you are looking for.

A good phrase gives you a starting point. It helps you avoid panic, over explaining, or apologizing for your international path.

Before the Event: Prepare Your Professional Message

Before attending a professional event, take a few minutes to define your message. Ask yourself: who am I professionally? What is my main strength? What kind of opportunity or connection am I looking for? What makes my international background valuable?

France Travail highlights the importance of preparing your application materials and professional communication when looking for a job in France. This includes clarifying your experience, presenting your skills, and preparing your candidacy before meeting employers or recruiters. You can explore their guidance here: Préparer votre candidature.

At a professional event, you do not need to share everything. You only need a first version of your story. The conversation can develop naturally after that.

Phrase 1: “Bonjour, je m’appelle…”

The simplest phrase is also the most important.

“Bonjour, je m’appelle Maria. Ravie de vous rencontrer.”

In English: “Hello, my name is Maria. Nice to meet you.”

This phrase may seem basic, but in France, starting with bonjour is essential. It creates a polite and respectful opening. Even if the event is international and many people speak English, beginning with bonjour shows cultural awareness.

You can also say:

“Bonjour, je suis Maria.”

This is slightly more direct but still natural. If you are nervous, keep it simple. A clear greeting is already a strong start.

Phrase 2: “Je suis spécialisée dans…”

This phrase helps you present your area of expertise.

“Je suis spécialisée dans la communication digitale et la gestion de projet.”

In English: “I specialize in digital communication and project management.”

For men, the phrase becomes:

“Je suis spécialisé dans…”

You can adapt it to your field:

“Je suis spécialisée dans les ressources humaines.”

“Je suis spécialisé dans la finance internationale.”

“Je suis spécialisée dans le développement commercial.”

This phrase is useful because it sounds professional and focused. It gives the other person a clear idea of your expertise without making your introduction too long.

Phrase 3: “J’ai une expérience internationale en…”

This is one of the most useful phrases for expats and globally mobile professionals.

“J’ai une expérience internationale en marketing, avec des projets en Europe et en Asie.”

In English: “I have international experience in marketing, with projects in Europe and Asia.”

This phrase helps you transform mobility into value. Instead of simply saying that you lived in different countries, you connect your international background to professional expertise.

You can also say:

“J’ai une expérience internationale en gestion d’équipe.”

“J’ai une expérience internationale en relation client.”

“J’ai une expérience internationale dans le secteur de l’éducation.”

This phrase is especially powerful if your background is not linear. It gives structure to your story and shows that your international journey has built real skills.

Phrase 4: “Je viens d’arriver en France et je cherche à mieux comprendre le marché local.”

This phrase is honest and professional.

“Je viens d’arriver en France et je cherche à mieux comprendre le marché local.”

In English: “I recently arrived in France and I am looking to better understand the local market.”

For expat partners or newcomers, this can be a very helpful sentence. It explains your situation without sounding passive. It shows that you are curious, proactive, and ready to learn.

You can add:

“Je serais ravie d’échanger avec vous sur votre secteur.”

In English: “I would be happy to discuss your sector with you.”

This turns your introduction into a conversation. You are not only asking for help. You are showing interest in the other person’s expertise.

Phrase 5: “Je suis actuellement en transition professionnelle.”

This phrase is useful if you are between roles, changing careers, or returning to work after relocation.

“Je suis actuellement en transition professionnelle et je cherche une opportunité dans la gestion de projet.”

In English: “I am currently in a professional transition and looking for an opportunity in project management.”

This sounds much stronger than saying “I am unemployed” or “I am not working right now.” It frames your situation as active and forward looking.

You can also say:

“Je suis en reconversion professionnelle vers les ressources humaines.”

In English: “I am transitioning professionally into human resources.”

This phrase is particularly useful in France because it gives a clear explanation of your career movement. It also invites the other person to ask more.

Phrase 6: “Mon parcours m’a permis de développer…”

This phrase helps you highlight transferable skills.

“Mon parcours m’a permis de développer une grande capacité d’adaptation et une forte sensibilité interculturelle.”

In English: “My background has allowed me to develop strong adaptability and intercultural awareness.”

This is perfect for international talents. Many expat partners and globally mobile professionals have developed powerful skills through relocation, but they do not always know how to name them. This phrase makes those skills visible.

You can adapt it:

“Mon parcours m’a permis de développer des compétences en communication interculturelle.”

“Mon parcours m’a permis de développer une forte capacité à gérer le changement.”

“Mon parcours m’a permis de développer une vision internationale des projets.”

This phrase is strong because it connects your personal journey to professional value.

Phrase 7: “Je cherche à rencontrer des professionnels du secteur…”

This phrase is ideal for networking.

“Je cherche à rencontrer des professionnels du secteur de la tech et de l’innovation.”

In English: “I am looking to meet professionals in the tech and innovation sector.”

This sentence is useful because it tells people how they can help you. Networking becomes easier when your goal is clear.

You can also say:

“Je cherche à échanger avec des professionnels du recrutement.”

“Je cherche à rencontrer des personnes qui travaillent dans la communication.”

“Je cherche à mieux comprendre les opportunités dans le secteur associatif.”

At a professional event, people often want to help, but they need to know what you are looking for. This phrase gives direction to the conversation.

Phrase 8: “Je serais ravie d’en savoir plus sur votre parcours.”

This phrase is elegant, polite, and very useful in France.

“Je serais ravie d’en savoir plus sur votre parcours.”

In English: “I would be happy to learn more about your background.”

Networking is not only about presenting yourself. It is also about showing interest in others. This phrase shifts the conversation from a pitch to an exchange.

You can use it after introducing yourself:

“Et vous, je serais ravie d’en savoir plus sur votre parcours.”

This sounds natural and respectful. It shows curiosity without being intrusive.

In France, relationships often grow through conversation and trust. Asking thoughtful questions is just as important as presenting your own experience.

Phrase 9: “Est ce que vous auriez un conseil pour quelqu’un avec mon profil ?”

This phrase can open very valuable conversations.

“Est ce que vous auriez un conseil pour quelqu’un avec mon profil ?”

In English: “Would you have any advice for someone with my profile?”

This is useful because it does not ask directly for a job. It invites guidance. Many professionals are more comfortable giving advice than responding to a direct request for opportunities.

You can use it with recruiters, alumni, professionals, or speakers after a conference.

For example:

“Je suis spécialisée en communication internationale et je viens d’arriver en France. Est ce que vous auriez un conseil pour quelqu’un avec mon profil ?”

This phrase can lead to practical information, contacts, resources, or even opportunities.

Phrase 10: “Je peux vous ajouter sur LinkedIn ?”

This phrase helps you continue the relationship after the event.

“Je peux vous ajouter sur LinkedIn ?”

In English: “May I add you on LinkedIn?”

This is simple, polite, and very useful. A professional event is only the beginning. The real value often comes after, when you follow up, share your profile, and continue the conversation.

You can add:

“Je vous enverrai un petit message pour rester en contact.”

In English: “I will send you a short message to stay in touch.”

This shows professionalism. It also makes the follow up easier because the person expects your message.

How to Combine These Phrases into a Natural Introduction

Here is a full example:

“Bonjour, je m’appelle Sofia. Je suis spécialisée dans la communication digitale et j’ai une expérience internationale en gestion de projet. Je viens d’arriver en France et je cherche à mieux comprendre le marché local. Je serais ravie d’en savoir plus sur votre parcours.”

In English:

“Hello, my name is Sofia. I specialize in digital communication and I have international experience in project management. I recently arrived in France and I am looking to better understand the local market. I would be happy to learn more about your background.”

This introduction works because it is polite, clear, and not too long. It gives enough information to start a real conversation.

Here is another version for an expat partner returning to work:

“Bonjour, je m’appelle Anna. Je suis actuellement en transition professionnelle après une mobilité internationale. Mon parcours m’a permis de développer une forte capacité d’adaptation et des compétences en communication interculturelle. Je cherche à rencontrer des professionnels du secteur RH. Est ce que vous auriez un conseil pour quelqu’un avec mon profil ?”

This version is honest and confident. It does not apologize for the transition. It presents mobility as a source of skills.

Why Professional Events Matter for International Talents

Professional events are powerful because they create real human contact. Online applications can feel impersonal, especially when your background is international or non linear. Meeting someone in person allows you to explain your story with more nuance, energy, and confidence.

EURES, the European employment network, describes European Job Days as opportunities for employers and candidates to meet, exchange, and connect across European labour markets. You can explore an example here: European Job Days Paris.

For international talents in France, professional events are not only about finding a job immediately. They are about becoming visible. They help you understand the market, practice your pitch, identify useful contacts, and learn how people speak about careers in France.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The first mistake is speaking too much. When people are nervous, they often explain everything: where they lived, why they moved, what happened in each job, and why their career paused. Keep your introduction short. You can give more details later.

The second mistake is apologizing. Avoid phrases like “My French is bad” or “My career is complicated.” Instead, say “I am improving my French” or “My career has been shaped by international mobility.”

The third mistake is being too vague. Saying “I am open to anything” may sound flexible, but it does not help people remember you. Be specific enough to guide the conversation.

The fourth mistake is forgetting the follow up. If you have a good exchange, connect on LinkedIn and send a short message within 24 to 48 hours.

The Absolutely Talented Perspective

At Absolutely Talented, we know that international talents and expat partners often carry invisible value. They have crossed cultures, rebuilt routines, adapted to new systems, learned new codes, and often supported major family transitions while keeping their professional ambitions alive.

Introducing yourself at a professional event in France is not about pretending to have a perfect linear career. It is about making your experience understandable and memorable.

Your accent is not a problem. Your mobility is not a weakness. Your transition is not a failure. What matters is how you present your path. With the right phrases, you can turn uncertainty into clarity and hesitation into connection.

Conclusion: Your Introduction Is the First Door

Introducing yourself at a professional event in France can feel intimidating, especially when you have an international background. But a few useful phrases can make the experience much easier.

Start with bonjour. Say who you are. Name your expertise. Connect your international background to valuable skills. Ask thoughtful questions. Show curiosity. And do not forget to continue the relationship after the event.

The goal is not to sound perfectly French. The goal is to sound clear, respectful, and confident.

Every professional conversation is a small door. With the right words, you can open it.