Verb tense	When to use it	Examples
Present simple	Greeting or opening Stating your current role Describing skills and tools Explaining work style	Thanks for having me. I’m a backend engineer. I use Python and AWS. I enjoy mentoring others.
Past simple	Talking about previous jobs Explaining education Describing what attracted you to the role	I worked at PayPal for 3 years. I studied at UCL. What attracted me was your mission.
Present perfect	Highlighting achievements	I’ve worked across startups and enterprises.
Present perfect continuous	Describing how long you’ve been in your current role	I’ve been working as a data engineer at Revolut for 5 years.
Present continuous	Explaining what you’re working on right now	I’m currently leading a cloud migration.
Future (will / going to)	Sharing your motivations	Joining your company will give me the chance to work on large-scale systems.

Introduction

Using the correct verb tense is very important in your self-introduction because it helps the listener understand your career timeline.

It makes it clear:

what you are doing now
what you did in the past
what you want to do in the future

Present Simple

Greetings or openings

Thanks for having me.

Stating your current role

I'm a backend engineer.

Describing skills and tools

I use Python and AWS.

Explaining your work style

I enjoy mentoring others.

Past Simple

Talking about previous jobs

I worked at PayPal for three years.

Explaining education

I studied at UCL.

Describing what attracted you to the role

What interested me was your mission.

Present Perfect

Highlighting experience

I’ve worked in both startups and established, global companies.

Present Perfect Continuous

Describing how long you’ve been in your current role

I’ve been working as a data engineer at Revolut for five years.

Present Continuous

Explaining what you’re working on right now

I’m currently leading a cloud migration.

Future (will / going to)

Sharing your motivation

Joining your company will give me the chance to work on large-scale systems.

Summary

Verb tense	When to use it	Examples
Present simple	Greeting or opening Stating your current role Describing skills and tools Explaining work style	Thanks for having me. I’m a backend engineer. I use Python and AWS. I enjoy mentoring others.
Past simple	Talking about previous jobs Explaining education Describing what attracted you to the role	I worked at PayPal for 3 years. I studied at UCL. What attracted me was your mission.
Present perfect	Highlighting achievements	I’ve worked across startups and enterprises.
Present perfect continuous	Describing how long you’ve been in your current role	I’ve been working as a data engineer at Revolut for 5 years.
Present continuous	Explaining what you’re working on right now	I’m currently leading a cloud migration.
Future (will / going to)	Sharing your motivations	Joining your company will give me the chance to work on large-scale systems.