Does describing yourself give you jitters?
On average, it takes almost 23 days to fill a vacant position in the US. And each corporate job offer attracts 250 resumes out of which only 4-6 candidates called for an interview.
How would you become that one person who gets the job offer?
Using positive words to describe yourself can leave a positive impression on the interviewers and increase your chances of selection for the job.
You need to have a strong vocabulary and the ability to take the conversation deeper to convey that you are the best candidate with a sound awareness of yourself. But how can you do that within 30-45 minutes of an interview?
Read on to learn about words to describe yourself and how to use them while answering interview questions.
- Why do interviewers ask how you view yourself?
- Why is it important to describe yourself effectively?
- How do you describe yourself in a job interview?
- Qualities to highlight while using the words to describe yourself
- What are some adjectives to describe yourself?
- Tips for using words to describe yourself in an interview
Why Do Interviewers Ask How You View Yourself?
The first question that you would be asked in any job interview is “Tell me about yourself.” While this question is a conversation starter, it also allows the interviewer to dig deeper.
Through this question, the interviewers get an idea of how much you are aware of yourself. Whatever information you provide to the interviewers will form the basis for succeeding questions.
Telling about yourself will lead the conversation in a direction where interviewers can gauge your skills and experience and decide if you are the best fit for the job opening.
Remember that the initial question will drive you to speak, which will assist the interviewer in evaluating your interpersonal, social, and communication abilities.
Why Is It Important to Describe Yourself Effectively?
As an interviewee, focus on creating a strong first impression.
Your ways of communication, choice of words, and how you present yourself will help in making a solid first impression.
Describing yourself effectively will give the interviewers a well-balanced idea of who you are as a person and a professional. By using the right set of describing words, you can provide a view to the interviewers if you will be able to thrive in their dynamic work environment.
Your personality gets reflected in the words you choose to express yourself. In an interview, you must portray yourself as a strong, motivated, and self-driven individual to achieve your goals.
How Do You Describe Yourself in a Job Interview?
During an interview, the words you use to describe yourself and your skills may leave a lasting impression and provide the employers a chance to understand your potential as an employee.
Given below is a list of some positive words to describe yourself that can convey your best traits while keeping yourself marketable:
Goal-oriented
Meaning: To be committed to reaching a specific goal.
Example: I am a practical and hard-working person, determined to achieve the targets that I set for myself. Once those goals are established, I set more manageable benchmarks to assess my success regularly. If hired, I will use my goal-setting method to assist my team in working more effectively and productively.
Result-driven
Meaning: To do whatever it takes to achieve successful results.
Example: As much as I love setting goals, I enjoy harvesting results too. I put a lot of effort into contributing value and achieving goals. I have made significant contributions to the success of my teams and companies because of my commitment to providing value.
Leadership Quality
Meaning: The quality of leading a team in the right direction.
Example: I do not allow difficult circumstances to overtake me. Instead, I assess them and choose the strategy that will produce the best results at that particular time. I consider myself to be someone who can control any circumstance.
Also Read: How to answer what is your leadership style in an interview?
Pragmatic
Meaning: To deal with problems in a reasonable, realistic manner based on a practical approach.
Example: Although I tend to be positive, I am not afraid of impediments. My fundamental strategy in any project I oversee is to recognize the probable obstacles we will face and put protective measures in place to ensure we achieve outcomes according to our schedule and management needs.
Customer-oriented
Meaning: To focus on the customer's needs and ensure they are satisfied.
Example: I have experience in customer service; thus, my main priority is the customers' happiness. My primary responsibility in all my interactions with customers is to identify the most effective means of resolving their issues. Knowing my customers' needs enables me to offer tailored solutions to improve their lives, gain their trust, and boost the firm’s growth.
Also Read: How to answer customer service manager interview questions in 2022?
Self Motivated
Meaning: To be driven by one’s willpower, enthusiasm, and passion.
Example: I like to take the initiative. I enjoy taking the lead and delivering projects according to specifications without supervision. If the standards need to be changed, I always keep my management and clients in the loop.
Team-oriented
Meaning: To collaborate with others and generate positive results by working together.
Example: My best skill is focussing on teamwork and leveraging team effort to meet targets. I believe two is always better than one. I can accomplish the general objectives of my organization by interacting with others and working as a team.
Also Read: How to mention teamwork on a resume in 2022?
Revenue Focussed
Meaning: The ability to focus on enhancing the company's revenue, making it profitable.
Example: I think I am good at generating revenue for my organization. I go above and beyond to bring in new customers and business for my firm, even in a highly competitive sector.
Qualities to Highlight While Using the Words to Describe Yourself
The words you choose to describe yourself will reflect the qualities you own. Given below are some words that you can use to highlight your qualities:
Self-starter
Meaning: Ability to work on one’s own without needing directions.
Example: Once I understand the task allotted, I am good at figuring out the most effective approach to complete the assignment without requiring much supervision from my seniors.
Proactive
Meaning: Ability to take the initiative and perform tasks.
Example: I believe in being proactive rather than just reactive to situations. I usually list potential problems and blockages that might delay our team’s milestones before starting any project. It has helped me reach and exceed project completion rates since I always have alternatives and answers to problems before they even occur.
Decisive
Meaning: To have the rapid decision-making ability.
Example: I would characterize myself as someone who makes quick decisions, which I believe is vital in leadership roles. Whatever the circumstance, I have made it a habit to consider the larger picture while deciding to maximize the benefit to my company.
Accountability
Meaning: The ability to be responsible for a task.
Example: By taking ownership of my actions and consequences, I make the necessary choices for a better outcome. I clearly understand that pointing fingers or engaging in the blame game is counterproductive and could even set the team back. This firm insight has helped me hold myself accountable more easily and has raised my degree of caution while making decisions or taking action.
Good Communicator
Meaning: The ability to convey the information in a crisp and decipherable manner that others can understand easily.
Example: I have discovered that everyone has a unique communication style. To properly collaborate and find common ground, I have educated myself on how others express themselves. I often ask questions and don't mind cross-checking to ensure I have grasped things. Healthy communication has helped me avoid misunderstandings, win businesses, swiftly resolve office conflicts, and spot problems by observing people's nonverbal cues.
Also Read: What are the top effective communication skills to put in a resume?
What are Some Adjectives to Describe Yourself?
While facing the interview, select phrases that you believe are strongly connected to crucial traits and competencies required for the vacant position.
Given below is the list of words that you may use to describe yourself to a potential employer during an interview:
Words to Describe Yourself- Work Ethic
Your attitude toward your job at work reveals a lot about who you are. Given below is a list of adjectives that will describe your work ethic positively:
| Dedicated | Persistent |
| Inquisitive | Resilient |
| Disciplined | Practical |
| Ambitious | Resolute |
| Organized | Open-minded |
| Respectful | Cooperative |
| Self-motivated | Reliable |
| Hard-working | Proactive |
| Attentive | Focused |
| Reflective | Committed |
Words to Describe Yourself- Attitude
Given below is a list of adjectives that will describe your attitude in general and in the workplace:
| Confident | Kind |
| Patient | Considerate |
| Empathetic | Sympathetic |
| Courageous | Humble |
| Independent | Friendly |
| Dynamic | Generous |
| Passionate | Truthful |
| Straight-forward | Sociable |
| Easy-going | Sincere |
| Assertive | Self-reliant |
Words to Describe Yourself- Professional Abilities
Given below is a list of adjectives that will describe your professional abilities in the workplace:
| Skilled | Experienced |
| Professional | Analytical |
| Creative | Dynamic |
| Detail-oriented | Communicative |
| Strategic | Collaborative |
Words to Describe Yourself- Personality
Given below is a list of personality words to describe yourself in the workplace:
| Empathetic | Generous |
| Extrovert | Introvert |
| Creative | Cheerful |
| Joyous | Friendly |
| Honest | Optimist |
| Helpful | Intuitive |
| Energetic | Vibrant |
| Artistic | Authentic |
| Wise | Trustworthy |
| Pragmatic | Realist |
Also Read: What are the top resume action words and power verbs?
Tips for Using Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview
Describing yourself can be a little tricky, but by using unique words to describe yourself, you can easily convey to the interviewers that nobody can perform the job better than you.
Given below are some tips that you can keep in mind while picking out words to describe yourself in an interview:
- Be confident and share your details with the interviewer without hesitation.
- Maintain eye contact, as it would suggest you are confident about what you are saying.
- Choose unique words to describe yourself that match best with your abilities.
- Use synonyms for the most common words used to describe character traits.
- Offer examples than just adjectives to describe the kind of person you are.
- Wherever possible, provide numbers to back up the words you choose to describe yourself.
- Pick the words that match the descriptive keywords mentioned in the job description.
Also Read: What are the keywords to use in 2022 to make resume ATS friendly?
Key Takeaways
The words you choose to describe yourself can convey to the interviewers if you are the best fit for the job or not.
- Hone your communication skills as the words you choose to describe yourself will be conveyed through your communication with the interviewer.
- Choose positive words like result-driven, goal-oriented, and team-player to convey that you can be an asset to the company.
- Pick unique words like self-reliant, creative, and self-starter instead of independent, innovative, and motivated to sound refreshing.
- Use adjectives like honest, hard-working, pragmatic, etc., to describe yourself wherever you deem fit.
- In the interview, back up your qualities by giving examples from your professional experience.
Go to Hiration's Career Activator Platform, which provides 24/7 chat support if you need professional assistance in drafting a resume with the best words to describe yourself.
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