Talking about yourself is not always as easy as it sounds, especially if you have to describe yourself to a recruiter or an interviewer. You may have plenty of characteristic traits that define you, but in a formal setting it is important that you are mindful about what words you choose for yourself.
Strategies to Describe Yourself:
There may be fifty words to describe yourself, however, you must pick the ones that will be valued most for the position at hand. Tell them how these words apply to your life and give an example that backs it up. Here are some strategies you may use in order to come up with the right words to describe yourself:
- Don’t be afraid to think about your answer ahead of time so you can shine your character in the best possible light.
- Consider asking some friends or family members. Ask Around for “Words That Describe Me”. By asking others what words can be used to describe you (and eliminating the not-so-positive words they might use), you will have a great starting place to come up with your more detailed and descriptive answer for the interview.
- It’s smart to have a small collection of adjectives that describe you well and show you off in your best light—bonus points if they aren’t the same old tired words everybody else is using.
- Whatever you do, try to avoid simply listing descriptive words. Rather, give a short story to support your claim.
5 powerful words interviewers are sure to love:
It is important to think of relevant explanations that also align with the job you are interviewing for. Here is a list of five words that impress recruiters:
1. Driven
If you’d rather, “ambitious” works here, as well—any adjective that shows you are not just showing up to work for the paycheck and the free coffee is great. These words prove that you are in it to win it—both to advance yourself in your career and, in the meantime, to advance the company and its most important goals. Subtext: no one is going to need to hound or micromanage you to keep you motivated. You’re “self-motivating.”
2. Meticulous
This word hints at your attention to detail, your precision, your organizational skills, your ability to prioritize, and the fact that you hate letting anything slip through any cracks. If you’re meticulous, you’re thorough and self-managing and trustworthy. See how much work this kind of word can do?
3. Reliable
“Consistent” or “accountable” are also good ones. You’re in it for the team—you don’t just show up for you. You realize that your work is part of an ecosystem of other people’s projects and you don’t let anybody down. You’re not late for work, or for meetings. You can be relied upon to do your job, do it well, and deliver whatever needs to be done.
4. Flexible
You’re not rigid. You think outside the box. You’re able to adapt to challenging circumstances and find the work-around that no one else can see. You adapt on the go and keep adapting. You’re the kind of employer everybody wants because you’re willing to do things outside the purview of your job description—provided it makes sense for the company and for the goals of your team.
5. Team player
It’s always good to round off a list of descriptors of yourself with something that conveys a bit of humility—your willingness to sacrifice your own time and ambitions now and then for the good of the group. “Team player” transitions easily enough to a description of how you’re also a “leader”… for those of you who want to score that last bonus point.
Sample answers to the interview question, “Can you describe yourself in 5 sentences?”
Following are some ways you can describe yourself in:
- I am always the first person that my friends call because they know I am always there for them. Night or day, I make sure to take care of the people in my life. I put the same effort into making sure my work is done correctly, and I am always available to help my team members.
- I love trying new things, creating new methods, and introducing new ideas. In my previous job, I was responsible for selling waterproof phones. One day, I brought in a clear container filled with water to demo the waterproof phones. We made underwater videos and the phone still worked. Once my manager found out, he made this a mandatory practice for all 150 locations.
- I believe I am very driven. Throughout college, I was active in three clubs, worked full time, and still managed to graduate at the top of my class. As the oldest sibling, I have always been somewhat of a leader. My brothers and sisters constantly look up to me for advice.
- I’ve always enjoyed meeting new people and maintaining a lot of relationships. I’m your typical extrovert which has really helped me in my career. My natural networking abilities have allowed me to excel in sales roles such as this one.
In a Nutshell:
As much familiar we are with our own selves, it is often an ordeal to come up with the right words at the right places to describe ourselves. Having few strategies and knowing some well- favoured words will surely help you to make that sparkling first impression.
