How To Describe Yourself In A Job Interview.docx

HOW TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A JOB INTERVIEW Full example answer combining everything: “I’d say I’m highly motivated, and I particularly enjoy working as a part of a team. In my last job I was part of a group of 12 people and we communicated multiple times per day to work as a unit, and I also interacted frequently with other groups like Sales, Customer Service and more. I enjoy a fast-paced, team-oriented environment like this.” Another example answer: “I’d describe myself as being very resourceful and ambitious at the same time. I find solutions, get creative and solve problems without needing the help of coworkers or managers. I know when to ask for help and I don’t stay quiet if I do need assistance. But when it is possible to handle something without occupying the time of others, I do it and I consider myself very good at it. It’s one of the things my last boss would say they liked most about me if you asked them to describe my style of work.” One Similar Question You Might Hear: There’s another similar interview question you should be ready for: “If you only had one word to describe yourself, what would it be?” You might hear this too, so here are a couple of good one-word answers for you to use: 

Ambitious



Energetic



Diligent



Resourceful



Cooperative Choose whichever suits you best, and just remember that you can repeat this in every interview. Whatever you pick, have an example and a reason for why you chose it. Don’t just say one word and then stop talking. This is a question where they’ll want you to explain your answer.

Example answer for this question: “The word I’d use to describe myself is ‘ambitious’. One of the reasons I’m looking for tech jobs right now is that I want to work on large, important projects and challenge myself. I like to seek out learning opportunities and I’m not afraid to fail and struggle as a part of learning. I feel the tech industry is the best place to do this right now, and I did some reading on your founder and thought the work culture here sounded like a great fit for my style.” It’s always great if you can end your answer by explaining why you applied for the position and showing them you really did your research. Sure, it’s more than they asked, but it’ll impress them. Unique Adjectives to Use on a Resume

Inventive

Exciting

Thoughtful

Powerful

Practical

Proactive

Productive

Professional

Meticulous

Quick

Balanced

Achiever

Knowledgeable

Leader

Diplomatic

Logical

Initiator

Original

Outgoing

Particular

Patient

Active

Positive

Consistent

Compassionate

Incredible

Independent

Precise

Mediator

Emotional

Cheerful

Forgiving

Responsive

Candid

Industrious

Cooperative

Are You Analytical?

Positive Descriptive Words to Use in a Job Interview

Honest

Assertive

Attentive

Direct

Broad-Minded

Committed

Conscientious

Dynamic

Customer-Oriented

Persistent

Mature

Methodical

Motivated

Objective

Tenacious

Sociable

Friendly

Realistic

Reliable

Resourceful

Respectful

Responsible

Creative

Confident

Traditional

Trustworthy

Unconventional

Unique

Ecclectic

Observant

Innovative

Imaginative

Thorough

Why It's Important to Know Your Strengths From my experience delivering training programs and seminars about building confidence and self-esteem, people get very quiet when they're are asked to describe five of their best qualities. "I don't know" is the most common response. Conversely, we're all pretty good at listing our faults and failings. It's as if people don't dare to ask the question, "What's good about me?" If this describes you, then it's even more important for you to do this exercise. Words are powerful! If you come up with a list of your best traits, even if it feels awkward to do so, you'll start believing them! This confidence will help you out in both your career and your personal life. Are You Creative?

Are You Diplomatic?

How to Turn a "Negative" Into a Positive What would you say if you were asked, "What's your biggest weakness?" Not sure? You might even wonder why employers even ask such a weird question. The objective with a question like this is to see how a person responds when they're thrown off base a little. It's also a way to force an applicant to reflect on how they've grown or want to grow. The key to answering this question successfully is to show that you've reflected on your personality and have identified ways to improve. Come up with a few words that you think describe your negative traits. Here are a few examples: 

controlling



rude



shy

Ok, now with a little thinking and reflection these traits could provide insights into your best qualities. For example, a controlling person might have a hard time asking for help. Have you ever wished you'd accepted an offer of help from a friend or co-worker? Are you

aware of the benefits of not always being in charge? If so, you're looking for opportunities to let go and work with others for better results. Rudeness can easily be re-framed as bluntness and honesty. But you may feel that you can be a bit too honest at times. Describe a situation when you said something that may have been true, but that you wished you'd kept to yourself. Then explain that you're working on making your feedback more constructive. There's nothing wrong with shyness, but you may feel that it holds you back from participating fully. Maybe there have been times when you wished you'd been more assertive. Explain that you're working on speaking up more and overcome your fear of offending others.

Unique Adjectives to Describe Your Personality

Competitive

Political

Socially Conscious

Modest

Courageous

Enthusiastic

Enterprising

Entrepreneurial

Facilitator

Focused

Genuine

Open-Minded

Wise

Sensitive

Witty

Sensible

Sincere

Skilled

Solid

Communicative

Helpful

Fast

Responsible

Results-Driven

Results-Oriented

Self-Reliant

Organised

Knowledgeable

Logical

Personable

Amiable

Flexible

Adaptable

Persuasive

Perceptive

Insightful

Trustworthy

Easy-Going

Visionary

Imaginative

Warm

Ambitious

Diplomatic

Curious

Persuasive

How Do I Describe Myself?

Perceptive

Down-to-Earth

Open-Minded

Knowledgable

Logical

Analytical

Quick learner

Genuine

Warm

Inventive

Rebellious

Generous