Good Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview

When you go into an interview, you want to wow your interviewer so that they give you a job. They have already read your resume, so they know your skills, experience and education. Now, they are looking for the personality and person behind the resume.

Obviously, you want to focus on the positive during an interview. Prepare for the different questions that you may be asked. Common questions are, “What is your greatest fault?” and “Describe a time when you had a problem with a co-worker or boss. What did you do?” By preparing for these questions in advance, you can make sure that your answers put you in the best light. You also want to prepare for questions like, “How would you describe yourself?” You need to make sure that you have some positive adjectives ready to describe your personalty and the attributes that you can bring to a job.

 

Good Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview

The types of words to describe yourself in an interview depend on the kind of interview. If you are applying for a leadership position, there are different phrases and words that will work better than if you apply for an entry-level position. Obviously, you also need to pick words that actually describe your personality, or it will sound like you are just making it up. We will cover some of the different words to describe yourself in an interview for various types of positions.

Words for Leadership Positions

If you are applying for a leadership position, then these are some good words to describe yourself in an interview. Often, words like engaged and organized work well. Companies like problem solvers who are proactive and assertive in dealing with issues, so these words will also work well. During your interview, consider using some of the following words from this list.

– Proactive
– Mediator
– Assertive
– Organized
– Ability to delegate
– Analytical
– Engaged
– Patient
– Enabler
– Entrepreneurial
– Passionate
– Energetic
– Reasonable
– Resourceful
– Team spirited
– Results-oriented
– Well-balanced
– Self-starter
– Dedicated
– Fair
– Focused
– Innovative
– Visionary
– Team-oriented
– Decisive
– Professional
– Problem-solver
– Initiator
– Emotionally intelligent
– Self-reliant
– Customer-focused
– Honest

Words for Entry Level Positions

For an entry-level position, employers are looking for different attributes. They need someone who is reliable, honest and hard-working. Most employers do not expect the entry-level employees to already know how to do everything, so they need an applicant who is willing to learn and work as a team player. They may also be looking for someone with a good attitude who will help motivate and encourage others. If you are an entry-level applicant, the following are good words to describe yourself in an interview.

– Committed
– Upbeat
– Conscientious
– Methodical
– Ability to learn quickly
– Responsible
– Honest
– Respectful
– Attentive
– Hard-working
– Productive
– Team player
– Reliable
– Cheerful
– Trustworthy
– Assiduous
– Sincere
– Desire-to-learn
– Fast learner
– Industrious
– Loyal
– Confident

Words to Describe Your Personality

Sometimes, your interviewer will ask you to describe your personalty. You want to pick attributes that will reflect well on yourself and show that you would be a good fit for the job and company culture. Like any part of the interview, you should always focus on the positive. Even if you are asked about your worst qualities or “areas of opportunity,” try to be honest while putting yourself in a good light. Talk about how you used to have ___ problem, but you have been developing your skills and growing as a person. You can also pick something that is a problem only in certain cases. For example, saying that you are a perfectionist or overly methodical could be an answer to that question—for jobs like accounting, those “negatives” would actually be a positive.

If you are struggling to find the right words to describe your personality, the following lists of ideas can help you get started.

– Ambitious
– Flexible
– Observant
– Enthusiastic
– Caring
– Down-to-earth
– Results-oriented
– Calm
– Perceptive
– Diplomatic
– Cheerful
– Sincere
– Receptive
– Punctual
– Focused
– Assertive
– Forward-thinking
– Motivated
– Logical
– Resourceful
– Lively
– Self-starter
– Hard-working
– Inspirational
– Generous
– Initiator
– Kind
– Knowledgeable
– Kindhearted
– Understanding
– Industrious
– Meticulous
– Bright
– Intellectual
– Friendly
– Bighearted
– Helpful
– Gentle
– Adaptable
– Determined
– Encouraging
– Gifted
– Hilarious
– Extroverted
– Honest
– Charismatic
– Energetic
– Humble
– Dependable
– Clever
– Instinctive
– Funny
– Insightful
– Detailed
– Mindful

Words to Describe Your Attitude at Work

Sometimes, your interviewer wants you to use adjectives to describe yourself in the workplace. Some of these adjectives may overlap with how you describe yourself as a person. You want to find adjectives that reflect on your unique qualities, but also show that you would be right for the job. To brainstorm ideas, start by looking at the job description. Often, the job description will detail the type of qualities that the employer wants in a candidate. You might want to use some of those adjectives or find synonyms for them when the interviewer asks you to describe yourself. Some of the best options can also be found on the following list.

– Achiever
– Open-minded
– Competent
– Analytical
– Mediator
– Confident
– Patient
– Decisive
– Goal-oriented
– Attentive
– Entrepreneurial
– Conscientious
– Diligent
– Facilitator
– Objective
– Proactive
– Articulate
– Intelligent
– Desire-to-learn
– Methodical
– Accomplished
– Persistent
– Self-starter
– Good listener
– Broad-minded
– Team-centered
– Self-reliant
– Self-motivated
– Great team player
– Positive
– Self-disciplined
– Participatory
– Versatile
– Self-motivated
– Well-organized
– Eager to learn
– Authentic
– Customer-focused
– Problem solver
– Action-oriented
– Creative thinker
– Self-disciplined
– Prompt
– Self-confident
– Target driven
– Self-assured

Words You Should Avoid Using in an Interview

When you have an interview, the last thing you want to do is make yourself look bad. You should always work to cast yourself in a good light. Don’t speak badly about past employers or co-workers because the interviewer will wonder if you were the actual problem and not them. Even if you are asked to say your worst attribute, you need to work to cast yourself in a good light. Either pick a “worst” attribute that is not always bad, or describe how you have worked to overcome it. If you use the wrong descriptive words in your interview, it can make you appear like a bad candidate. To make sure you have the best chances of getting hired, you should avoid using any of the words on this list.

– Insensitive
– Domineering
– Belligerent
– Tense
– Lazy
– Forgetful
– Hate
– Careless
– Brutal
– Meaningless
– Rage
– Weak
– Irresponsible
– Passive
– Cruel

Make Sure That You Have the Best Chance in Your Interview

Finding good words to describe yourself in an interview is a start. You also need to find a way to incorporate them naturally into your answers. The best way to do this is to start practicing your answers to interview questions. You don’t want to seem like you are boastful or just listing qualities that you may or may not have. One way to incorporate them naturally is to use them in a story. When you answer an interview question, use an example from your past job to show that quality instead of just saying that you have it.

There are a number of articles online that can help you find interview practice questions. While an interviewer will often look for unique or job-related questions, a number of the interview questions will be quite similar. Practice answering the questions that you find online in front of the mirror or with a friend. You can also practice variations of each questions, so you can naturally pivot during the interview to your practiced answers. With the right descriptive words, good answers and a lot of practice, you can make sure that you are ready for your big interview and can do your best.

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