The words you use to describe yourself can make or break your impression during an interview. They should demonstrate that you’re a confident, well-rounded professional who can provide examples of your skills and experience in ways that are relevant to the position. But it’s not easy to strike the right balance between pride and modesty when describing yourself. If you overplay it, you may come across as arrogant or unprepared. On the other hand, if you downplay your achievements, you could appear insecure or lack confidence.
This article will show you how to answer the question “How would you describe yourself?”, while demonstrating that you’re a good fit for the company and its culture. It will also offer tips to help you avoid common interview mistakes, including rambling on or failing to give concrete examples of your experiences.
1. Be a learner.
Employers want to know that you’re invested in improving your performance and can adapt to changing conditions. To do this, you need to be a self-starter with the drive and motivation to continue learning. Talk about your previous successes in achieving this goal and how you’ve shown your capacity for adaptation during difficult times.
2. Keep your negative self-talk in check.
Negative thoughts can have a profoundly negative impact on your mood and how you interact with others. They can even lead to a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. If you find yourself frequently thinking negatively, try challenging your thoughts and asking yourself if they’re realistic or factual. If they are, consider seeking the advice of a therapist to work through these patterns.
3. Be results-driven and dependable.
Hiring managers will be impressed by your ability to get the job done and achieve results. So when answering the “How would you describe yourself” question, be sure to include how you’ve managed projects, handled tough situations and solved problems in the past. You can then tie these examples to the specific responsibilities of the new role and how you’ll apply your knowledge to this job. This will make you stand out from other candidates who have a similar background to you. By using the right words to describe yourself, you’ll leave a lasting positive impression with the hiring manager and prove that you’re the best candidate for the position.