How you describe yourself to others, especially during a job interview or in an online profile, can significantly impact your career and your life. You want to make sure that you’re using describing words that are appropriate for the situation and audience. For example, you should avoid using words like “nice,” “generous,” or “empathetic” in a professional context because they have very broad and general meanings that can be misinterpreted or misunderstood. Instead, you should focus on describing words that are specific to your personality traits, skills and experiences.
When someone asks you to describe yourself, what they’re really trying to find out is how well you know yourself and understand your own personality. The question is a way of determining your self-knowledge, which is a strong predictor of success.
In a job interview, the question could be asking how you’d like your employer to see you, or it could be a way of evaluating how your character traits would play out in a particular work environment. Generally, an employer wants to know that you are committed and future-focused; they want to hire people who will stick around for the long haul. It’s also important to show that you are a learning and improvement-focused individual, able to adapt to changing conditions.
Colleges may also use the question to learn more about your goals, academic interests, and what you value. In this case, it’s important to use describing words that highlight how these qualities influence your decisions and actions.
For instance, if you’re applying to college, a school might want to know that you have a commitment to making the world a better place. In that case, you might want to highlight your history of volunteer work promoting peace.
Aside from the specific describing words you choose, it’s important to remember that your audience plays a role in how you respond to the question. If you’re talking to a recruiter, for example, you should use describing words that will make you stand out in the crowd. Alternatively, if you’re answering the question in an essay for a college application, you should use describing words that will show the admissions committee your personal voice and style.
If possible, ask a number of people to provide describing words about you. This will give you a wider range of options, and it’ll also help to ensure that everyone has a similar understanding of what makes you tick. If you’re not comfortable sharing your describing words with other people, try writing down a list of adjectives that best describe your personality. From there, select the describing words that are most applicable to you in your circumstances and that resonate with you the most. Be sure to use a mix of positive and negative adjectives to emphasize your strengths and weaknesses.