Month: March 2025

Need is an English word that means a feeling or requirement that must be satisfied. In the case of human needs, they can be defined as the psychological factors that motivate people to act and give purpose and direction to behavior. Needs are often the basis of moral arguments and debates about right and wrong.

Needs can be differentiated from wants by the fact that wants are optional, while needs are essential to life. Examples of needs include food, water, clothing and shelter. Without these, a person cannot function and eventually will die. Other needs may include safety, affection and self-esteem. A person who has not met their needs will feel unhappy, while a person who has met their needs will be content and likely to be happy.

The academic study of needs reached its zenith in the 1950s with the work of psychologist Abraham Maslow. His hierarchy of needs posits that humans have a series of basic psychological or physiological (lower order) needs, such as food and water that must be fulfilled before the higher order needs of belonging and self-esteem can be met. People tend to spend most of their resources (time, energy and finances) attempting to satisfy these lower needs before they can focus on the higher order ones.

Maslow’s model of needs is widely used to explain why some people are happier or less unhappy than others. However, his theory is often criticized for the lack of empirical evidence supporting it. In particular, critics point out that it is very difficult to identify individual needs and that they are often culturally or contextually specific. Additionally, the concept of need is contested by some philosophers, such as Martha Nussbaum, who advocates for a capability approach instead of Maslow’s hierarchical model.

A person can determine their personal needs by identifying and reflecting on past experiences. They can then plan and execute ways to beneficially meet their needs, such as enrolling in a cooking class or investing in painting. Alternatively, they can use a needs assessment tool to identify their needs.

For example, a person may want to improve their communication skills so they can be a better parent, but if this need is not fulfilled it could result in them becoming angry with their child. Similarly, an organization may need to develop training programs for employees, but if this need is not fulfilled, the company will likely be unproductive and possibly have high turnover rates.

The word need comes from the Latin noun nescessitate, meaning ‘that which is necessary to have’. The synonyms of need are desire and want, but the latter is more vague and does not imply the necessity to have something. The word need is more powerful in its emotional appeal than desire. For example, “I’m hungry; I need some food,” is more compelling than “I want a cheese burst pizza.” Learn more about the difference between need and desire by reading the article: Difference Between Need and Desire.

During an interview, hiring managers or recruiters ask you to describe yourself in terms of your skills and attributes. How you answer is an opportunity to leave a positive impression on your interviewer and help them decide whether or not you’ll be a good fit for the company and the position.

When selecting adjectives to describe yourself, you want to use ones that reflect your best qualities in an honest and sincere way. Avoid haphazardly listing off your positive traits or using words that can be misinterpreted, which can give the wrong impression. For example, “creative” might be misconstrued as arrogant when used to describe your skills, but it can also demonstrate an innovative and imaginative approach to a problem.

The words you choose to use can also impact how your interviewer perceives you, so be careful not to overstate or exaggerate any qualities. This can come across as insincere and make you appear untrustworthy, which could negatively impact your interviewer’s view of you as a potential employee.

Consider your own personal and professional values when deciding what qualities to emphasize. For example, if you’re applying for a role that requires leadership skills, you may want to include words like inspirational or visionary that reflect your ability to motivate and encourage others. Alternatively, you might choose to highlight your creativity if you’re applying for a creative role such as graphic design.

Employers and interviewers ask this question because they want to know whether or not you’ll be a team player who can work well with others. In addition, they’re interested in learning if you’re a self-motivator who takes the initiative to achieve goals or solve problems. You can show this by describing how you’ve taken charge of projects in the past and how you’ve helped to improve productivity in the workplace.

Having a growth-oriented mindset is something that’s valued by employers in all fields. They’re looking to hire people who will continually develop their skill set and learn more about the business over time. You can demonstrate your commitment to this by highlighting the ways you’ve grown and improved in previous roles, including new skills and knowledge gained through continuing education.

Many organizations today are more focused on the future than they are in their own immediate needs, and they’re looking for candidates who will be able to adapt to changing conditions over time. You can demonstrate this by describing how you’re resilient and resourceful when faced with challenges in the past and the ways you’ve been able to adapt to different situations. You might also mention the ways that a particular job or organization appeals to your long-term interests and passions.