There are a number of frequent questions which will come up throughout your job interview, one in every of them being “How would you describe your self?”
You can reply this query in a number of alternative ways, however the bottom line is to offer a response that makes a outstanding first impression on the hiring managers.
Describing your finest qualities and attributes can show to be a tough activity. You don’t need to be generic, boastful or pretend, so what sort of response ought to you give?
In case you’re questioning how you can describe your self in a job interview, learn on. Our in-depth information will stroll you thru all of the steps of answering this query.
Why hiring managers ask this query
Let’s get one factor straight: hiring managers aren’t asking this query to get to know you higher or hear your life story. Whereas it could sound like a pleasant factor to ask, interviewers try to find out whether or not your character traits will assist you to succeed inside the firm.
In different phrases, hiring managers need to know in the event you’re match for the function.
Your expertise and expertise are important for figuring out whether or not you’re a super candidate, however your persona can also be a deciding issue. Interviewers need to consider whether or not your attributes are appropriate with the corporate’s tradition, its work surroundings and the job place in query.
This interview query additionally demonstrates the way you understand your self and whether or not you’re confident and assured — or uncertain and insecure. So, the way you select to reply this query might be fairly telling for the interviewers.
Variations of this query
The interview query “How would you describe your self?” can tackle totally different varieties, a lot of which you’ll have seemingly come throughout by your job search. Among the variations are:
- “Describe your self utilizing three phrases.”
- “Describe your self in a single sentence.”
- “How would your colleagues describe you?”
- “What adjectives would you utilize to explain your self?”
- “What are your most essential persona traits?”
Regardless how the query is posed to you, the intention behind it will likely be to search out out in the event you’re match for the function and firm. That’s one thing to keep in mind so that you may give your finest reply!
Learn how to craft a response
When you perceive why hiring managers ask this query, you can begin making ready to your interview. Listed here are some suggestions that can assist you to present a fascinating reply to this query:
1. Be trustworthy
When requested to explain your self (particularly to individuals you need to impress), it’s simple to create a gleaming façade that makes you appear good.
In an interview, you might focus an excessive amount of on impressing the hiring managers, which finally ends up with you providing an exaggerated or false notion of your self. Interviewers will typically sense this or, worse, understand it after they’ve employed you.
It’s, due to this fact, important that you simply describe your self with honesty and candor so you may show your self to be a reliable and dependable candidate.
2. Preserve a optimistic angle
It’s possible you’ll really feel compelled to say your damaging traits, akin to being shy, bossy or fussy when describing your self. This a fairly a standard interview mistake.
Nevertheless, until you’re particularly requested about your weaknesses, it’s essential to keep away from mentioning traits that would rely towards you. Your intention right here is to impress hiring managers and current the qualities they’re searching for in a candidate.
Due to this fact, focus in your most optimistic traits; consider qualities that finest describe you. You’re fairly actually promoting your self, so use optimistic vocabulary that proves why you’re a robust candidate.
Here’s a checklist of adjectives which will apply to you:
- bold
- passionate
- organized
- sociable
- dependable
- targeted
- disciplined
- artistic
- versatile
Give you an inventory beforehand so that you’re able to reply this query breezily. You possibly can even ask family and friends for assist in the event you’re not sure of what to say.
3. Present confidence
Virtually everybody has the jitters earlier than an interview. Nervousness may cause you to stutter or give rushed solutions, so you should shake off the nerves earlier than the large day. While you reply the query “How would you describe your self?”, attempt to keep relaxed — the interviewers will choose up in your confidence straight away.
While you give a ready, well-rounded and genuine response, you present hiring managers that you simply’re assured about your expertise.
Nevertheless, watch out — being assured is one factor, and being cocky is sort of one other. Keep away from boasting or exaggerating your finest qualities, as you can come off as smug, which might value you the function.
4. Relate your reply to the function
When requested to explain your self in an interview, make certain to decide on qualities that match the job function. Whereas “energetic” is a optimistic trait for many job positions, it received’t match proper for the function of an accountant, for instance. Align your qualities with the abilities required for the function.
Analysis the corporate beforehand, and get a transparent thought of what they need from an worker. This interview query goals to uncover how your character can carry worth to the group. Having understanding of the corporate tradition might help you describe your self in a means that appeals to the interviewers.
From studying by their web site and scrolling by their social media, realizing in regards to the firm’s mission, values and tradition will assist you to formulate a profitable reply.
5. Assist your reply
Be certain that to help your reply with examples. It’s nice to name your self a pure chief, but it surely’s even higher whenever you present proof to again up your claims.
To help your reply, consult with previous work experiences and private tales that spotlight your persona and show the worth you’ll carry to the corporate. This fashion, you’ll give the interviewers extra causes to rent you.
For instance, in the event you apply for a graphic designer function, describe your self as a artistic particular person, and point out a mission you partook in that acquired accolades and optimistic opinions.
Instance solutions
These instance solutions will assist you to sort out this query efficiently:
In case you’re persuasive
I might describe myself as a persuasive particular person. Through the years, I’ve developed the distinctive talent to push my preferences onto prospects with out being pushy.
In my final gross sales job, I satisfied greater than 12 shoppers to change over to our merchandise, which resulted in a number of signed contracts. I imagine my expertise would profit your agency tremendously, as they might enable me to draw and shut potential shoppers.
On this reply, the particular person demonstrates their key trait and exhibits confidence of their expertise. It offers hiring managers an thought of how you’ve got succeeded prior to now and the way you intend to carry the identical success charges to their firm sooner or later.
In case you’re artistic
I imagine creativity is my most valued trait. Not solely does it assist me provide you with progressive ideas, but it surely additionally permits me to provide you with nice options when an issue arises.
For instance, as a graphic designer for my earlier employer, I got here up with a brand new emblem for a demanding shopper who turned down each different design that was pitched to them. I made a decision to make use of a extra artistic strategy and succeeded in acquiring a optimistic evaluate for my firm. I can present you this design in my portfolio if you want.
This reply highlights your artistic persona and presents some concrete proof of it. Creativity could be a tough talent to show, so mentioning your portfolio might help persuade hiring managers of your skills.
In case you’re devoted
I take into account myself as somebody who’s passionate and devoted to what I do. I’ve a pure need to assist youngsters develop a love for studying, and it’s my purpose to make them really feel enthusiastic about coming to highschool every day.
My dedication to educating is so sturdy that I’ve began creating academic actions for my 5-year-old. Over the previous 10 years, I’ve been promoted from kindergarten assistant to early years’ trainer, and I believe my dedication performed a key function.
This reply offers a quick description of your attributes and likewise powerfully incorporates a private instance to again them up. It explains how dedication has helped you obtain promotions all through your profession, which provides hiring managers an inkling about your capacity to succeed.
Ideas and finest practices
Listed here are some further suggestions that may turn out to be useful when making ready your reply to this frequent interview query.
1. Analysis your potential employer
Hiring managers need to see that you’d make match for the function they’re attempting to fill but additionally for the group you’ll be becoming a member of. If one in every of their firm values is to be unique and progressive, for instance, they’ll need to hear (and see proof) that you simply’re a artistic thinker who will get a kick out of fixing issues.
The higher you already know what your potential employer is searching for, the extra successfully you may establish related traits to give attention to.
2. Keep away from generalizations or imprecise phrases
In case you’ve ever learn a information on how you can create an impactful résumé, you is perhaps accustomed to sure buzzwords (akin to “hard-working” and “bold”) which might be finest unnoticed of your software supplies.
Broad (and subjective) phrases that talk little about who you’re ought to be prevented right here too.
3. Give attention to one or two traits
Until the hiring supervisor asks you to explain your self in three phrases or in a sentence, intention to construct your reply round one in every of your most essential (and related) persona traits. Generally, when traits are complementary, you may pair them collectively, as your rationalization will embody each. (“I’m goal-oriented and self-motivated”, for instance.)
What to not say
Interview nerves can generally trigger us to say the unsuitable factor, both going overboard with the data we share or holding again greater than is useful. To strike the suitable stability, attempt to keep away from doing or saying the next:
- “I’m loyal, dependable, profitable, pushed, proactive…” Reciting an inventory of half a dozen adjectives with out increasing on them or backing them up isn’t going to make an excellent impression in your potential employer.
- “It’s inconceivable to sum up myself in three phrases” or one thing alongside these traces. Sure, human beings can’t be condensed into a number of phrases, however this isn’t the time to get philosophical — simply attempt to reply the query as finest as you may.
- Repeating what’s in your résumé with out including context. The hiring supervisor has already learn your job software; it’s why you’re on the interview! So, attempt to share new info or broaden on what you’ve got already outlined in your doc.
Remaining ideas
Describing your self may be extra sophisticated than anticipated, however with our suggestions, pattern solutions and step-by-step information, you may hopefully reply this interview query with ease and confidence.
What different interview suggestions would you recommend when describing your self? Tell us your ideas within the feedback part beneath!
This text is a partial replace of an earlier model initially printed on Might 23, 2017, and accommodates contributions by Electra Michaelidou.
