One of the key questions a candidate may be asked in an interview is “How would you describe yourself?” Candidates have several options when deciding how to answer this question. The key is to explain why your specific experiences and attributes make you the best fit for the role. You might have an idea of what traits and characteristics you want to highlight about yourself but you are not sure how to format your answers. Sometimes an interviewer wants you to give a detailed description of your character and sometimes they just want you to summarize who you are in just as few words as possible. These questions are asked because they want to see whether your qualities and characteristics align with the skills they want or are required by the organization.
Below I have mentioned the ways with examples of some interview questions. Remember that while using the examples as a guide, you should come up with your own original method to describe yourself. I won’t advise utilizing these responses verbatim because they just serve to offer you a general sense of how to get ready for the interview. Let’s examine the various ways to introduce yourself during an interview.
1. Describe yourself as flexible and resourceful
When you are being interviewed for a position that requires a lot of challenges and strict deadlines then use this style of speaking. Use this only when you have already researched the position and you know you are getting yourself into it. It shows the interviewer that you can handle the pressure and comes with constant change.
Example:- I am a flexible and resourceful person. Even when things change at the last minute I am able to adjust myself accordingly and meet strict deadlines. In my last job also the schedule used to change constantly but I was adaptable to the change. In spite of the chaotic environment, I always finished the tasks on time.
Tim Newnham, Writer at HR.com
2. Describe yourself being passionate about your work
Every employer wants to work with individuals who enjoy what they do, but the word “passion” conjures up sentiments of devotion and dedication. When someone is enthusiastic about their profession, they are compelled to provide high-quality results.
Example:- I am passionate about my work. I have a steady source of motivation that drives me to do my best. In my last job, this passion of mine led me to challenge myself daily to learn new skills that helped me to grow in my career. For example, I taught myself photoshop to improve the quality of photos and create new designs. I soon became an expert at creating designs.
Wes Kussmule, CEO at Osmio
3. Talk about yourself as a Team Player
When you find that the work culture of the company is based on community, group, and teamwork. If that’s the case, be sure to mention to the interviewer that you can socialize outside of that culture and that you can work well within it. Keep in mind that for many companies, being able to fit in with the workplace culture is just as crucial as being able to perform the job properly.
Example:- I am a very communicative, detail-oriented, and versatile person. I like to think of myself as a team player as I don’t mind taking on solo projects and prefer to do it with a team.
Andrew Fennell the founder and director of StandOut CV
4. Highlight your experience and knowledge
For any position, interviewers want to make sure that the candidates they are interviewing have the knowledge and experience to do the job well. When highlighting your experience and knowledge on the resume, make sure that your core experience and skills are stated concisely and clearly. Do not mention anything that you won’t be able to explain. Fumbling words or jumping around on a timeline will confuse the interviewer. Learning how to describe yourself in an interview will make you comfortable speaking in front of the interviewer.
Example:- I am very knowledgeable in my field. I worked in IT for over 20 years before transitioning into managerial roles. I am very meticulous in my work. I like to keep things professional. I’m very direct and straightforward in my communications but it does not mean that I hurt anyone’s feelings.
Niraj Bothra, Senior Developer, Ducknowl
5. Describe yourself as a constant learner
If you’re being interviewed for a job where you might not have enough experience, but you’re willing to learn, save this response. Make sure you are prepared with examples that demonstrate how proactive you have been with your study. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand how to sell yourself in an interview without coming out as unqualified.
Example:- I enjoy learning new stuff. I’m always proactive about looking for new possibilities to advance and improve in my career since I believe that learning more about (your area) or any subject is a lifelong process. The goal is to broaden my understanding of the industry, therefore those possibilities may take the shape of training, conferences, listening to speakers, or taking on new projects.
William Arruda co-founder of CarrerBlast
6. Show your confidence
When this question is posed, respond with a brief explanation of the context surrounding your word choice. In this circumstance, you are not required to just use descriptive language before ceasing to talk. Take a moment to let the interviewer process the words. Additionally, speaking confidently is necessary if you want to come across as confident in an interview (imagine that!). You want to appear and feel the part as you prepare for the interview. Interviewers are frequently trained or at least interact with individuals, so they can tell if you’re uncertain about what you’re saying.
Example:- I’m a responsible, open person that values honesty. Even though I’m not in a leadership position, people frequently turn to me for advice because of my self-confidence and these qualities. I know that even if I don’t have the solution, I can still steer someone in the correct way.
George Bradt Author: The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan
7. I am a people person
Some people have a natural ability to mingle with others, engage in conversation, and immediately feel at ease around strangers. Professionals in sales and customer service roles will find this quality very useful.
Example:- “I love talking to people. I enjoy getting to know new people and finding out more about their histories and way of life. With strangers, I can always find something in common, and I enjoy making others feel at ease. This ability, in my opinion, is extremely useful when beginning work with new clients. In my prior position, the customer satisfaction ratings of my clients were 15% higher than the industry standard.”
John Hall Senior Contributor at Forbes
8. Describe yourself as a highly organized person
An organized candidate is a detail-oriented candidate and someone an employer can trust to meet deadlines. This trait is crucial in administrative duties, project management, and other jobs that need adherence to protocol and high standards.
Example:- I am very organized, for instance. To keep track of deadlines, I constantly take notes and employ a variety of tools. In order to always be able to find what I need, I like to maintain a tidy workspace and establish a logical file system. This, in my opinion, improves productivity and keeps the rest of the team on task. In my previous position, I developed a new filing procedure that raised departmental productivity by 35%.
Eric Friedman CEO of Eskill Corporation
Also read:- Top Skill Assessment Tools That Will Help You Hire the Best Candidates Quickly
