How Would You

 During a job interview, one of the first questions the interviewer will ask you is to describe yourself. The question may be framed as “How would you describe yourself?” Now, you need to understand that you are asked this question to see if you are the right candidate for the job. So, you need to know exactly what to say to convince the interviewer that your skills and experience align with the job role.

In this article, we share with you tips on how to describe yourself in job interviews, along with some examples for your reference.

Why Do Interviewers Ask “How Would You Describe Yourself?

Every interview question is designed for specific reasons. Therefore, there are a few reasons why interviewers ask you to describe yourself 

1. Based on your answer, the interviewer will be able to understand what kind of person you are as a professional. For instance, they will be able to see if you are an ambitious person or someone who will be able to work with them for a long time.
2. Moreover, your answer will give them insights into your personality and traits. This will help them in deciding if you will be able to fit in with their company culture. 

How to Answer “How Would You Describe Yourself?”

When it comes to job interviews, you need to be prepared to answer each and every interview question. The steps below will help you formulate the perfect answer to “How would you describe yourself?”

List Out Your Strengths

Your strengths may include your skills (both soft and hard), other personal traits or achievements. List down all your strengths on a piece of paper. For instance, you can include your teamwork or communication skills or how you never miss your deadlines. You can even ask your friends or family members to contribute to the list, as they may see something in you that you are unaware of. 

Go Through The Job Description

The JD will highlight all the skills, experience and qualifications that the hiring manager is looking for in candidates. Go through it thoroughly and see if any duties and responsibilities align with the skills that you have. For instance, if the JD says they are looking for someone who will be able to manage a team, you can pick out your leadership or management skills. 

Think About Past Experiences Or Accomplishments

Now that you have a list of your strength and know what kind of candidates the JD wants, the next thing you need to do is look back on your professional journey and think back on a time when a particular skill or capability has helped you in completing a task successfully. This will help you to give an example with the answer you want to give. For instance, if you want to say “I am a hardworking person,” you can attest to this statement by providing a short narrative of past experience. 

Ways to Describe Yourself In An Interview (Along with Examples)

Example 1: I am a people person

“I am a people person. Being able to get along with all kinds of people and empathise with them has always come naturally to me for as long as I can remember. This skill has helped me in resolving many customer complaints and queries in the past, which further increases customer satisfaction.”

Saying that you are a people person lets the interviewer know that you are outgoing, sociable and can connect with people easily. In the world of work, you need to have people skills as you will need to deal with many people, from your colleagues, and your clients to customers. If you are applying for a sales position or any related job profile, letting the interviewer know that you are a people person will increase your chances of acing your interview.

Example 2: I am a success-driven person

“I am a success-driven person. This drive has allowed me to be ambitious and work harder. I find it best to set goals for myself to ensure that I am on the right path. Even when it comes to my work, I challenge myself constantly to perform high-quality work before the assigned deadlines. Last year alone, I was named employee of the month many times because I was always able to exceed my daily targets while still ensuring customer satisfaction.”

For the success of the team as well as the company, the employees have to be ambitious and success-driven. So, employers know that when they hire someone who is driven, they will be able to get the job done right.

Example 3: I am a born leader

“I am a born leader. I was the school president in high school, house leader in higher secondary school and the department representative in college. People tend to come to me with their problems, and I enjoy listening to them and giving them advice. Even when I started my career two years back, I was promoted to a team within a year.”

People with leadership skills are able to easily motivate their team and increase productivity. So, be it for leadership or non-leadership role, hiring managers to look for candidates who have strong leadership qualities.

Example 4: I am an organised person

“I am an organised person, so I always ensure that I plan things carefully to get the work done right. Even in meetings, I never forget my pen and paper to take down notes of every important detail. My organisational skills have helped my team and me to be more efficient and productive.”

Hiring managers want candidates who are well-organised and detail-oriented. Such candidates can complete their tasks on time and submit the best quality work. Moreover, hiring managers can rest easy knowing that they can rely on such employees.

Example 5: I am a loyal and reliable person

“I am a loyal and reliable person. I consider my company as my own and my colleagues as my family members. So, I ensure that I do not let them down by doing my work properly and staying loyal to them. Even in my previous company, I was the one who had to oversee confidential agreements as my employers trust me and my work ethic.”

Employers want employees they can trust and who will be able to stick around for a long time. So, saying that you are loyal and reliable will win you more brownie points.

Conclusion:

It’s not always comfortable talking about yourself. However, when interviewers ask you to describe yourself, be confident when you answer it and try to cover it in no more than three minutes. 

Remember that your answer to “how would you describe yourself” will go a long way in determining if you are the right fit for the job and the company. So, as long as you follow the tips and reference the examples provided above, you should be able to formulate the right answer.