Best word about myself

There are so many descriptive words out there…

And yet sometimes you may still struggle to find the right words to describe yourself.

Hey, we don’t blame you. Choosing the words to describe yourself can be a tricky task.

On the one hand, you want to show your positive traits. On the other hand, you might not want to overdo it with self-praise.

Things get even trickier when you’re applying for college or a job and you need to find the most suitable words to describe yourself.

Honestly, we know the struggle — this is why we wrote this article.

Good Words to Describe Yourself (+ Example Answers)

• Diligent / Loyal / Reliable. I am always the first person my friends call because they know I am always there for them. …
• Creative / Innovative / Visionary. …
• Motivated / Ambitious / Leader. …
• Honest / Ethical / Conscientious. …
• Friendly / Personable / Extrovert.

Secondly, How do you write 5 sentences about yourself?

Some statements you should be able to include:

1. I am proud of myself.
2. I am making a difference.
3. I am happy and grateful.
4. I am making my time count.
5. I am honest with myself.
6. I am good to those I care about.

Also What are 3 words to describe yourself? Words you can use to describe yourself

• Adventurous.
• Ambitious.
• Analytical.
• Attentive.
• Balanced.
• Communicative.
• Creative.
• Curious.

In fact How do you tell someone about yourself?

A. Do’s

1. Give a Short Personal Description About Yourself. It’s true that interviewers want to find someone who fits the job requirements. …
2. Talk About Your Achievements So Far. …
3. Talk about your work experience and skills. …
4. Talk About The Biggest Challenges You Faced and Overcame. …
5. Sell Your Skills Relevant For The Job.

How do you introduce yourself in 100 words?

You can add some of your basic biodate for your point in your introduction in 100 words. For example, your name, your age, the date of birth, your favorite color etc. So, in yhat way you can introduce yourself in 100 words. Highlight only those events that impacted your life.

What are 5 sentences?

5 sentences:

• My mom taught me to finish everything on my plate at dinner.
• The only problem with a pencil, is that they do not stay sharp long enough.
• Our school building is made of bricks.
• Every night I get woken up by the sound of a barking dog across the street.
• Salad is for rabbits.

How do you write 10 lines about yourself?

Ten Lines on Myself

1. My name is Aditya Ranade, and I am 8 years old.
2. I study in BAV Public School in the fourth standard.
3. My father’s name is Mr. …
4. I have one younger sister who studies in the first standard in the same school.
5. I like watching cartoons, and my favourite cartoon character is Doraemon.

How can I introduce myself in English?

Here are some examples:

1. Morning! I don’t think we’ve met before, I’m Aryan.
2. Hey there! I’m Surya. I’m new—I just moved to the building a couple of days ago. …
3. Hi Amy. I heard it’s your first day so I thought I could reach out and introduce myself. We haven’t officially met but I’ll be working with you on this project.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence?

Sample answers:

I am a hard-working and driven individual who isn’t afraid to face a challenge. I’m passionate about my work and I know how to get the job done. I would describe myself as an open and honest person who doesn’t believe in misleading other people and tries to be fair in everything I do.

How do I write about myself for a job?

You can follow these steps to write about yourself:

1. Introduce yourself.
2. Include the most relevant professional experience.
3. Mention significant personal achievements or awards.
4. Introduce personal details.
5. Use a casual and friendly tone.

How can you describe yourself in one word?

To describe myself in one word, I’m a very ambitious person. I take up all learning opportunities that enhance my skills and know-how to cope up with failures. I like challenging myself to find creative solutions as quickly as possible and resolve any issues at hand.

Can you tell a little about yourself?

The basic principle of a good “Tell me a little about yourself” response is to cover as much territory as you can in as small a space as possible; you don’t know what’s going to pique the interviewer’s interest, so you want to include as many things as possible that might get the conversation going, with a focus on …

Whats an interesting fact about myself?

List of 51 Examples of Fun Facts about Yourself to Tell Others

• “One of my favorite things to do is…. …
• “Right now, I’m reading about….” …
• “If I could have any superpower, it would be….” …
• “One thing I know I do well (or better than most) is….” …
• “I look up to….” …
• “One thing I cannot live without is….”

What are your strengths?

Some examples of strengths you might mention include: Enthusiasm. Trustworthiness. Creativity.

How can I describe myself in one word?

To describe myself in one word, I’m a very ambitious person. I take up all learning opportunities that enhance my skills and know-how to cope up with failures. I like challenging myself to find creative solutions as quickly as possible and resolve any issues at hand.

How do you write 5 sentences?

The classic five sentence paragraph uses the following format:

1. Tell them what you are going to tell them.
2. Tell them.
3. Tell them.
4. Tell them.
5. Tell them what you told them.

What is English sentence?

A sentence is the basic unit of language which expresses a complete thought. It does this by following the grammatical basic rules of syntax. For example:”Ali is walking”. A complete sentence has at least a subject and a main verb to state (declare) a complete thought.

What are the 7 types of sentences?

The other way is based on a sentence’s structure (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex).

• Statements/Declarative Sentences. These are the most common type of sentence. …
• Questions/Interrogative Sentences. …
• Exclamations/Exclamatory Sentences. …
• Commands/Imperative Sentences.

How can I introduce myself in 10 lines in English?

Here’s how you introduce yourself in English in 10 lines. You will learn this in 2 to 3 minutes.
…
10) I enjoy listening to music.

1. I enjoy listening to music.
2. I enjoy eating.
3. I enjoy watching television.
4. I enjoy learning languages.
5. I enjoy exercising.
6. I enjoy reading.

What is the my self?

language note: Myself is the first person singular reflexive pronoun. A speaker or writer uses myself to refer to himself or herself. Myself is used as the object of a verb or preposition when the subject refers to the same person. I asked myself what I would have done in such a situation.

How do you write 20 lines about yourself?

These 20 Lines on Myself are for class 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.

1. My name is Kartik Solanki.
2. I am eleven years old boy.
3. My birthday is on 6 ^th March.
4. I study in class 5 in Central School.
5. I live in a joint family with my grandparents, parents and sister.
6. I love my family very much and enjoy spending time with them.

How should I introduce myself as a fresher?

Talk about yourself, your name and where you come from. Ensure good body language and communication. For fresher job interviews, you must talk about your educational qualifications and achievements.

How can I introduce myself in interview in English?

So, here’s a self-introduction sample that you can use to introduce yourself to people other than your interviewer. “Hello, My name is (your name). I have an interview appointment with Mr. X (name of the person) at 12 pm for the position of (mention the role).”

What should we write in self-introduction?

Follow these steps when writing a self-introduction email to your team:

1. Write a friendly subject line. …
2. Choose your tone based on the company culture. …
3. Explain why you’re writing. …
4. Describe your background and new role. …
5. Show your enthusiasm. …
6. Send follow-up messages.

Join our Business, Advices & Skills Community and share you ideas today !

Whether you’re preparing for the classic interview question “Tell me about yourself” or writing your resume profile, describing yourself can be tricky. You want to be honest, but not brutally so. You want to impress, but without coming off as narcissistic.

Fortunately, as long as you follow a few guidelines when choosing the right words to describe yourself, you can create a great, long-lasting first impression.

Read on to learn pick the best words to describe yourself and see lists of: 

• Positive words to describe yourself in any situation
• Words to describe yourself in an interview
• Words to describe yourself on a resume

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Looking for other word lists? Check out:

• Resume Action Words, Power Verbs, and Adjectives
• Resume Keywords to use
• Skill Words for Resume
• Strengths for Resume

1. Positive Words to Describe Yourself

Describing yourself in a few words to someone who doesn’t know you is tough. It’s worth spending some time figuring out how you can make a great first impression, because once formed, first impressions are hard to shake. 

Regardless of the situation, the key to describing yourself is to stay upbeat and positive. Now is not the time for humility. The best words to describe yourself will be those that honestly capture your positive qualities. 

Here’s a list of positive words that can be used to describe yourself for any situation:

Positive Words to Describe Yourself

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

2. Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview 

One common interview question goes something like this: “What are 5 words to describe yourself?”. The stakes are higher, but the same rules from above apply (stay positive and be honest). The only difference is now you have to be more specific. 

When the hiring manager asks this question, they are trying to assess whether you have the personality and the skills needed to excel on the job. The key to nailing this job interview question is to stay relevant and provide evidence. 

If the adjectives you use to describe yourself are irrelevant to the job, chances are the HR manager won’t be impressed. Likewise, anyone can say they are creative and hardworking. You need to follow up the adjectives with examples of how you demonstrate that quality. 

Let’s say a nurse is applying for a job at a hospital and the interviewer asks “What are three good words to describe yourself?” Let’s see an example that misses the mark.

Cue the awkward pause when the HR manager is waiting for a follow-up that never comes. 

And of course there’s nothing wrong with being shy, but shyness is irrelevant to the position at hand.

Okay, how can we improve the above response?

What Are 3 Words to Describe Yourself

Wow—Now that’s an answer. 

Highly relevant, honest, solid work experience and with evidence to back it all up. 

Here’s a list of professional words to use in case you’re asked “What are the three best words to describe yourself?” in an interview:

Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview 

Read more: How to Answer the «Tell Me About Yourself» Interview Question

3. Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume

A resume is your golden ticket to getting the call. There are no two ways about it. And no matter what type of resume you’re writing, a short resume profile at the top can be a great way to make an elevator pitch that you’re the right candidate for the job. After all, recruiters are pressed for time. According to hiring statistics, corporate job offers receive 250 applications on average.

The secret to describing yourself in a resume introduction is to use adjectives relevant to the job and mention achievements that will wow the recruiter. You also want to tailor your resume introduction to the job posting, but don’t copy the job ad word for word! A survey found that 44% of hiring managers automatically reject resumes that appear to duplicate the job posting. 

Here’s a list of positive words to describe yourself on a resume:

Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume

Read more: «What’s Your Greatest Weakness» Interview Question: How to Answer

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here’s what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

That’s a wrap! Do you have any questions regarding these words to describe yourself? How do you describe yourself in interviews or on a resume? I’d love to hear from you. Let’s chat in the comment section!

Being asked to describe yourself is a very common interview question.

The hiring manager may ask something like, “How Would You Describe Yourself” or, “Tell Me Five Adjectives That Describe You”.

The average person will list a few adjectives and be done with their answer. Then they’ll wonder why they never got the job offer.

Saying you are smart, loyal, organized, and creative holds little weight. Anyone can say these things.

If you want the job, it’s essential that you use these words to tell a story.

In this article, we’ll share some of the best words to describe yourself in an interview, but more importantly, we’ll show you how to turn these words into a compelling story.

We’ve also broken down these words into professions to help you better choose the adjectives that are fitting for your line of work.

If you just came here looking for some good adjectives to describe yourself in an interview, check out our list below.

But remember, the best answer to this interview question goes beyond the words you choose. It’s all about the story you tell!

Once you have your words chosen, you can focus on finding real-life stories that back up those traits you portray.

Job-Specific Words to Describe Yourself (+Stories)

Let’s say you can think of a handful of good adjectives to describe yourself on the spot.

That’s great! You’re halfway there.

Again, you want to avoid simply giving a list of words to describe yourself. Instead, give a short story to support your claim.

Below is a list of example answers to the interview question, “What are 3 words to describe yourself?”

Keep in mind that the same story can be used for different words. It’s more about the positive story you tell than the specific words you choose.

In the examples below, the interviewee gave one of the descriptive words and then added a short (and true) story to back it up.

We’ve included samples for most professions including: administrative, sales & marketing, customer service, healthcare, finance & accounting, operations, managers & leaders, IT & software, educators, human resources, and design/creative.

Here’s how administrative professionals might reply to the question focusing on the words cool-headed, organized, resourceful:

Here’s how sales & marketing professionals might reply to the question focusing on the words friendly, personable, and extrovert:

Here’s how customer service professionals might reply to the question focusing on the words diligent, loyal, and reliable:

Here’s how healthcare professionals might reply to the question focusing on the words empathetic, patient, and adaptable:

Here’s how finance & accounting professionals might reply to the question focusing on the words ethical, organized, and thorough:

Here’s how operations professionals might reply to the question focusing on the words critical-thinking, collaborative, and efficient:

Here’s how managers & leaders might reply to the question focusing on the words motivated, ambitious, and leader:

Here’s how IT & software professionals might reply to the question focusing on the words analytical, innovative, and resourceful:

Here’s how teachers & educators might reply to the question focusing on the words attentive, disciplined, and supportive:

Here’s how human resources professionals might reply to the question focusing on the words analytical, collaborative, and decisive:

Here’s how creative & design professionals might reply to the question focusing on the words imaginative, passionate, and proactive:

Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume

Now that you’ve found the best words to describe yourself in an interview, take a look at your resume. 

As with an interview, it’s important that your resume describes you with more than adjectives. Tell a story!

Please note that this list is not extensive. There are hundreds of words you can use to describe yourself on a resume. 

With the right story, just about any word can be effective.

Next, let’s look at a few resume examples using some of the adjectives from the list above.

Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume (+Stories)

Just like describing yourself in an interview, your resume should tell a story. More often than not, this story will be under your work experience section.

While it is possible to add some of these adjectives to the “Skills” section of your resume, it’s better to list hard skills in this section.

Soft skills such as “analytical, diligent, and strategic” are better shown in a story than listed as keywords.

Below, we provide a few examples from real resumes written by Certified Professional Resume Writers at Find My Profession.

Accomplished

Versatile

Strategic

Such powerful words are sure to make you the favorite candidate of the hiring manager!

Key Takeaways

There are hundreds of words you could use to describe yourself in an interview, but more important than the adjectives you use is the story you share to drive your point home.

1. Pick relevant words for the job you’re applying for. An accountant may not need to say they are an extrovert. A word like “analytical” might be a better choice.
2. Tell a story that backs your words up. This can be one story that encompasses all 3-5 words or it can be a unique story for each word.
3. Stay positive and brief. Your story should remain positive, avoid sharing too many personal details, and remain under two minutes long.

You can find more interview questions to study in our list of the 50 Top Job Interview Questions and Answers.

Good luck with that interview! You are going to do great. You are ambitious, confident, and resourceful!

One skill everyone should have, whether you’re applying to college or for a job, is how to describe yourself in a way that’s both accurate and unique. In other words, what are some interesting, eye-catching words to describe yourself with?

We list more than 250 describing words and give you tips for figuring out how to pick words that best suit you and your personality. But first, what are some situations in which you’d need to know describing words?

Why Might You Need to Describe Yourself?

Before we dive into our list of words to describe yourself, let’s answer an important question: why would you actually need to know any of these words? Put differently, in what situations would you need the following words to describe someone or yourself?

Here are some key instances you’ll want to use these words to describe yourself:

• Cover letter: A cover letter is required for most job applications; it emphasizes the best and most impressive aspects of yourself as a job candidate. As a result, you’ll need to pick words that really make you stand out in a positive light.
• Job interview: It’s common for an interviewer to ask you to describe yourself in a number of words; therefore, it’s important that you know some unique words you can use if you end up getting asked this basic interview question.
• College application/personal essay: Most college applications require applicants to submit a personal statement (though not all do!). Your essay will stand out if you have some original and interesting words to describe yourself.
• Online profile: Spice up your personal online profile, such as a dating profile or social media profile, by sprinkling in a few eye-catching adjectives.

Furthermore, if English is not your native language, this list of words to describe yourself can be a really great study resource you can use to learn some new vocabulary words!

Most of these words are adjectives, but you’ll also come across some nouns, too. We’ve divided up our list of words to describe someone in the following categories:

• Cover Letter/Job Interview
• College Application
• Online Profile

All words are listed in alphabetical order.

Words to Describe Yourself in a Cover Letter/Job Interview

You can use these professional words to describe yourself on a cover letter or in a job interview.

Interviewers often ask candidates to describe themselves in one to three words, so familiarizing yourself with some particularly interesting (and, of course, truthful!) words you can use to describe yourself should give you a leg up in the interview process.

We’ll also give you a list of words you should not use to describe yourself on a cover letter and in a job interview.

• Accomplished
• Accountable
• Adaptable
• Adept [at something]
• Ambitious
• Analytical
• Articulate
• Assertive
• Attentive
• Authentic
• Balanced
• Bilingual
• Brave
• Calm
• Candid
• Capable
• Careful
• Cheerful
• Collaborative
• Committed
• Communicative
• Community-minded
• Compassionate
• Confident
• Conscientious
• Consistent
• Constructive
• Cooperative
• Courageous
• Creative
• Cultured
• Curious
• Customer-focused
• Daring
• Decisive
• Dedicated
• Dependable
• Detail-oriented
• Determined
• Diligent
• Diplomatic
• Direct
• Discerning
• Driven
• Dynamic
• Easygoing
• Efficient
• Encouraging
• Energetic
• Enterprising
• Entrepreneurial
• Ethical
• Experienced
• Extroverted
• Fair
• Fast
• Fearless
• Flexible
• Friendly
• Genuine
• Goal-oriented
• Hardworking
• High-achieving
• Honest
• Imaginative
• Impartial
• Independent
• Innovative
• Integrity
• International
• Introverted
• Inventive
• Judicious
• Knowledgeable
• Leader
• Level-headed
• Loyal
• Mature
• Mediator
• Methodical
• Meticulous
• Mindful
• Motivated
• Multilingual
• Objective
• Observant
• Open-minded
• Optimistic
• Organized
• Outgoing
• Particular
• Passionate
• Patient
• Perceptive
• Perfectionist
• Perseverant
• Persistent
• Personable
• Persuasive
• Positive
• Practical
• Pragmatic
• Precise
• Proactive
• Problem solver
• Productive
• Professional
• Punctual
• Quick
• Rational
• Receptive [to criticism]
• Reflective
• Reliable
• Resolute
• Resourceful
• Respectful
• Responsible
• Results-driven
• Revenue-focused
• Self-disciplined
• Self-reliant
• Self-starter
• Sensible
• Serious
• Skilled
• Strategic
• Successful
• Tactful
• Team player
• Tech-savvy
• Tenacious
• Thorough
• Tidy
• Tolerant
• Trustworthy
• Understanding
• Unique
• Upbeat
• Versatile
• Visionary
• Worldly

Words to NOT Use to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview

All the words above are fair game for a cover letter and/or job interview, just as long as they’re true about you and you use them in a way that doesn’t make it come across like bragging.

Now, here are some words you should avoid using in a professional situation, as they can make you sound self-centered, pretentious, or simply unoriginal:

• Experienced
• Flawless
• Humble
• Intelligent
• Likable
• Perfect
• Popular
• Powerful
• Smart
• Wise

In addition to these words, you should avoid any words with a clearly negative connotation, such as «lazy,» «loud,» «moody,» and so on.

Words to Describe Yourself on a College Application

College applications are all about showcasing your biggest strengths, how you’ll fit with the school, and your authentic self.

Unlike job interviews and cover letters, you’re typically allowed (and encouraged) to get a little more personal on college applications, especially with the personal essay, which highlights your positive qualities and who you are as a person.

Here are some words to describe yourself on a college application. (Note that many of these words overlap with those on the list above.) Afterward, we’ll give you some examples of words you should avoid in your college application.

• Accomplished
• Adaptable
• Adept [at something]
• Advocate
• Ambitious
• Artistic
• Athletic
• Brave
• Bubbly
• Capable
• Careful
• Caring
• Cautious
• Collaborative
• Compassionate
• Conscientious
• Cooperative
• Courageous
• Creative
• Curious
• Daring
• Dedicated
• Determined
• Diligent
• Down-to-earth
• Driven
• Empathetic
• Enthusiastic
• Extroverted
• Fearless
• Friendly
• Fun
• Funny
• Generous
• Gentle
• Goal-oriented
• Hardworking
• High-achieving
• Honest
• Humorous
• Imaginative
• Independent
• Integrity
• International
• Introverted
• Leader
• Loyal
• Meticulous
• Modest
• Motivated
• Musical
• Open-minded
• Optimistic
• Organized
• Outdoorsy
• Outgoing
• Passionate
• Perfectionist
• Perseverant
• Polite
• Proactive
• Problem solver
• Productive
• Professional
• Reliable
• Resilient
• Responsible
• Scholarly
• Scientific
• Self-disciplined
• Self-reliant
• Sincere
• Skilled
• Social butterfly
• Strong
• Strong-willed
• Studious
• Supportive
• Talented
• Tenacious
• Thoughtful
• Understanding
• Unique

Words to NOT Use to Describe Yourself on a College Application

You really want to avoid seeming pretentious or entitled in your college essay. As such, I advise against using any of these words to describe yourself:

• Amazing
• Deserving [of something]
• Flawless
• Genius
• Intelligent
• Likable
• Perfect
• Popular
• Prodigy
• Rich
• Smart
• Wise

In addition, do not use any clearly negative describing words; here are some examples:

• Careless
• Lazy
• Noncommittal
• Oblivious
• Selfish
• Unmotivated
• Xenophobic

Words to Describe Yourself in an Online Profile

This last set of words to describe yourself can be used in more casual, relaxed spaces, such as an online dating profile or a social media account.

You could also use these words to describe someone else, such as a character in a work of fiction you’re writing.

• Active
• Adventurous
• Affectionate
• Alternative
• Amiable
• Approachable
• Articulate
• Artistic
• Assertive
• Athletic
• Awkward
• Brave
• Bubbly
• Calm
• Candid
• Carefree
• Clever
• Clumsy
• Competitive
• Confident
• Conservative
• Considerate
• Controversial
• Courteous
• Crazy
• Creative
• Dedicated
• Devoted
• Down-to-earth
• Easygoing
• Eccentric
• Eclectic
• Educated
• Emotional
• Empathetic
• Energetic
• Enthusiastic
• Exuberant
• Family-oriented
• Fearless
• Fierce
• Fit
• Forgiving
• Friendly
• Fun
• Funny
• Generous
• Genuine
• Good listener
• Goofy
• Gregarious
• Happy
• Hardworking
• Health nut
• Helpful
• Honest
• Humble
• Humorous
• Idealistic
• Independent
• Insightful
• Instinctive
• Intelligent
• Intense
• Interesting
• Intuitive
• Kind
• Kindhearted
• Laid-back
• Loving
• Meditative
• Meticulous
• Modest
• Motivated
• Musical
• [Noun] lover
• Open-minded
• Original
• Outspoken
• Passionate
• Peaceful
• Perceptive
• Perfectionist
• Philosophical
• Playful
• Progressive
• Protective
• Proud
• Quiet
• Quirky
• Random
• Rational
• Rebellious
• Reflective
• Religious
• Respectful
• Risk taker
• Romantic
• Self-assured
• Selfless
• Sensible
• Sensitive
• Sensuous
• Serious
• Sexy
• Shrewd
• Shy
• Silly
• Sincere
• Social butterfly
• Soft-spoken
• Sophisticated
• Spiritual
• Spontaneous
• Sporty
• Stable
• Strong
• Strong-willed
• Studious
• Successful
• Sweet
• Tenacious
• Thoughtful
• Tough
• Traditional
• Trustworthy
• Unconventional
• Unique
• Unusual
• Upbeat
• Vibrant
• Warm
• Warmhearted
• Wise
• Witty

Words to NOT Use to Describe Yourself in an Online Profile

How you talk about yourself in an online profile is really up to you and can be pretty casual, too (as long as it’s not a professional LinkedIn profile). You’ll want to stick to predominantly positive words, but sometimes words that describe your funny or entertaining flaws could be worth including.

That said, here are some words you should never put down in a profile as they can make you come across as highly self-centered, rude, and frankly unapproachable!

• Amazing
• Apathetic
• Arrogant
• Careless
• Dumb
• Genius
• Inconsiderate
• Incredible
• Lazy
• Mean
• Perfect
• Rude
• Selfish
• Superior
• Thoughtless
• Unmotivated
• Wonderful

How to Describe Yourself: 4 Tips for Finding the Right Words

It’s not easy choosing the right words to describe yourself—but knowing exactly what you want to highlight about yourself can help you figure out the best describing words to use, whether they’re for a cover letter, personal essay, or online dating profile.

Here are four tips to help you brainstorm and find the right words to describe yourself with.

#1: Consider Your Audience

One of the most important things you’ll need to consider before writing down tons of adjectives to describe yourself is your audience, or the person/people who will be hearing or reading the words you choose to use.

Your audience will play a fairly significant role in the words you ultimately choose, as you’ll need to make sure you’re coming across to them the way you want to.

For example, if your audience is a potential employer, you should use describing words that make you sound like an ideal fit at the company and that help you stand apart from other candidates (if you’re not memorable, you likely won’t get the job!).

Here are the general types of describing words different audiences will want to hear when it comes to describing yourself:

• For job interviews/cover letters: Positive describing words that emphasize your (relevant) skills, experience, professional interests, and company fit
• For college applications: Positive words that express your authentic personality, academic accomplishments/skills, ambitions, and overall school fit
• For online profiles: Positive words (though it might be worth throwing in some «flaws» for humorous effect or to stand out from others!) that stress your individual personality traits, skills, and interests—keep it casual, too!

Once you’ve got your audience down, it’s time to start thinking about your biggest strengths and most prominent personality traits.

#2: Think About Your Biggest Strengths

Whenever you’re describing yourself, you should always emphasize your biggest strengths, that is, your very best qualities!

These can be any describing words that you personally see as strengths (even if others don’t think the same—it’s OK to try to change their minds). More importantly, these should be words that you feel best encapsulate who you are.

For example, I was once asked to describe myself in three words during a job interview. One of the words I used was «introverted» because I’ve always felt a strong connection to this word.

Though the word tends to have a slightly negative connotation, I took a bit of time to explain to my interviewers exactly why I saw introversion as a strength and how this trait would actually help me effectively perform my job.

So what’s the lesson? Don’t be afraid to be yourself—use words that reflect what you value in life and what you like most about yourself.

#3: Ask Others How They Would Describe You

If you’re struggling to figure out how to describe yourself, it’s a great idea to ask others close to you how they would describe you if asked by somebody else. Doing this can give you a clearer, more objective view of your strengths (and weaknesses) and help you figure out what types of words are most applicable to you.

If possible, ask a range of people to describe you, from family and friends to former coworkers.

For example, if you’re applying to college, it’ll help to get describing words about you from those connected to the college application process, such as your teachers and recommendation letter writers.

Simply ask them to write down a few words (adjectives or nouns) that best describe you and your academic or personal strengths, based on what they know about you.

#4: Be Careful Not to Exaggerate

Finally, take care to avoid any describing words that exaggerate your strengths or make you seem different from who you really are.

Remember that the point of describing yourself is to paint an authentic, positive portrait of yourself to your audience, whoever they are. If you lie or exaggerate something about yourself, then you’re not accurately revealing who you are, which could confuse, anger, or disappoint your audience.

For instance, you probably wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) use the word «artistic» to describe yourself if you only ever painted a few pictures for an art class years ago and didn’t enjoy the process.

Think of your interests and any personality traits or skills that come with these; this could help narrow down specific traits that are more relevant to you.

What’s Next?

Applying to college? Then you’ll need to know what a personal statement is. Once you’ve got the gist of it, check out our guide to how to write a great college essay and look at our compilation of 100+ college essay examples.

Got an interview coming up for a job or for college? It’s important to be prepared. Aside from being asked to describe yourself, you might get asked any of these 14 questions.

Need to write a cover letter? You’ll definitely want to read our expert guides on how to write one for a job and how to write one for graduate school.

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