How to Describe Yourself in an Interview

How to Describe Yourself in an Interview

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

Below is an outline of some of the top qualities interviewers look for and the type of response that speaks to those qualities. Consider saying one of these adjectives and characteristics the next time an interviewer asks how you would describe yourself. I am... A self-starter "Once I'm clear on what the 

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

task or project is, I'm good at determining the best way to accomplish it." A team player "I believe there is value in collaboration. Often, two minds are better than one, and as such, working in a team with a collaborative spirit is important when the need arises." Proactive "I like to evaluate current 

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

procedures and processes when possible to identify any foreseeable issues or concerns. I find that being proactive in a situation, when possible, is much better than being reactive.  Also, when I'm proactive in planning for a project and the needs to react to a situation arises, it's much easier to move to a Plan B when there is a solid 

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

Plan A in place." Of strong personal value "Integrity and authenticity are important to me. I do what I can to continue to improve and be the best I can be at whatever I do." Community-focused "I look for growth opportunities for the group, as I find this presents with the best long-term results."

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

Revenue-focused "I am confident in my ability to produce results. Of course, situations happen when the results aren't ideal, and when that does happen, I do my best to tip the hat in a positive direction." Decisive "Long-term results require making decisions efficiently and decisively, even when it's difficult."

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

Accountable "By taking responsibility for my actions and results, I have the ability to make the choices necessary for a better outcome or results the next time around. Pointing fingers or playing the blame game is not productive and can even set the team back." Excellence-driven "Not only do I aim to meet 

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

expectations, but I am often one to exceed my employer's expectations." Leadership-focused "I don't let tough situations control me. Instead, I evaluate them and decide the best way to approach the situation for the best result at that moment." Results-oriented "The only way to keep moving forward is to focus on results.

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

I am hard working and committed to adding value and reaching goals with the best results possible." Goal-oriented "I am hardworking and set reasonable goals for myself. Once those goals are in place, I can then back out of them and create smaller goals or benchmarks to accomplish so I can continuously evaluate my performance."

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

Performance-focused "I strive to do the best I can for whatever task is presented to me. I appreciate working for a company that has clear goals and rewards employees for meeting those goals." Customer- and service-oriented "I am a people person. I've found that the best way to truly understand what the 

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

customer needs is to ask the right questions, and then follow up to confirm we are on the same page. Once I'm clear that we are on the same page, I can then develop a plan or set goals to meet the customer's or client's needs." Dedicated to personal growth and development "I believe it's important to continue to grow and learn. I'm 

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

always looking for opportunities, like webinars, seminars, and classes, that can help me learn and grow as a professional at work and in my everyday life." A good communicator "I've learned that we all have different communication styles, and I need to learn how others communicate for us to effectively work together and 

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Show you represent the top qualities a hiring manager is looking for

meet each other in the middle. I also like to ask questions and don't have a problem following up to confirm I've understood something correctly.  We all see things through our own perspectives, and I try to understand what that perspective is for others so we can communicate well.

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Come up with your own list of words to describe yourself

The above are some guidelines to give you an idea of the type of language to use based on what many interviewers look for in top-notch candidates.  It's important to come up with your own responses though, so that you truly represent yourself as an individual. Grab a pen and paper (or your laptop) and begin brainstorming about your top-notch worthiness by 

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Come up with your own list of words to describe yourself

taking these steps: 1. Create a list of the competencies, skills, and qualities provided above. 2. Write down what you do to represent each quality. 3. Craft your sample responses accordingly. 4. Practice answering common interview questions that might prompt your responses. As you craft your responses, it's also important to have some 

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Come up with your own list of words to describe yourself

examples that speak to your claims. In other words, if you say you've often exceeded your employer's expectations, be prepared to give quantifiable examples to back it up. The more you can support your claims with measurable success, the better.

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Practice describing yourself for a job interview

Practice interviewing with a close friend or someone you trust. The more you're prompted with questions like “How would describe yourself?” and the more you speak your answers out loud, the more comfortable you will be once you're sitting across from your interviewer.  It is possible to distinguish between interviewees who 

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Practice describing yourself for a job interview

are have practiced interviewing and those who don't. You, of course, want to fall into the former group. Finally, words can be powerful, so give your word choices some thought before you walk in for your interviews. Doing so will make it easier for you to choose the best words that will help you stand out among the competition.

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