How To Use Words To Describe Yourself (With Examples)

Throughout your career, you may receive requests to describe yourself and your contributions to a workplace. Knowing how to effectively communicate your best qualities could help you earn opportunities, succeed in interviews and advertise yourself to new professional contacts. It can be helpful to expand your vocabulary and study your options so you can emphasize your value to potential employers. In this article, we outline how to use words to describe yourself, discuss strategies for success when describing yourself on your resume, in cover letters and in interviews and share example words to use in each of these situations.

How to use words to describe yourself

Below are steps you can follow when choosing words to describe yourself in your job search:

1. Reflect on your strengths

When you're describing yourself to a new connection or a potential employer, it's beneficial to highlight your best traits. Consider the times you've made a positive impact on your peers, clients or organization, and consider what abilities enabled you to do so. For example, if you thought of the idea for a guerilla marketing campaign that increased sales by 10% at your last job, you might describe yourself as clever or innovative. Read more: How To Identify Your Strengths in the Workplace

2. Review the job description

If you can accurately describe yourself while also mirroring the qualities depicted in the job description, it could help the hiring manager envision you in the role. Read the job description again and note descriptive words. For example, many employers request candidates who are fast learners, have a sense of humor or work well in teams. These insights could inform your choices when selecting adjectives to describe yourself. Related: Job Profile vs. Job Description: What's the Difference?

3. Be specific

When applying for a job, you might want to distinguish yourself from other candidates. Instead of using broad terms like "excellent" or "successful," think about words that are unique to your skill set. Consider using a resource like a dictionary or a thesaurus to find specific, descriptive words that might help separate you from other candidates. Related: 12 Powerful Words To Use in an Interview

4. Ask your peers for help

If you're unsure how to accurately communicate your personality and work habits, you could use your colleagues as a reference. You could ask your friends, peers or supervisor how they would describe you and write down their responses. It might be helpful to source your answers from people who know you in a personal capacity and people who know you at work, so you can develop a comprehensive description of yourself. If you're unable to ask people directly, reflect on the positive feedback you've received from managers and teammates in the past. Related: 100 Words To Describe Coworkers (And Why You Should Use Them)

5. Focus on positive traits

When you're describing yourself to hiring managers or people in your network, the words you use may inform their opinion of you. It's vital to sell yourself, which could increase the chances of getting an interview or a recommendation for an opportunity. Aim to use words that have a positive connotation. If an interviewer asks you to describe your weaknesses, think about how you can reframe a negative trait. You could share the benefits of your weakness, or you could explain how you've learned to combat it. For example, instead of describing yourself as "controlling," you could share that you enjoy working independently but have come to appreciate the ease and perspective that can come when you delegate tasks to others. Related: List of Weaknesses: 10 Things To Say in an Interview

Words to describe yourself on a resume

When you're customizing your resume for a particular job, choosing the right descriptive words could help you catch the hiring manager's attention. It's important to use your own words rather than copying the language used in the job description, so developing a vocabulary of meaningful adjectives might benefit you. When you're describing yourself on your resume, aim to reflect the most important qualities mentioned in the job posting while remaining honest about your abilities. Resumes typically aim to earn you an interview, so it might be helpful to use language that captures your ability to successfully perform the core functions of the job. Words that imply a positive outcome like "resourceful," "meticulous" and "data-driven" may be beneficial, depending on the position you're pursuing. Here are examples of powerful adjectives to describe yourself on a resume:

Creative
Diligent
Dependable
Tech-savvy
Forward-thinking
Energetic
Results-oriented
Personable
Award-winning
Strategic
Expert
Ambitious
Collaborative
Honest
Organized

Here are some verbs you could use to describe your accomplishments on your resume:

Won
Led
Delivered
Achieved
Designed
Executed
Managed
Assisted
Supported
Collaborated
Optimized
Oversaw
Educated

Words to describe yourself in a cover letter

While your resume highlights the most important parts of your background, a cover letter allows you to include a deeper discussion of your qualifications. When describing your contributions in a cover letter, remember to align yourself with the company's values and culture. Research the organization and learn more about the types of people they prefer to work with and then explain how you might fit into their work environment. For example, if their website includes playful copy, bold colors and discusses the importance of collaboration in the workplace, it might be appropriate to describe yourself as a "charismatic team player." Cover letters also give you an opportunity to prove your claims with more evidence. Remember to include data that supports the words you choose. When describing yourself as "impactful," for example, it might help to explain positive outcomes of your work, like an increase in sales, a number of new sales leads or an improvement in key performance indicators (KPIs). Here are some descriptive words to describe yourself in a cover letter:

Persistent
Authentic
Fun-loving
Innovative
Inquisitive
Upbeat
Deadline-driven
Confident
Methodical
Communicative
Optimistic
Passionate
Self-reliant
Analytical
Independent

Words to describe yourself in an interview

In many interviews, hiring managers ask candidates to describe themselves in three words. If an interviewer requests that you choose three words to describe yourself, they might want to know what your perception of yourself is. Many employers prefer to hire individuals who are confident, self-aware and honest, and choosing the right words could help you succeed in your interview. When selecting three adjectives to describe yourself, try to choose terms that you can support with specific anecdotes, data or examples. Focus on professional words that imply the value you can bring to a team. You could maximize your response by prioritizing variety. For example, one word could speak to your ethics and professional values, another could describe your personality and the third could characterize the quality of your work. Consider making a list of words you feel describe you and try different pairings until you find a set that complements each other effectively. Here are some words to describe yourself in an interview:

Flexible
Level-headed
Quick-thinking
Artistic
Open-minded
Decisive
Progressive
Conscientious
Bold
Transparent
Responsive
Loyal
Consistent
Enthusiastic
People-person
Empathetic