words to describe yourself in a personal statement

195 Positive Words to Describe Yourself [with Examples]

By Status.net Editorial Team on August 30, 2023 — 23 minutes to read

Describing yourself positively can make a significant impact on your personal and professional life. It not only improves your self-image but also helps you create a strong, favorable impression on others. As you explore the full list of adjectives in this article, take the time to reflect on your strengths and choose words that best encapsulate your personality. Remember, when describing yourself, being genuine and specific can go a long way in making a lasting, positive impression.

Related: Core Values List: 150+ Awesome Examples of Personal Values

Full List of Positive Words to Describe Yourself

1. Ambitious – “I have big dreams and am always striving to achieve them.” 2. Adventurous – “I love exploring new places and trying new things.” 3. Affable – “I enjoy meeting new people and making friends easily.” 4. Affectionate – “I am very loving and enjoy showing affection to those I care about.” 5. Agile – “I am quick and nimble, able to adapt to changing situations easily.” 6. Alert – “I am always aware of my surroundings and quick to react to any potential danger.” 7. Altruistic – “I am always looking for ways to help others and make a positive impact in the world.” 8. Amiable – “I am friendly and easy to get along with.” 9. Amusing – “I have a good sense of humor and enjoy making others laugh.” 10. Analytical – “I enjoy breaking down complex problems and finding solutions.” 11. Artistic – “I have a creative side and enjoy expressing myself through various forms of art.” 12. Assertive – “I am confident in my opinions and not afraid to speak up for myself.” 13. Attentive – “I pay close attention to details and am always listening to others.” 14. Authentic – “I am true to myself and don’t try to be someone I’m not.” 15. Balanced – “I strive to maintain a healthy balance in all aspects of my life.” 16. Beautiful – “I am confident in my own unique beauty and appreciate the beauty in others.” 17. Benevolent – “I have a kind and generous heart, always looking for ways to help others.” 18. Blissful – “I am content and happy with my life.” 19. Brave – “I am not afraid to face challenges and take risks.” 20. Bright – “I am intelligent and quick-witted.” 21. Brilliant – “I have a sharp mind and excel in many areas.” 22. Calm – “I am able to stay composed and level-headed in stressful situations.” 23. Capable – “I am competent and able to handle a wide range of tasks.” 24. Caring – “I have a nurturing nature and enjoy taking care of others.” 25. Charismatic – “I have a magnetic personality and am able to charm people easily.” 26. Charming – “I have a pleasant and attractive personality that draws people in.” 27. Cheerful – “I have a positive and upbeat attitude that lifts the spirits of those around me.” 28. Clean – “I am neat and tidy, and enjoy maintaining a clean and organized space.” 29. Clear-headed – “I am able to think clearly and make rational decisions even in difficult situations.” 30. Clever – “I have a sharp mind and am able to come up with creative solutions to problems.” 31. Compassionate – “I have a deep empathy for others and am always willing to lend a helping hand.” 32. Confident – “I believe in myself and my abilities, and am not easily shaken by challenges.” 33. Considerate – “I am thoughtful of others’ feelings and needs.” 34. Consistent – “I am reliable and consistent in my actions and behavior.” 35. Courageous – “I have a brave and fearless spirit, willing to take on challenges and face my fears.” 36. Creative – “I have a vivid imagination and enjoy expressing myself through various forms of creativity.” 37. Cultured – “I have a broad knowledge and appreciation of different cultures and ways of life.” 38. Curious – “I have a thirst for knowledge and enjoy learning new things.” 39. Daring – “I am bold and adventurous, unafraid to take risks and try new things.” 40. Decisive – “I am able to make quick and confident decisions even in high-pressure situations.” 41. Dedicated – “I am committed to my goals and work hard to achieve them.” 42. Delightful – “I have a charming and pleasant personality that brings joy to those around me.” 43. Dependable – “I am reliable and can be counted on to follow through on my commitments.” 44. Determined – “I have a strong will and am determined to succeed in all that I do.” 45. Diligent – “I am hardworking and thorough in my approach to tasks and responsibilities.” 46. Disciplined – “I have a strong sense of self-discipline and am able to stay focused and productive even in challenging circumstances.” 47. Dynamic – “I am full of energy and enthusiasm, always ready to take on new challenges and opportunities.” 48. Earnest – “I am sincere and genuine in my actions and intentions.” 49. Easygoing – “I have a relaxed and flexible personality that makes it easy for me to get along with others.” 50. Educated – “I have a strong educational background and am knowledgeable in many areas.” 51. Efficient – “I am able to complete tasks quickly and effectively, making the most of my time and resources.” 52. Elegant – “I have a graceful and refined manner that exudes sophistication and class.” 53. Empathetic – “I have a deep understanding and appreciation for the feelings and experiences of others.” 54. Energetic – “I am full of vitality and vigor, always ready to tackle new challenges and adventures.” 55. Enthusiastic – “I have a contagious enthusiasm and passion for life that inspires those around me.” 56. Ethical – “I have strong moral principles and always strive to do what is right.” 57. Excellent – “I am outstanding in my abilities and excel in many areas.” 58. Experienced – “I have a wealth of knowledge and experience in my field.” 59. Expressive – “I am able to convey my thoughts and emotions effectively through various forms of expression.” 60. Extravagant – “I have a bold and flamboyant personality, unafraid to stand out and make a statement.” 61. Fair – “I am just and impartial, treating everyone with equality and respect.” 62. Faithful – “I am loyal and committed to those I care about.” 63. Fearless – “I have a courageous and bold spirit, unafraid to take risks and face my fears.” 64. Focused – “I am able to concentrate and stay on task, even in distracting or challenging environments.” 65. Forgiving – “I have a compassionate and understanding nature, able to forgive others and move on from past conflicts.” 66. Friendly – “I am warm and welcoming, making it easy for others to feel comfortable around me.” 67. Fun-loving – “I have a lighthearted and playful personality, always looking for ways to have fun and enjoy life.” 68. Funny – “I have a great sense of humor and enjoy making others laugh with my wit and jokes.” 69. Generous – “I am giving and generous with my time, resources, and talents.” 70. Gentle – “I have a kind and gentle nature, treating others with compassion and care.” 71. Genuine – “I am sincere and authentic in my actions and words.” 72. Gifted – “I have a natural talent or ability in a particular area.” 73. Giving – “I enjoy giving to others and find joy in making a positive impact in their lives.” 74. Good-hearted – “I have a kind and caring heart, always looking for ways to help others.” 75. Gracious – “I am courteous and polite, showing gratitude and appreciation to those around me.” 76. Grateful – “I have a thankful and appreciative attitude, recognizing and acknowledging the blessings in my life.” 77. Grounded – “I have a stable and balanced perspective, able to stay grounded in the midst of life’s challenges and opportunities.” 78. Handsome – “I have an attractive and appealing physical appearance.” 79. Happy – “I have a positive and optimistic outlook on life, finding joy and happiness in everyday experiences.” 80. Hardworking – “I am diligent and dedicated, willing to put in the effort and time required to achieve my goals.” 81. Harmonious – “I have a peaceful and cooperative nature, able to work well with others and maintain positive relationships.” 82. Helpful – “I am always willing to lend a hand and offer assistance to those in need.” 83. Honest – “I have a strong sense of integrity and honesty, always telling the truth and being transparent in my actions and words.” 84. Honorable – “I have a strong sense of honor and integrity, always doing what is right and just.” 85. Humble – “I have a modest and unassuming nature, not seeking attention or praise for my accomplishments.” 86. Humorous – “I have a great sense of humor and enjoy making others laugh and smile.” 87. Imaginative – “I have a creative and imaginative mind, able to come up with innovative ideas and solutions.” 88. Impartial – “I am fair and impartial, treating everyone with equality and without bias.” 89. Independent – “I am self-reliant and able to take care of myself without relying on others.” 90. Industrious – “I am hardworking and diligent, always striving to be productive and efficient.” 91. Inquisitive – “I am curious and eager to learn, always asking questions and seeking new knowledge.” 92. Insightful – “I have a deep understanding and perception of people and situations, able to see beyond the surface level.” 93. Inspirational – “I have a motivating and inspiring presence, able to encourage and uplift those around me.” 94. Intelligent – “I have a high level of intelligence and am able to grasp complex concepts and ideas easily.” 95. Intuitive – “I have a strong intuition and am able to sense things beyond what is immediately apparent.” 96. Inventive – “I have a creative and innovative mind, able to come up with new and original ideas and solutions.” 97. Joyful – “I have a joyful and positive outlook on life, finding happiness and contentment in everyday experiences.” 98. Just – “I have a strong sense of justice and fairness, treating everyone with equality and without bias.” 99. Kind – “I have a compassionate and kind-hearted nature, always looking for ways to help and support others.” 100. Knowledgeable – “I am well-informed and knowledgeable in a wide range of areas.” 101. Leader – “I have strong leadership skills and am able to guide and inspire others to achieve their goals.” 102. Lively – “I have a lively and energetic personality, always ready to have fun and enjoy life to the fullest.” 103. Logical – “I have a logical and analytical mind, able to think critically and solve problems effectively.” 104. Loving – “I have a deep capacity for love and care for those around me.” 105. Loyal – “I am faithful and committed to those I care about, always standing by their side.” 106. Meticulous – “I am careful and precise in my work, paying close attention to details and ensuring accuracy.” 107. Modest – “I have a humble and modest nature, not seeking attention or praise for my accomplishments.” 108. Motivated – “I am driven and motivated to succeed in all that I do.” 109. Natural – “I have a natural talent or ability in a particular area.” 110. Neat – “I am organized and tidy, keeping my surroundings clean and orderly.” 111. Noble – “I have a strong sense of honor and nobility, always striving to do what is right and just.” 112. Nurturing – “I have a caring and nurturing personality, always looking out for the well-being of those around me.” 113. Observant – “I am attentive and observant, able to notice details and pick up on subtle cues.” 114. Optimistic – “I have a positive and optimistic outlook on life, always seeing the bright side of things.” 115. Organized – “I am well-organized and efficient, able to keep track of tasks and responsibilities with ease.” 116. Original – “I have a unique and original perspective, able to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas.” 117. Outgoing – “I have an outgoing and sociable personality, enjoying meeting new people and making connections.” 118. Passionate – “I am passionate and enthusiastic about the things I care about, putting my heart and soul into everything I do.” 119. Patient – “I am patient and understanding, able to remain calm and composed in difficult situations.” 120. Peaceful – “I have a peaceful and serene nature, able to create a calming and harmonious environment.” 121. Perceptive – “I have a keen sense of perception, able to understand and empathize with the feelings and experiences of others.” 122. Persevering – “I am persistent and determined, never giving up on my goals and dreams.” 123. Persistent – “I am tenacious and persistent, able to overcome obstacles and challenges through sheer determination.” 124. Persuasive – “I have strong persuasion skills, able to influence and convince others to see things from my perspective.” 125. Playful – “I have a fun and playful personality, always looking for ways to bring joy and laughter to those around me.” 126. Pleasant – “I have a pleasant and friendly nature, making it easy for others to feel comfortable and at ease around me.” 127. Polite – “I am courteous and polite, showing respect and consideration to others in all situations.” 128. Popular – “I have a likable and charismatic personality, making me well-liked and admired by many.” 129. Positive – “I have a positive and optimistic outlook on life, always focusing on the good and finding solutions to problems.” 130. Powerful – “I have a strong and influential presence, able to make a significant impact in the world around me.” 131. Practical – “I have a practical and pragmatic approach to life, able to make sound decisions based on practical considerations.” 132. Precise – “I am precise and accurate in my work, paying close attention to details and ensuring high quality results.” 133. Productive – “I am productive and efficient, able to accomplish tasks and goals in a timely and effective manner.” 134. Professional – “I have a professional and polished demeanor, able to conduct myself with grace and professionalism in all situations.” 135. Punctual – “I am punctual and reliable, always arriving on time and keeping my commitments.” 136. Quick-witted – “I have a sharp and quick mind, able to think on my feet and respond quickly in challenging situations.” 137. Radiant – “I have a radiant and glowing personality, able to light up a room with my positive energy and presence.” 138. Rational – “I have a rational and logical mind, able to make sound decisions based on reason and evidence.” 139. Realistic – “I have a realistic and practical perspective, able to see things as they are and make sound decisions based on reality.” 140. Reflective – “I am reflective and introspective, taking time to think deeply about my experiences and learn from them.” 141. Reliable – “I am dependable and reliable, always following through on my commitments and delivering high-quality results.” 142. Resourceful – “I am resourceful and creative, able to find solutions to problems using the resources available to me.” 143. Respected – “I am respected and admired by others, earning their trust and admiration through my actions and words.” 144. Responsible – “I am responsible and accountable, taking ownership of my actions and making responsible decisions.” 145. Romantic – “I have a romantic and passionate nature, able to express my feelings and emotions in a heartfelt way.” 146. Self-assured – “I am self-assured and confident, believing in myself and my abilities.” 147. Self-confident – “I am self-confident and assured, able to face challenges and obstacles with a positive attitude and mindset.” 148. Self-disciplined – “I am self-disciplined and focused, able to stay on track and achieve my goals through hard work and dedication.” 149. Sensitive – “I have a sensitive and empathetic nature, able to understand and relate to the feelings and experiences of others.” 150. Serene – “I have a serene and peaceful presence, able to create a calming and harmonious environment.” 151. Sharp – “I have a sharp and quick mind, able to process information quickly and make sound decisions.” 152. Skillful – “I am skilled and talented in a particular area, able to perform tasks and achieve results with ease.” 153. Smart – “I have a high level of intelligence and mental ability, able to learn quickly and excel in various areas.” 154. Sociable – “I have a sociable and outgoing personality, enjoying spending time with others and making new connections.” 155. Sophisticated – “I have a sophisticated and refined taste, able to appreciate and enjoy the finer things in life.” 156. Spiritual – “I have a spiritual and philosophical outlook on life, seeking meaning and purpose beyond the material world.” 157. Spontaneous – “I have a spontaneous and adventurous nature, always ready for new experiences and opportunities.” 158. Stable – “I have a stable and consistent personality, able to maintain a sense of balance and calm in all situations.” 159. Strong – “I have a strong and resilient nature, able to overcome challenges and obstacles with determination and strength.” 160. Studious – “I am studious and dedicated to my education, always striving to learn and grow in my knowledge and understanding.” 161. Stylish – “I have a stylish and fashionable sense of dress and appearance, always looking my best.” 162. Successful – “I am successful and accomplished in my personal and professional life, achieving my goals and reaching my potential.” 163. Supportive – “I am supportive and encouraging to those around me, always willing to lend a helping hand and offer words of support.” 164. Sweet – “I have a sweet and kind nature, always treating others with kindness and compassion.” 165. Sympathetic – “I am sympathetic and understanding, able to empathize with the feelings and experiences of others.” 166. Systematic – “I have a systematic and organized approach to tasks and responsibilities, able to achieve results through careful planning and execution.” 167. Talented – “I am talented and skilled in a particular area, able to perform tasks and achieve results with ease and excellence.” 168. Tenacious – “I am tenacious and persistent, never giving up on my goals and dreams despite obstacles and challenges.” 169. Thoughtful – “I am thoughtful and considerate, always taking the time to think about others and their needs.” 170. Thrifty – “I am thrifty and resourceful, able to manage my finances and resources effectively.” 171. Tidy – “I am tidy and organized, keeping my surroundings clean and clutter-free.” 172. Tough – “I am tough and resilient, able to handle difficult situations and overcome challenges with strength and determination.” 173. Trusting – “I am trusting and open-minded, willing to give others the benefit of the doubt and trust in their intentions.” 174. Trustworthy – “I am trustworthy and reliable, always keeping my word and following through on my commitments.” 175. Understanding – “I am understanding and empathetic, able to see things from multiple perspectives and understand the feelings and experiences of others.” 176. Unique – “I am unique and original, possessing qualities and characteristics that set me apart from others.” 177. Upbeat – “I have an upbeat and positive attitude, able to lift the spirits of those around me and spread joy and happiness.” 178. Versatile – “I am versatile and adaptable, able to handle a variety of tasks and situations with ease and flexibility.” 179. Vibrant – “I have a vibrant and lively personality, able to bring energy and excitement to any situation.” 180. Visionary – “I have a visionary and forward-thinking mindset, able to see the big picture and think creatively about the future.” 181. Vital – “I am vital and full of life, possessing a strong and vibrant energy that inspires and motivates those around me.” 182. Warm – “I have a warm and welcoming personality, able to make others feel comfortable and at ease in my presence.” 183. Well-balanced – “I have a well-balanced and harmonious approach to life, able to find a sense of balance between work and play, and other aspects of my life.” 184. Well-behaved – “I am well-behaved and courteous, always conducting myself in a respectful and appropriate manner.” 185. Well-educated – “I am well-educated and knowledgeable, possessing a strong foundation of academic and intellectual understanding.” 186. Well-informed – “I am well-informed and up-to-date on current events and trends, able to stay informed and engaged with the world around me.” 187. Well-mannered – “I am well-mannered and polite, showing respect and consideration to others in all situations.” 188. Well-rounded – “I am well-rounded and versatile, possessing a range of skills and abilities in various areas.” 189. Wholesome – “I have a wholesome and pure nature, possessing a strong sense of morality and ethics.” 190. Wise – “I am wise and insightful, possessing a deep understanding of life and its complexities.” 191. Witty – “I have a quick and clever wit, able to make others laugh and enjoy themselves with my humorous remarks and observations.” 192. Wonderful – “I have a wonderful and delightful personality, able to bring joy and happiness to those around me.” 193. Worldly – “I am worldly and experienced, possessing a broad understanding of different cultures and ways of life.” 194. Youthful – “I have a youthful and energetic personality, possessing a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world.” 195. Zealous – “I am zealous and passionate about the things I care about, putting my heart and soul into everything I do.”

Enthusiastic Words

One way to describe yourself is as a passionate person. Passionate people have a strong love or dedication towards something. For example, you can say, “I am passionate about helping others and volunteering in my community.” This shows that you care deeply about a cause and put in the necessary effort to make a difference.

If you’re someone who always has a high level of energy and can keep going throughout the day, energetic is a fitting description for you. By saying, “I bring an energetic spirit to everything I do,” you demonstrate that you’re not only enthusiastic about life but have the stamina to keep up with challenges and take on new tasks. This trait can be highly beneficial in both personal and professional situations.

When you’re full of energy and enthusiasm, you can also describe yourself as vibrant. A person with a vibrant personality has a zest for life that’s contagious to those around them. By saying, “My vibrant personality helps me connect with others and create enjoyable experiences,” you show that you’re not only present in the moment but can create a positive atmosphere.

Words Expressing Confidence

Being confident means you believe in your abilities and approach situations with self-assurance. Describe yourself as confident when you want to convey that you are secure in yourself, your skills, and your decisions. For instance, you can say, “I confidently led a team of ten members to complete an important project within its deadline.”

Self-Assured

Self-assured is another adjective that expresses confidence but also conveys a sense of inner calmness. When you describe yourself as self-assured, you tell others that you trust in your abilities, and you can remain composed even in challenging situations. An example of using self-assured could be, “I felt self-assured during the presentation, which helped me to clearly explain my ideas to the audience.”

Being assertive means you can stand up for your own rights and express your thoughts and feelings directly and respectfully. When you describe yourself as assertive, you express that you are well-equipped to handle different opinions and conflicts in various situations. For instance, let others know how assertive you are by saying, “I assertively negotiated with vendors to secure the best prices for our products, leading to higher profit margins.”

Describing Creativity

When you want to highlight your ability to come up with new ideas, you can use the word “innovative.” It shows that you can think outside the box and generate groundbreaking solutions. For example, you might say, “I am an innovative problem-solver who gets excited about tackling unique challenges.”

If you possess an artistic flair or the ability to create something from the ground up, you can describe yourself as “creative.” It emphasizes that you can bring a fresh perspective to your work. You might say, “I am a creative designer who loves crafting visually appealing graphics to engage audiences.”

Imaginative

Another way to describe your creative side is to use the word “imaginative.” It highlights your ability to envision new and interesting possibilities. For instance, you might say, “I am an imaginative writer who weaves captivating stories that transport readers to other worlds.”

Words For Leadership Qualities

You can use the word “Leader” to emphasize your ability to guide and direct others. For example, “I am a leader who always takes initiative and prioritizes the team’s success.”

Influential

Showcase your ability to have a significant impact on others by using the word “Influential.” An example phrase would be, “I am an influential individual who can persuade others to adopt new ideas and work toward common goals.”

The word “Inspiring” can illustrate your ability to motivate and uplift others. You might say, “I have an inspiring presence that encourages my team to reach their full potential and achieve great results.”

Words That Convey Honesty

Being honest means you tell the truth and are sincere in your actions and words. It’s essential to describe yourself as honest if you believe in transparency and straightforwardness. For example, you can say, “I am honest in my communication, even when the truth is challenging.”

Trustworthy

Trustworthiness is an essential part of being honest. It means others can rely on you and have confidence in your actions and words. A phrase to describe yourself as trustworthy might be, “You can rely on me because I am trustworthy, and I always keep my promises.”

Reliability goes hand-in-hand with trustworthiness and honesty. It emphasizes your ability to follow through on your commitments and be dependable. To show that you are reliable, you can say, “I take deadlines seriously and always complete my tasks on time, making me a reliable team member.”

Words For Strong Work Ethic

In this section, you’ll find positive words and adjectives to describe a strong work ethic. Use these terms to showcase your dedication, drive, and determination in your professional life.

You are diligent when you take the time and effort to perform tasks thoroughly and with accuracy. This level of commitment is critical for achieving success in any work environment. For example:

“I am diligent when it comes to meeting deadlines and double-checking my work before submitting it.”

Hardworking

The term hardworking is often used to describe a person who is willing to put in the necessary work to complete a task or project. By showing that you are hardworking, you demonstrate your determination to finish a task despite any obstacles. For example:

“I am hardworking and always go the extra mile to ensure our team’s success.”

Being dedicated means you are committed to a cause or responsibility. In the workplace, dedication implies that you are loyal and devoted to your job, coworkers, and company. For example:

“I am dedicated to my role and consistently strive for excellence in every project I take on.”

Words For Teamwork Abilities

Collaborative.

Being collaborative is about working together with others to achieve a common goal. You can demonstrate your collaborative skills by emphasizing how well you communicate with your teammates and contribute to shared projects. For example, you might say, “I am skilled at brainstorming ideas with my team and ensuring that everyone’s input is considered.”

Team-Player

A team-player is someone who puts the needs of the group before their own individual goals. They prioritize the success of the team and are willing to support their peers in achieving shared objectives. To showcase your ability as a team-player, you might mention, “I actively listen to my teammates’ opinions and help them whenever possible to ensure our team’s success.”

Cooperative

Being cooperative refers to your ability to adapt to different personalities and preferences within a group setting. You maintain a positive attitude and work well with others, even when faced with challenges or conflicts. To highlight your cooperative nature, try saying, “I am always happy to adjust my approach to accommodate my teammates’ needs and strive to create a harmonious work environment.” By focusing on these qualities, you will demonstrate your strong teamwork abilities and make a great impression.

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 250+ words to describe yourself in any situation.

General Education

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!

List of 250+ Words to Describe Yourself

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
• Adept [at something]
• Collaborative
• Communicative
• Community-minded
• Compassionate
• Conscientious
• Constructive
• Cooperative
• Customer-focused
• Detail-oriented
• Encouraging
• Enterprising
• Entrepreneurial
• Experienced
• Extroverted
• Goal-oriented
• Hardworking
• High-achieving
• Imaginative
• Independent
• International
• Introverted
• Knowledgeable
• Level-headed
• Multilingual
• Open-minded
• Perfectionist
• Perseverant
• Problem solver
• Professional
• Receptive [to criticism]
• Resourceful
• Responsible
• Results-driven
• Revenue-focused
• Self-disciplined
• Self-reliant
• Self-starter
• Team player
• Trustworthy
• Understanding

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:

• Intelligent

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.

• Down-to-earth
• Enthusiastic
• Social butterfly
• Strong-willed

Words to NOT Use to Describe Yourself on a College Application

• Deserving [of something]
• Noncommittal
• Unmotivated

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.

• Adventurous
• Affectionate
• Alternative
• Approachable
• Competitive
• Conservative
• Considerate
• Controversial
• Family-oriented
• Good listener
• Instinctive
• Interesting
• Kindhearted
• [Noun] lover
• Philosophical
• Progressive
• Self-assured
• Soft-spoken
• Sophisticated
• Spontaneous
• Traditional
• Unconventional
• Warmhearted

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 !

• Inconsiderate
• Thoughtless

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

It’s not easy choosing the right words to describe yourself —b ut 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 .

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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120+ Words to Describe Yourself in 2024 [Adjectives For Any Situation]

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.

95+ Best Words to Describe Yourself 

45 words to describe yourself in a job interview, 40 words to describe yourself in a resume, 40 words to describe yourself on a college application.

• Words NOT to Describe Yourself

They say actions speak louder than words, but sometimes you can only rely on words to describe yourself.  

For example, before you can prove your professional or academic capabilities, you first have to express yourself through your college application, your interview with recruiters, or your resume. 

Your online personae - from your social media usernames to the adjectives you use to describe yourself on various platforms (e.g. a dating app) - is also defined by your choice of words. 

Considering how important all of the above is, there’s no doubt you’d want to nail the words to describe yourself. 

To help you pick the right words, we’ve compiled a list of the best 100 words to describe yourself in any situation: 

Best Words to Describe Yourself: 

• Adventurous
• Affectionate
• Approachable
• Broad-minded
• Communicative
• Compassionate
• Competitive
• Charismatic
• Considerate
• Constructive
• Enthusiastic
• Extroverted
• Imaginative
• Independent
• Intelligent
• Knowledgeable
• Open-minded
• Responsible
• Self-reliant
• Socially conscious
• Straightforward
• Sympathetic
• Trustworthy
• Understanding
• Warmhearted

A common job interview question is “what are 3 words to describe yourself?” 

When recruiters ask you to describe yourself, they are looking to find out two things: 

• Do your personality and skills match the job requirements?
• Are you honest in your answers?

Keep this in mind and it will be much easier to answer this typical interview question successfully. 

Now, if you’re wondering how, exactly, you should answer this question, here’s what we recommend:

• Choose adjectives that are relevant to the position you’re applying for (as long as they fit you, of course). 
• Back up your answer with examples of how you embody the quality or skill. This will prove that you are answering honestly.

Let’s see how this works through an example. Say you’re applying to be a teacher and you’re asked “what are three words to describe yourself?”    

Here’s how NOT to go about it: 

• I am creative, competitive, and tenacious.

Now, there’s nothing technically wrong with these adjectives; however, the answer isn’t the best possible for two main reasons: 

• Competitiveness and tenacity are not the most sought-after skills for teachers. 
• The claims are not backed up with concrete examples. You could really be creative, or you could be exaggerating. Without backing it up, the recruiter can’t tell which one it is.

Here’s a more interview-friendly way to answer this question: 

• To begin with, I am creative - in my last school, I came up with an SAT exam preparation technique that raised the graduating class’s success rate by more than 30%. I am helpful, both to my students and colleagues - I often stay after class to clarify any questions students may have and I fill in for other teachers whenever I can. Finally, I am very passionate about my work and my students. I’ve been in the field for over 10 years, and I plan on sticking with it for as long as I can.

Here’s a list of words you can use to describe yourself in a job interview: 

Words to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview 

• Cooperative
• Experienced
• Good listener
• Hardworking
• Persevering 
• Problem solver
• Professional
• Resourceful
• Results-oriented
• Disciplined
• Team player

Wondering what other questions might come up in a job interview? Check our list of 35+ interview questions and answers . 

When it comes to your resume, you won’t be directly asked to find three words to describe yourself. That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t care about the adjectives you choose to describe yourself on your resume. 

On the contrary - before even inviting you at the job interview, it’s your resume that speaks for you. So, your choice of words to describe yourself there is arguably even more important.

Of course, it’s not enough to just insert some adjectives here and there and call it a day. Instead, you need to find the right way to “sell yourself.” In this section, we’ll teach you just how you can do that.

Your resume profile is the first place to add the right words to describe yourself. Be it through a resume summary , or a resume objective , you’ll need to find at least one strong adjective to describe yourself and make a good - and lasting - impression. 

If you ask us, that’s pretty essential, considering that most recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds skimming through a resume. Talk about first impressions mattering, right?

Keep in mind, though - 

Just like with the interview, plugging in some adjectives to describe yourself won’t cut it. 

• First, you should make sure to choose adjectives relevant to the job. 
• Second, remember to always back up your claims with examples - or, in this case, achievements . 

Let’s assume that you’re a recent college graduate applying as a Communications Assistant. Your resume objective would look something like this:

Hard-working and passionate college graduate looking to apply up-to-date skills and strategies as a Communications Assistant at the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. 1+ years of practical experience as an intern at the Mayor’s Communications Office.  

Even if you’re a seasoned professional with many achievements to show, you’ll need an adjective to describe yourself. In such a case, your resume summary would look something like this: 

Task-driven professional experienced in data entry, customer service, and reception duties. Able to perform accurate and efficient entry of data into administrative software. 

Get the idea? Here are some more adjectives to choose from: 

Words to Describe Yourself in a Resume

• Accomplished
• Accountable
• Collaborative
• Conscientious
• Data-driven
• Detail-oriented
• Emotionally intelligent
• Entrepreneurial
• People person
• Self-assured
• Self-starter
• Thoughtful 
• Unconventional

The majority of college applications require that you submit a personal statement. 

Personal statements are a way to promote yourself and show why you are the right candidate for a certain program. Unlike motivation letters , where you’re supposed to explain your academic objectives, personal statements allow space for creativity. 

Thus, you can get more expressive and personal with the words to describe yourself in a college application, as opposed to your resume or job interview. As an undergrad candidate, you are supposed to highlight your strengths and show what makes you unique. 

Here are some adjectives you can use for inspiration:

Words to Describe Yourself in a College Application 

• Down-to-earth
• Imaginative 
• Social butterfly

10 Words NOT to Describe Yourself (Professionally)

As you can imagine, there are also words you should refrain from using to describe yourself - especially in the professional context. 

Not that these adjectives are bad per se - however, they might not arouse the expected reaction when you use them out of context. What do we mean?

Take the following example. Imagine using these words to describe yourself in a job interview: 

“How would I describe myself? Let’s see, I’m amazing, funny, and unique.” 

Now, it’d be more than OK if a colleague - or anyone, for that matter - described you this way. Calling yourself amazing in front of recruiters, however? Might be a bit too much, without really saying anything at all.

Here’s a list of our top 10 words NOT to describe yourself (outside of your friends’ circle):

• Intelligent 

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! We hope that by now you’re equipped with many more words to describe yourself. 

Let’s go over some of the main points we covered in the article: 

• Many situations will require that you find the right words to describe yourself. A resume, job interview, or college application are among the most common. 
• During a job interview, make sure to use words to describe yourself that are relevant to the job and to back up your claims with examples. 
• Your resume profile is your chance to make a memorable first impression - scan the job ad to choose adjectives that are relevant to the position and back them up with your achievements. 
• There are some words you should not use to describe yourself - if it can’t be backed with concrete examples if it sounds generic, or if it’s an adjective that makes more sense being said for you (and not by you), then stay away.  

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Choosing Words To Describe Yourself In An Interview (50 Words + 8 Example Answers!)

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If you're like most people, you probably find it difficult to describe yourself in just a few words. After all, there are so many qualities that make up a person!

Luckily, there are some tried and true ways to make sure you put your best foot forward when it comes time to describe yourself.

In this blog post, I'll share 50 words to describe yourself in an interview and 8 example answers that you can use as inspiration to help get your message across clearly.

I recommend reading this piece from top to bottom. However, if you're interested in specific topics, just jump to the following sections:

Finding Words To Describe Yourself: Start By Thinking About The Qualities That Make You Unique

• Best Words To Describe Yourself On A Resume

Best Words To Describe Yourself In An Interview (With Examples!)

By following the tips in this post, you'll be able to present yourself in the best possible light and make a great impression on potential employers.

Let's get started!

What makes you unique? Are you creative? Passionate? Driven? These are just a few of the many qualities that make people who they are. When you know what makes you special, you can start to focus on how you can use those qualities to achieve your goals.

Let's say you have an interest in arts, for instance, and have pursued a career in graphic design. You might be described as someone  creative.

Or, maybe, you're the type of person who fights for a cause you think is worth fighting for. One might describe you as passionate.

If you have a background in entrepreneurship, on the other hand, you might be described as  driven.

No matter what qualities make you unique, remember that they can be used to help you achieve success.

How To Describe Yourself In 55 Words Or Less

Describing yourself in less than 55 words can feel like a challenge. The trick here is to grab a unique trait that best describes you and bring in some examples that validate this trait. For instance, let's say you want to describe yourself as productive . Here's what an answer could look like:

My best trait is productivity. For example, in my previous role as a Marketing Manager at BlueCode, our department was often bottlenecked due to new campaign requests coming from Product and Sales. I used a free project management tool to streamline workflows and managed to boost deliverables by 20% in the first quarter of 2023.

See? The 55 words above effectively describe the candidate as productive using a specific example!

Best Words To Describe Yourself on a Resume

Describing yourself in your resume and describing yourself during an interview are two very different things.

During an interview, you will want to focus on more aspects of your personality; however, for your resume, you'll need to use words that are mostly related to your skills, like  proactive, committed,  and  consistent. 

And the best way you can do this is by scanning your resume and matching it with the job description you are applying for. This way, you can fill in the gaps with words that describe yourself and have a good fit with the job!

To do this, run over to ResyMatch.io or simply upload your resume and copy and paste the job description below to match the results:

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During an interview, it's also important to think about what in-demand soft skills you have, and how you will convey those traits to a recruiter or hiring manager.

For instance:

Example #1: Describing yourself as Creative : I am creative and passionate about my work. I am always looking for new ways to express myself and I strive to create the best work possible through graphic design. I believe that art should be accessible to everyone, and I strive to make my work available online to as many people as possible on platforms like Behance and Dribbble, as well as open-source communities. I am always learning and growing as an artist – I’ve recently completed my Graphic Design Certification with Adobe, and I hope to continue to develop my skills for years to come.

Notice how, in the example above, this candidate didn’t limit their answer to: “I am creative”, period. Instead, they used this opportunity to also share what drives them and what skills they use to exercise their creativity. Then, they wrap up by stating their desire to continuously improve!

If you’re still struggling to find the best words to describe you, don’t worry. We’ve crafted a few tips to help inspire you.

And our first tip is…

#1 Use Adjective Words To Describe Yourself

When you're describing yourself, it's important to use positive words such as “hard-working,” “driven,” and “creative”. After all, you want to make a good impression.

These words will show potential employers that you are a go-getter who is willing to put in the work to achieve success. Associating yourself with positive words is a powerful way to communicate your soft skills to a potential employer.

Here's a list of 30+ words to describe yourself through adjectives:

• Self-Starter
• Hard-working
• Collaborative
• Team-Player
• Considerate
• Resourceful
• Disciplined
• Trustworthy

When you start to use these words to describe yourself, be sure to use your experiences to back up your adjectives. Words alone will not be enough to convey your value and experience to a hiring manager.

Example #2: Describing yourself as Trustworthy :

My team could always count on me to get the job done. I try my best to never miss a deadline and always stay on time by communicating honestly and transparently with both my teammates and the department manager. I remember there was this one time in my previous role when we were working on a report to present to our CEOs and I collected the data from a different period, which not only led to misleading results but also delayed the workflow and conclusion of the report. Once I realized this, I immediately spoke to my colleagues and owned up to my mistakes, then negotiated with my manager a deadline extension so I could re-run the data. Since then, I’ve added a revision step in my work process so I can flag any issues before moving forward, and I’m now the go-to person on my team for quality control.

Notice how this candidate uses past experiences to best illustrate their personality trait. They also let the hiring manager know what they've learned from this experience. That's way better than simply answering “I am a trustworthy person”! 

To craft answers like the one above, you can brush up on your Star Interview Method skills to better incorporate these describing words into your career stories. Be as clear as possible with your language, and make sure your stories illustrate the qualities you want to highlight.

#2 Share A Personal Story To Illustrate One Of Your Qualities

Be specific when you're describing your accomplishments and qualities. For example, if you say that you are “hard-working,” share a story about a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty to get a project done.

This will help potential employers see that you are not just saying that you are hard-working, but that you have actual proof to back up your claim.

Example #3: Sharing a personal story, describing yourself as Resourceful : As a Customer Success Manager at TechVista, I was tasked with creating a presentation to show the board of directors how we might improve client education during onboarding to help improve downstream feature adoption. At the time, I didn't have much experience in onboarding, so I was a bit overwhelmed with where to start. But I wasn't going to give up. First, I set up meetings with everyone in our Implementation team to understand how we are currently educating customers, as well as the tools and resources available to us. Next, I performed competitive analyses on the onboarding process for three of our competitors. I combed through YouTube tutorials, customer reviews, and even booked demos with the competitor's sales teams to ask more about what onboarding would look like. In the end, the board actually recommended adopting my strategies. We rolled it out across our Implementation and CS teams and saw an 17% increase in client retention over the next 12 months. My manager promoted me to Senior Customer Success Manager that year as a result!

Example #4: Describing your work experience using the word Innovative : At my previous job, I was tasked with coming up with a new marketing campaign that would help increase sales. I brainstormed for days, but I just couldn't come up with anything that felt fresh and new. I decided to partner with a stop-motion video maker who was able to showcase our products innovatively. I crafted the script for the video and sat side-by-side with them for a week so we could design the storyboard. Then, I set up a meeting with the Marketing team to set up a distribution strategy centered around digital channels like social media, online communities, and paid media. I presented the strategy to our Marketing Manager and it was approved with minor changes. The campaign was launched in the following quarter and lasted eight weeks. By the end of that period, we increased Sales-Qualified Leads by 38%, which helped generate six-figure revenue!

Both of these examples show how you can describe specific experiences in your career. Whether you came up with a new marketing campaign or found a new way to do something, sharing your success stories in an interview will help a recruiter or hiring manager see your value and what you could bring to their company.

No matter what your unique qualities are, remember that you can use them to your advantage. Be specific when you're describing your accomplishments and qualities, and use your experiences to back up your claims. With a little effort, you can use your unique qualities to stand out from the crowd and land the job you've always wanted.

#4 Talk About Your Professional Experience And Accomplishments

When you're asked to describe yourself, it's important to include both your professional and personal experiences. After all, your potential employer will want to know not only what qualities you have, but also how you've used those qualities to achieve success in your career. It's likely that you will be asked, What is your greatest accomplishment ?” in an interview, so you'll want to be prepared ahead of time!

Four things you might want to include are:

• Your professional experience – What results did you drive in your previous role?
• Your accomplishments – How did you help your team/customers/company succeed?
• Any awards or recognition you've received – Were you recognized for anything specific?
• What you've learned in your career so far – How did you grow professionally in your career?

Here's 10+ action words to describe your accomplishments and experience:

Example #5: Using the action word Developed to describe an accomplishment: As a Sales Manager at my previous job, I was always challenged to find new ways to increase sales. One of our sales pitches at my previous company focused on how our solution could help businesses reduce marketing costs by 20% in the first month, but it was difficult for leads to visualize this in a single meeting. I collaborated cross-functionally with the Software Engineering and Marketing teams to develop and market a free online calculator that showed how our tools helped companies leverage more cost-efficient paid media campaigns, dropping their CPC while simultaneously increasing impressions. The feature was launched ten weeks later and, by the end of that quarter, the company was able to increase sales by 32% using this resource.

Example #6: Describing your professional experience using the word Organized : I am an organized and detail-oriented person, which has helped me excel in my career as an events planner. No matter how big or small the event is, I always use the same system to keep track of all the details. Last year, for instance, I was responsible for planning a corporate event with 500+ attendees. The client was holding a cocktail party and hosting ten different panel discussions. So, along with setting the decorations, catering, audio-visual, and managing the staff at the event, I also had to organize the speakers’ agendas so everything would run smoothly. I started planning months ahead of the event and set up a collaborative board in Trello, a project management tool, where I could set up deadlines and keep track of the status of each task. By adopting this system, I was able to have everything set two weeks prior to the event!

Both of these examples show how you can use your professional experiences to demonstrate your qualities. When describing your accomplishments, be sure to include specific details and use action words.

If you're struggling to think of specific examples, take a look at your resume. Chances are, you've already listed some of your professional accomplishments there. You can also think about a time when you went above and beyond at work or helped solve a problem.

Once you have a few examples in mind, take some time to brainstorm how you would describe each experience. Remember to use action words and be as specific as possible. By doing this, you'll be able to paint a picture of yourself as a competent and successful professional.

#4 Words To Describe Yourself That Focus On The Future

It's important to focus on the future as this shows potential employers that you are always looking for ways to improve and grow.

When you're interviewing for a job, let the hiring manager know what your career goals are and where you see yourself in the future. It shows them that you care about your career and are looking for a long-term opportunity. It also gives them a better idea of where you see yourself fitting in at their company.

• Your short- or long-term goals – What career goals do you have now and in the future?
• What you are hoping to achieve in your career – What is your career path ?
• What skills you want to learn – Be specific!
• How you plan on developing your abilities – Courses, side projects, on the job training, etc.

Here are a few words to describe your future plans:

Example #7: Your plans to Advance in your career path: I am always looking for ways to advance in my career. In the next three years, I see myself as a Director of Sales, and, to achieve this goal, I am currently working towards getting my MBA. I’m also taking courses on leadership and management to expand my skill set. However, I understand that this role also requires experience, so I’ve been spearheading new projects in my current position at ByteBurst to gain more experience in leading and motivating a Sales team. For instance, I recently built a squad within the Sales team dedicated to an upselling strategy that aims to upgrade our SaaS customers from the Basic plan to the Premium plan. To exercise my leadership skills, I’ve set up bi-weekly meetings so the squad can share their insights with the ongoing strategy and so I can support them in any way I can to achieve our goals as a team.

Example #8: Your plans to Develop your abilities: I am always looking for ways to improve my skills. In my previous job, the company was migrating its servers to AWS, and I began to develop an interest in cloud computing. After several courses, I was able to take an AWS Certification, and I am now preparing to take my certification as a Professional Cloud Architect with Google Cloud.

In conclusion, when you are asked to describe yourself, it's important to use positive words, share a personal story, focus on your professional experience and accomplishments, and focus on the future. Doing so will give potential employers a well-rounded picture of who you are and what you can bring to the table.

Looking for more interview tips? These posts will help you prepare for your next interview:

• Interview Preparation: The Key To A Successful Job Interview
• “Tell Me About Yourself!” How To Impress Your Interviewer
• How To Ace Your Answer To “What Is Your Greatest Weakness?”

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How to Write a Personal Statement (with Tips and Examples)

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

What is a personal statement, 6 tips on how to write a personal statement, personal statement examples (for college and university), faqs about writing personal statements, conclusion on how to write a personal statement.

How do you tell someone who you are in just a few hundred words?

It’s certainly no easy task, but it’s one almost every college applicant must do. The personal statement is a crucial part of any college or university application.

So, how do you write a compelling personal statement?

In this article, we’ll give you all the tools, tips, and examples you need to write an effective personal statement.

A personal statement is a short essay that reveals something important about who you are. It can talk about your background, your interests, your values, your goals in life, or all of the above.

Personal statements are required by many college admission offices and scholarship selection committees. They’re a key part of your application, alongside your academic transcript, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities.

The reason application committees ask you to write a personal statement is so they can get to know who you are. 

Some personal statements have specific prompts, such as “Discuss a period of personal growth in your life” or “Tell us about a challenge or failure you’ve faced.” Others are more open-ended with prompts that essentially boil down to “Tell us about yourself.”

No matter what the prompt is, your goal is the same: to make yourself stand out to the selection committee as a strong candidate for their program.

Here are some things a personal statement can be:

It can be funny. If you have a great sense of humor, your personal statement is a great place to let that shine.  

It can be vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to open up about hardships in your life or failures you’ve experienced. Showing vulnerability can make you sound more like a real person rather than just a collection of application materials.  

It can be creative. Candidates have got into top schools with personal statements that take the form of “a day in the life” descriptions, third-person short stories, and even cooking recipes.

Now we’ve talked about what a personal statement is, let’s quickly look at what a personal statement isn’t:

It isn’t a formal academic paper. You should write the personal statement in your natural voice, using first-person pronouns like “I” and “me,” not in the formal, objective language you would use to write an academic paper.

It isn’t a five-paragraph essay. You should use as many paragraphs as you need to tell your story instead of sticking to the essay structure you learned in school.

It isn’t a resumé. You should try to describe yourself by telling a clear and cohesive story rather than providing a jumbled list of all of your accomplishments and ambitions.

Here are our top six tips for writing a strong personal statement.

Tip 1: Do Some Serious Self-Reflection

The hardest part of writing a personal statement isn’t the actual process of writing it.

Before you start typing, you have to figure out what to write about. And that means taking some time to reflect on who you are and what’s important in your life.

Here are some useful questions you can use to start your self-reflection. You can either answer these on your own by writing down your answers, or you can ask a trusted friend to listen as you talk about them together.

What were the key moments that shaped your life? (e.g. an important friendship, a travel experience, an illness or injury)

What are you proud of? (e.g. you’re a good listener, you always keep your promises, you’re a talented musician)

How do you choose to spend your time? (e.g. reading, practicing soccer, spending time with your friends)

What inspires you? (e.g. your grandmother, a celebrity, your favorite song)

Doing this self-reflection is crucial for figuring out the perfect topics and anecdotes you can use to describe who you are.

Tip 2: Try to Avoid Cliché Topics

College application committees read thousands of personal statements a year. That means there are some personal statement topics they see over and over again.

Here are a few examples of common personal statement topics that have become cliché:

Winning a tournament or sports game

Volunteering in a foreign country

Moving to a new home

Becoming an older sibling

Being an immigrant or having immigrant parents

If you want to make a strong impression in the application process, you need to make your personal statement stand out from the crowd.

But if your chosen personal statement topic falls into one of these categories, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use it. Just make sure to put a unique spin on it so it still delivers something the committee hasn’t seen before.

Good writing = better grades

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Tip 3: Show, Don’t Tell

One common mistake you might make in your personal statement is to simply tell the reader what you want them to know about you, such as by stating “I have a fear of public speaking” or “I love to cook.”

Instead of simply stating these facts, you should show the committee what you’re talking about through a story or scene, which will make your essay much more immersive and memorable.

For example, let’s say you want the committee to know you overcame your fear of public speaking. Instead of writing “I overcame my fear of public speaking,” show them what it was like to be onstage in front of a microphone. Did your palms get clammy? Did you feel light-headed? Did you forget your words?

Or let’s say you want the committee to know you love to cook. Instead of writing “I love to cook,” show them why you love to cook. What’s your favorite dish to cook? What does the air smell like when you’re cooking it? What kitchen appliances do you use to make it?

Tip 4: Connect the Story to Why You’re Applying

Don’t forget that the purpose of your personal statement isn’t simply to tell the admissions committee who you are. That’s an important part of it, of course, but your ultimate goal is to convince them to choose you as a candidate.

That means it’s important to tie your personal story to your reasons for applying to this specific school or scholarship. Finish your essay with a strong thesis.

For example, if your story is about overcoming your fear of public speaking, you might connect that story to your ambition of becoming a politician. You can then tie that to your application by saying, “I want to apply to this school because of its fantastic politics program, which will give me a perfect opportunity to use my voice.”

Tip 5: Write in Your Own Voice

The personal statement isn’t supposed to be written in a formal tone. That’s why they’re called “personal” statements because you have to shape it to fit your own voice and style.

Don’t use complicated or overwrought language. You don’t need to fill your essay with semicolons and big words, unless that’s how you sound in real life.

One way to write in your own voice is by speaking your personal statement out loud. If it doesn’t feel natural, it may need changing. 

Tip 6: Edit, Edit, Edit!

It’s important to revise your personal statement multiple times in order to make sure it’s as close to perfect as possible.

A single typo won’t kill your application, but if your personal statement contains multiple spelling errors or egregious grammar mistakes, you won’t be putting your best foot forward.

ProWritingAid can help you make sure your personal statement is as clean as possible. In addition to catching your grammar errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes, it will also help you improve weaknesses in your writing, such as passive voice, unnecessary repetition, and more.

Let’s look at some of the best personal statements that have worked for successful candidates in the real world. 

Harvard Personal Statement Example

Love. For a word describing such a powerful emotion, it is always in the air. The word “love” has become so pervasive in everyday conversation that it hardly retains its roots in blazing passion and deep adoration. In fact, the word is thrown about so much that it becomes difficult to believe society isn’t just one huge, smitten party, with everyone holding hands and singing “Kumbaya.” In films, it’s the teenage boy’s grudging response to a doting mother. At school, it’s a habitual farewell between friends. But in my Chinese home, it’s never uttered. Watching my grandmother lie unconscious on the hospital bed, waiting for her body to shut down, was excruciatingly painful. Her final quavering breaths formed a discordant rhythm with the steady beep of hospital equipment and the unsympathetic tapping hands of the clock. That evening, I whispered—into unhearing ears—the first, and only, “I love you” I ever said to her, my rankling guilt haunting me relentlessly for weeks after her passing. My warm confession seemed anticlimactic, met with only the coldness of my surroundings—the blank room, impassive doctors, and empty silence. I struggled to understand why the “love” that so easily rolled off my tongue when bantering with friends dissipated from my vocabulary when I spoke to my family. Do Chinese people simply love less than Americans do?

This is an excerpt from a personal statement that got the applicant admitted to Harvard University. The applicant discusses her background as a Chinese-American by musing on the word “love” and what that means within her family.

The writer uses vulnerable details about her relationship with her grandmother to give the reader an understanding of where she comes from and how her family has shaped her.  

You can read the full personal statement on the Harvard Crimson website.

Tufts Personal Statement Example

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry’s “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go,” and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon. Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration. Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear. I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

This is the beginning of a personal statement by Renner Kwittken, who was admitted into Tufts University as a pre-medical student.

Renner uses a humorous anecdote about being a pickle truck driver to describe his love for nanomedicine and how he got involved in his field. You can feel his passion for medicine throughout his personal statement.

You can find Renner’s full essay on the Tufts Admissions page.

Law School Personal Statement Essay Example

For most people, the slap on the face that turns their life around is figurative. Mine was literal. Actually, it was a punch delivered by a drill sergeant at Fort Dix, New Jersey, while I was in basic training. That day’s activity, just a few weeks into the program, included instruction in “low-crawling,” a sensible method of moving from one place to another on a battlefield. I felt rather clever for having discovered that, by looking right rather than down, I eliminated my helmet’s unfortunate tendency to dig into the ground and slow my progress. I could thus advance more easily, but I also exposed my unprotected face to hostile fire. Drill sergeants are typically very good at detecting this type of laziness, and mine was an excellent drill sergeant. So, after his repeated suggestions that I correct my performance went unheeded, he drove home his point with a fist to my face. We were both stunned. This was, after all, the New Army, and striking a trainee was a career-ending move for a drill sergeant, as we were both aware. I could have reported him; arguably, I should have. I didn’t. It didn’t seem right for this good sergeant, who had not slept for almost four days, to lose his career for losing his temper with my laziness. Choosing not to report him was the first decision I remember making that made me proud.

These are the first three paragraphs of an anonymous personal statement by a Wheaton College graduate, who used this personal statement to get into a top-25 law school.

This statement describes a time the applicant faced a challenging decision while in the army. He ended up making a decision he was proud of, and as a result, the personal statement gives us a sense of his character.

You can find the full essay on the Wheaton Academics website.

Here are some common questions about how to write a personal statement.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?

The length of your personal statement depends on the specific program you’re applying to. The application guidelines usually specify a maximum word count or an ideal word count.  

Most personal statements are between 500–800 words. That’s a good general range to aim for if you don’t have more specific guidelines.  

Should Personal Statements Be Different for Scholarships?

Many scholarship applications will ask for personal statements with similar prompts to those of college applications.

However, the purpose of a personal statement you’d write for a scholarship application is different from the purpose of one you’d write for a college application.

For a scholarship application, your goal is to showcase why you deserve the scholarship. To do that, you need to understand the mission of the organization offering that scholarship.

For example, some scholarships are meant to help first-generation college students get their degree, while others are meant to help women break into STEM.

Consider the following questions:

Why is this organization offering scholarships?

What would their ideal scholarship candidate look like?

How do your experiences and goals overlap with those of their ideal scholarship candidate?

You can use the same personal anecdotes you’d use for any other personal statement, but you’ll have a better chance of winning the scholarship if you tailor your essay to match their specific mission.

How to Start a Personal Statement

You should start your personal statement with a “hook” that pulls the reader in. The sooner you catch the reader’s attention, the more likely they’ll want to read the entire essay.

Here are some examples of hooks you can use:

A story (e.g. When the spotlight hit my face, I tried to remind myself to breathe. )

A setting description (e.g. My bedroom floor is covered with dirty laundry, candy wrappers, and crumpled sheet music. )

A funny anecdote (e.g. When I was a little kid, my friends nicknamed me Mowgli because of my haircut. )

A surprising fact (e.g. I've lived in 37 countries .)

There you have it—our complete guide to writing a personal statement that will make you stand out to the application committee.

Here’s a quick recap: 

A personal statement is a short essay that shows an application committee who you are

Start with a strong hook that pulls the reader in

Tell a story to engage the reader 

Write in your own voice, not in a formal tone

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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Interview Questions

Comprehensive Interview Guide: 60+ Professions Explored in Detail

How to Describe Yourself: 40+ Examples for Interviews

By Biron Clark

Published: December 15, 2023

A lot of employers will ask you to describe yourself as one of the first questions in the job interview. As a former recruiter , I’m going to walk you through the best ways to answer, examples of how to describe yourself, and the common mistakes to avoid. Then we’ll also look at how to describe yourself in a more casual setting like a networking event or meetup.

Let’s get started…

How to Answer the Interview Question: “Describe Yourself”

1. know & research your audience.

The first step in how to describe yourself is to know your audience! You don’t want to describe yourself as a quiet person who prefers working alone if you’re interviewing at a highly-social company that emphasizes teamwork . At least not if you want to get hired!

Now, you don’t need to lie and say you’re the most outgoing, energetic person in the world, but you’d want to show a bit of both sides, so they at least know you can handle some basic teamwork. So prepare for your job interview by researching the company and figuring out what type of work environment they seem to have.  If you don’t know how to research a company, this article will help you. I’d recommend checking out their website, Facebook page, YouTube, and maybe other social media such as LinkedIn. This will give you a sense of their overall company culture , which will help you do a better job of describing yourself in a way that’ll be attractive to THEM.

2. Describe traits that fit their job and team

When you describe yourself in the interview, you want to be honest and true to yourself. There’s no need to lie. However, you do want to think about which traits they’ll find most exciting or impressive. The key is to think about what they’ll view as most relevant. If the job requires a lot of multi-tasking (you’ll know from the job description most likely), you’ll want to describe yourself as someone who works well with a high number of tasks going on. If the job seems to be very fast-paced, you could talk about someone who is highly organized, works well under pressure, and has succeeded in fast-paced environments in the past. (FYI, here’s an entire article on answering, “ what type of work environment do you prefer” ). This is how to describe yourself while being honest but also making sure your interview answer will get them excited to hire you. I personally do NOT work well under pressure. But I’ve still said it in interviews because I knew they wanted to hear it. And the job didn’t end up being very high-pressure anyway. If you’re concerned that the job isn’t the right fit, don’t take the job. But your only goal in the interview is to sell yourself and get invited to the next round in the process, and this is how you do that.

3. Always pick positive traits

You never want to describe yourself as shy, unconfident, stressed, anxious, etc. When the interviewer asks you to describe yourself, you should always be naming positive traits and things that make you attractive to the employer.

This should be obvious, but I want to make sure you know to never mention negatives when answering this interview question.

4. Back up your claims with an example

The fourth and final step when answering, “how would you describe yourself?” is to give an example of how that trait has helped you in a real situation. We’ll look at many examples of how to describe yourself in the next section, but here’s the basic idea for now…

Imagine you say that you would describe yourself as someone who solves problems and loves thinking outside the box and taking initiative. You might conclude your answer by saying:

For example, in my last job, there was a software failure and more than 40% of our clients were reporting outages. I took the initiative to look at the software error logs and spotted the issue before my Manager had a chance to look. As soon as my Manager became available, I told him I had already found a solution. This saved our clients money and saved my Manager time.

It’s one thing to say, “I take initiative” or something like that, but it’s MUCH more powerful to give a real example of how you took initiative to help your past employer save money or make money.  Now let’s look at some more sample responses:

Watch: How to Describe Yourself

How to describe yourself: answer examples.

Now that you know the four key steps to use when describing yourself in a job interview, let’s look at some sample short descriptions about yourself . Remember, research is the first step. Here’s why this is so crucial:

Imagine they ask, “How would you describe yourself?”… and because you did your research… you know that this particular job requires a lot of teamwork and collaboration. You know from the job posting that this is not a role  where you sit quietly and work by yourself all day. So in your answer, you’d want to give a short description about yourself that shows you’re collaborative and that you enjoy working as part of a team. Then, you’d give an example of a real-life situation where you demonstrated this.

Hopefully that last piece sounds familiar – it was step #4 above. That’s how you stand out when answering “describe yourself” in your interview.

Here are two examples of how a full answer should sound:

How to Describe Yourself – Example Answer #1:

I would describe myself as someone who is highly motivated, and I particularly enjoy working as a part of a team. In my last job, I was part of a group of 12 people and we communicated multiple times per day to work as a unit, and I also interacted frequently with other groups like Sales , Customer Service, and more. I enjoy a fast-paced, team-oriented environment like this.

How to Describe Yourself – Example Answer #2:

I’d describe myself as being very resourceful and ambitious at the same time. I find solutions, get creative, and solve problems without needing the help of coworkers or managers. I know when to ask for help and I don’t stay quiet if I do need assistance. But when it is possible to handle something without occupying the time of others, I do it and I consider myself very good at it. It’s one of the things my last boss would say they liked most about me if you asked them to describe my style of work.

How to Describe Yourself With One Word

There’s another similar interview question you should be ready for: “If you only had one word to describe yourself, what would it be?”

Here is a list of one-word answers you can use to describe yourself:

• Resourceful
• Cooperative
• Detail-oriented

Choose whichever suits you best (and fits with the role you’re interviewing for), and just remember that you can repeat this same word in every interview. Then, whichever word you pick to describe yourself, prepare an example and a reason for why you chose it. Don’t just say one word and then stop talking. This is a question where they’ll want you to explain your answer.

Here’s a word-for-word example of how to describe yourself if they ask for one specific trait or word:

How to Describe Yourself – Example Answer #3:

The word I’d use to describe myself is ‘ambitious’. One of the reasons I’m looking for tech jobs right now is that I want to work on large, important projects and challenge myself. I like to seek out learning opportunities and I’m not afraid to fail and struggle as a part of learning. I feel the tech industry is the best place to do this right now, and I did some reading on your founder and thought the work culture here sounded like a great fit for my style.

It’s always great if you can end your answer by explaining why you applied for the position and showing them you did your research. Sure, it’s more than they asked, but it’ll impress them.  So keep this in mind in your next interview. The interviewer or hiring manager may also ask, “What are three words you’d use to describe yourself?” So you can adapt the sample answers above but include three positive words to describe yourself, and you’ll have an answer that sounds like this:

How to Describe Yourself in Three Words – Sample Answer

Three words I’d use to describe myself are hard-working, creative, and I’m also a people person. In my previous job, team members often said that my presence boosted team morale, and they also appreciated my ability to come up with new ideas to solve complex problems, so that’s why I chose those three descriptive words above.

Note that you’re technically using more than three words to describe yourself above. That’s fine. You can use short phrases like “people person” as one word. You’ll still give a positive impression. It’s okay to use positive adjectives that are two to three words as long as it’s one trait.

How to Describe Yourself With One Word for Different Industries

Healthcare: 

• Compassionate
• Patient-focused
• Knowledgeable
• Collaborative
• Responsible
• Solution-driven
• Data-oriented
• Trustworthy
• Results-driven
• Fiscally-responsible
• Compliance-focused
• Approachable
• Sales-driven
• Merchandising-savvy
• Customer-focused
• Inventory-aware
• Trend-conscious
• Team-player

Customer Service:

• Solution-oriented
• Clear-communicator
• Conflict-resolver

Mistakes to Avoid When Answering, “How Would You Describe Yourself?”

The first mistake to avoid is: Don’t ramble on or be too long-winded in your answer and don’t share your entire life story. Try to keep your answer to around 60-90 seconds. If they ask for one single word to describe yourself, you may want to keep it even shorter than that. And stay focused on telling a clear, concise story when you describe yourself. Don’t get sidetracked or go off in many different directions with your story.

I’d recommend keeping this simple structure that we talked about above:

• How you’d describe yourself and why
• An example of you using this to help a past employer or succeed in a past project

Otherwise, you might fall into a common trap that exists for this question, and also questions like “ tell me about yourself “. The trap is: They’re trying to see if you can tell a clear story without getting sidetracked and distracted. If you ramble on for too long, they’ll take it as a sign you can’t keep a clear train of thought and are difficult to communicate with. And that can cost you the job even if they like the actual word(s) you chose to describe yourself.

If you’re not sure whether your answer is getting too long, you can stop and ask for feedback! Just give your best shot at an answer, and then say, “does that answer your question, or did you want more info?” That way, you’re not stopping before they’re satisfied, but you’re not talking for an extra two minutes after you’ve answered their question, either. (Talking for too long after each answer will frustrate the interviewer FAST and is a common mistake that can cause people to fail interviews ).

Overall, if you follow the tips above you should pass this question easily and move on to the rest of the interview.

FYI, you should also read this article on how to answer, “tell me about yourself” because it’s another common question that employers ask.

How to Describe Yourself in Networking Opportunities and Events

We’ve covered how to answer “describe yourself” in job interviews, but what about networking events? Describing yourself in a non-interview environment is a bit different. To start, you should read this article on how to develop a great elevator pitch. Part of it is about job interviews, but it also includes scripts for networking and more. When you’re describing yourself in a meetup or networking event, the steps we looked at to begin this article are still good steps to follow. You should try to research the people you’re meeting, or at least think about your audience before answering. (Even if you just met them – think about what type of background they have, what might interest them, etc.) Then when you describe yourself, talk about the pieces of your background that they’ll be able to relate to, or that they’ll find relevant. This is how to capture someone’s attention when first speaking with them. Then you might find some common ground or common interests, and you’ll both enjoy the conversation a lot more.

If you follow the four basic steps at the beginning of this article, you’ll be able to describe yourself confidently to anyone you meet in a professional setting, whether it’s a job interview or not.

Other recommended resources:

• How to write the best elevator pitch for networking and interviews
• How to follow up by email after your interview
• The 16 top reasons you can’t find a job

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How To Write About Yourself: Personal Statement Tips

Knowing how to write about yourself is hard.

It can be difficult to know what the reader is looking for; you don’t want to seem boastful or exaggerate your qualities, but you don’t want to leave out important information or miss an opportunity by being modest.

Getting the tone and content right can take a long time, especially in a formal application or personal statement.

But whether you’re applying for a job, a scholarship or a university or college place, knowing how to write about yourself well is an essential skill that you must master.

So, what do you need to know when it comes to how to write about yourself?

To write about yourself effectively, especially in a personal statement, you need to consider three elements. First, use a range of prompts and questions to unlock your opinions and ambitions. Then, outline your relevant achievements and their value, and turn your weaknesses into strengths.

I’ve written about each of these valuable approaches in more detail below, and at the end of this post, you’ll find a free downloadable resource you can use to start writing about yourself with clarity and purpose.

If you want to find out more about the best way to start a personal statement, you can check out my post here .

1 Use Prompts To Write About Yourself Brilliantly

If someone asked you to write about yourself right now, the chances are that you’d start by thinking about what you do rather than who you are ; where you live, how you pass your time, and the people you share your days with.

However, these are very passive examples of what makes you who you are. Read the passage below – it’s factual but not very engaging…

This kind of information doesn’t tell us very much about the person that wrote it, and most of all isn’t compelling us to care about making them an offer .

A much better place to start is to use prompts to generate content that you might not have immediately thought about but that is engaging, vivid and reflects your personality.

1 Ask Unexpected Questions About Yourself

At the start of the personal statement writing process (or any time you need to write about yourself), begin by asking yourself some questions .

Try to answer them truthfully, fully and without censoring yourself. The answers might surprise you, but they’ll help you to write more formally about yourself later in the process.

Examples might be…

• How happy am I?
• What is most important to me?
• What do I like best in my life?
• What do I want to change in the world?
• How do I learn?
• How do I express myself?
• What am I afraid of?
• What motivates me?
• How do I choose friends?
• When do I make mistakes?
• Why do I feel lonely?

These might not seem relevant to a job application, but writing the answers to these and other questions that you can find in the free worksheet at the end of this post, can help you to put your choices into context.

You can find some specific details about writing for job applications here .

Here’s an example of a good response developed from an answer to the first question above…

2 Use Prompts To Inspire Your Answers

A different way to approach the challenge of writing about yourself is to start by using prompts to generate responses.

This is especially effective as it pushes you to make decisions about predefined topics, helping you to come up with ideas you hadn’t thought of before.

Again, don’t worry about relevancy in the early stages; just try to be as open and honest as you can.

Prompts are very active – they ask you to write about actions.

They also get you writing in the first person, which is exactly what you need to do when you are developing a personal statement, job application or other form of self-reference.

Some useful prompts are things like…

• I believe in…
• I argue against…
• I encourage…
• I dream about…
• I aspire to…
• I am challenged by…
• I hope for…

Once you’ve completed these and the other prompts in the free worksheet below, you can use the responses to inspire or develop the more formal content…

I aspire to make a difference to the ways in which companies integrate and develop green energies in the manufacturing process. Completing this degree will give me the tools I need to forge a meaningful a career as a renewable energy consultant in the automotive sector. Successful Applicant

2 Celebrate Your Achievements And Their Value

Admissions teams and employers actively want to read about your successes and the ways in which you’ve added value to your offer.

If they see that you’ve successfully used strategies to overcome challenges and apply learning, they’ll be confident that you’ll bring these skills to their organisation or community.

1 Illustrate Your Points With Important Achievements

When you’re learning how to write about yourself, a great tip is to reinforce each key point you make with an example of your own achievements.

If you do this instead of just listing those achievements, you give added depth to all of your accomplishments by connecting them with deeper evidence of knowledge.

Here’s an example of what that might look like in practice…

2 Outline the Value of Each Accomplishment

Every time you write about an accomplishment or achievement, identify the value of that experience , both for yourself and for the institution you are applying to.

By doing this, you’ll reveal the worth of that experience and show the reader that you’re a reflective, positive learner with a great deal to offer them.

Perhaps you came first in a test? The value could be that you know how to prepare effectively for challenges and are positive about success.

Maybe you completed a gruelling sponsored event? The value might be that you developed physical and emotional stamina and are confident about taking the lead when approaching a challenge.

Perhaps you led a debating team to victory in a contest? The value might be gaining confidence in public speaking, mediation and the ability to support your peers.

So, when you’re thinking about how to write about yourself, don’t do this…

But try this instead…

3 Transform Your Weaknesses Into Strengths

When it comes to how to write about yourself, you might find that others know you better than you do!

It can be incredibly valuable to ask your friends, peers, family and professional networks for their opinions and use their feedback to generate some original content .

1 Listen To What Others Say About You

You might need to be brave when asking others for their opinion.

Sometimes, fear of what they will say (or anxiety about being criticised) can stop us from seeing the benefit of their views, but it can be an exceptionally valuable process.

The worksheet available in this post goes into this in greater detail, but using a feedback framework is always a wise idea.

Rather than giving people free rein to comment as they like, you might want to ask targeted questions .

• What are my strengths?
• What are my best qualities?
• How ambitious am I?
• What do I prioritise?
• What are my goals?
• Who would play me in a movie of my life?
• How would you describe me?
• What are my weaknesses?
• How would I describe myself?
• Am I a positive or negative person?

You can use their feedback to help steer your writing, focusing on common positive responses.

You might not have thought of yourself as a positive person, for example, but if most people say that you are, then that would be a strong element to bring out in your writing.

Sometimes, their comments might surprise you, and that’s why this process is so useful.

It might make you think differently about your application or push you to make positive changes that will add value to your personal statement.

2 Develop a Growth Mindset

Carol Dweck famously popularised the concept of a growth mindset .

At its heart, this is an approach to challenges that looks for opportunities for growth rather than reasons for failure. In other words, it isn’t the case that you can’t do something; it’s just that you can’t do it yet .

Framing your weaknesses as strengths is a key technique when it comes to how to write about yourself.

There’s no point in including ‘failure’ in your personal statement, as the following example illustrates…

But this same situation could be reframed to show strength and suitability…

Start by making a list of all the things you’ve accomplished that you consider to be failures or unsuitable for inclusion in a personal statement.

Then, transform each point with a positive strength, just like in the example above.

You’ll be surprised how much value you can find in each of those experiences and how you can transform them into positives that show your commitment and potential.

• Low exam grades? Can you write about the self-knowledge you’ve since learned for academic success? Maybe you can balance this with very successful practical experiences?
• Struggling to find a job? Can you write about how you’ve used your available free time positively?
• Not given a scholarship? Can you write about the strengths you used to overcome this challenge and how this flexibility and courage will be of value in the future?

As promised, you can download a free worksheet that takes you through this process in detail by clicking here or hitting the banner below.

No sign-ups, just free, helpful resources.

Don’t forget, if you’d like to work with me 1:1 to write a perfect personal statement, click here or hit the banner below.

I’d love to hear from you!

Good luck with your personal statement, and don’t forget to contact me if you’d like some 1-1 support. You’ve got this! D

Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet .

David Hallen

I've worked in the Further Education and University Admissions sector for nearly 20 years as a teacher, department head, Head of Sixth Form, UCAS Admissions Advisor, UK Centre Lead and freelance personal statement advisor, editor and writer. And now I'm here for you...

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Best Words To Describe Yourself (For Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews)

• How To Write A Resume
• Free Resume Templates
• How To Build A Resume
• Specific Resume Words
• Action Verbs On A resume
• Words To Describe Yourself
• Resume Outline
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• How To Write A Resume Profile

Using the right words can make a huge difference in a resume, cover letter , or interview. You only get a show time to sell yourself as a candidate, meaning that picking the right descriptors can make a huge difference. Make sure to use strong adjectives, action words, power words, and language specific to your industry when describing yourself.

Word choice in a resume and cover letter are extremely important, as they’re both short documents that need to impress a hiring manager in a hurry. If you’re writing a resume, cover letter, or going to an interview and want to know the right adjectives to use, then keep reading.

Key Takeaways

You can use action verbs, industry-specific skill words, and powerful adjectives to describe yourself in resumes, cover letters, and interviews.

Stay away from buzzwords, slang terms, and hyperbolic descriptors.

Incorporate keywords from the job description into your resume and cover letter in order to get past ATS filters and to a real person.

Power words are words that evoke an emotional reaction. They’re often used in marketing techniques, but can also be useful for resumes, cover letters, and interviews.

The best words to use to describe yourself

Tips for using power words in your resume, tips for incorporate power words into your cover letter, how to answer “how would you describe yourself” at a job interview, example answers to “how would you describe yourself”, resume-killing phrases to avoid, best words to describe yourself faqs, ask the experts.

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It’s important to use evocative words when describing your personality, skills, or accomplishments. You have to make sure you don’t go overboard, but be sure to use active voice and powerful adjectives. You want to sound proactive and results-oriented.

Emphasize using these types of words:

Strong verbs. On your resume, you want to make sure that you start your sentence with a verb, and the stronger the better.

For instance: Arranged and organized weekly team meetings.

Rather than: Responsible for arranging and holding weekly meetings.

The first once sounds much more proactive and punchier, emphasizing the active part of your duties. A well-written cover letter will prioritize stronger verbs as well, as will an interviewer . For instance, replace commonly used verbs with stronger one, such as:

Change cut costs to decreased, streamlined, economized, reduced expenses, or controlled costs

Replace led with: orchestrated, conducted, directed, or spearheaded

Created with designed, crafted, developed, formulated, or conceptualized

Boosted with increased, accelerated, drove, improved, or optimized

Improved with advanced, enhanced, increased, or strengthened

Trained with facilitated, educated, instructed, taught, guided, or coached

Industry skill words

If you want to catch a recruiter ’s attention, consider what industry you’re in. There are certain skills or keywords that show your expertise in a particular industry and are likely to be skills that hiring managers are looking for. It also shows that you’re familiar with the skills and expertise required in the job you’re applying for.

Here are a few examples:

Sales: relationship building, negotiation, persuasive communication, prospecting, closing, territory development

Management: leadership, supervisory skills, coaching, mentoring

Marketing: SEO, conversion optimization, email marketing, content marketing

Accounting: taxation compliance, automatic data processing (ADP), reconciliation, accounts payable, accounts receivable , return on assets

Project management: budget management, proposal writing, compliance, vendor management, risk mitigation

Administration: attention to detail, creating macros, confidentiality, Microsoft Office suite, scheduling

Engineering: quality control , troubleshooting, materials management, research and development, systems integration

Web development: graphic design, user experience, e-commerce, web design, front end/back end, Java, HTML/CSS

Finding these industry-related keywords is easier than you think. Just do a quick Google search for the job openings in that industry. Read the job descriptions and look for any keywords that stand out. Jot down any that describe the qualifications and skills that you have.

Or, even better, identify keywords from a specific job description. Then include these keywords in your resume. When you know what your potential employers are looking for , it’s easy to reverse engineer your resume to show you are a perfect match for their needs.

Powerful Adjectives

When you are writing your resume you want to come across as a rock star, but not sound like a commercial. You need to strike that perfect balance between strong and enticing and blatantly promotional. Choosing the right adjectives for your resume summary statement and the body of your resume will help you find that sweet spot.

Employers are looking to attract and retain top talent. Leadership shows that you have initiative and can drive results for their organization.

You don’t want to use the word leadership over and over. You want to vary it a bit. Here are some words to describe your leadership qualities. Below are a couple of examples. Leadership Adjectives:

Authoritative

Goal-Oriented

Teamwork Adjectives:

Deadline Driven

Detail Oriented

Communication Skills

Collaborative

Cross-functional

Team-player

Using power words, strong verbs, and powerful adjectives are a great way to catch a recruiter’s attention — so long as you don’t overdo it. There are ways that you can incorporate strong language into a resume more effectively, and here are tips to writing up an excellent resume.

Be concise. Short pithy sentences beat longer sentences. Simple direct sentences have more power.

Keep bullet points to one line. Try not to have bullet points wrap around. Shorten them to one line if possible.

Eliminate any widows. A widow is a single word that is wrapped around and is alone on the next line. Don’t do this:

Spearheaded initiative to go green and eliminate delivery truck gas emissions by August 2021

Include ATS friendly words. You may have the best resume in the world, but if your resume is not ATS-friendly , it may never be seen by the potential employer. ATS stands for applicant tracking system and is the robot filter that companies use to handle large amounts of resumes — you need to make it past the filter to be seen.

If you want to get your resume seen, you’ll want to include the right ATS keywords. You write resumes both for people and for the applicant tracking system. Many bigger companies scan and search through resumes pulling top applicants to the top. If your resume doesn’t make it through the ATS system, it may never be seen by a recruiter or hiring manager.

The keywords that the ATS system checks for are determined by the future employer. That’s why it’s important to closely read a job description, look for keywords, and include these keywords in your resume.

Cover letters are where you showcase both your writing skills and other interests and skills that don’t fit well into your resume. That means that it’s your employer’s first introduction to you as more than just a list of skills. Here are some ways to use power words to ensure you have an engaging cover letter.

Focus on the opening line . The first line of the cover letter is where you can hook your reader . Make sure that it’s powerful and gives them an idea of why you’re interested in the job. Don’t be afraid to be enthusiastic, so long as you maintain professionalism.

Don’t just rehash your resume. Your cover letter isn’t just your resume in paragraph form. Make sure to include skills and interests that aren’t in the cover letter. Once again, pay attention to industry skills, and the verbs and adjectives you use.

Showcase your passion. Part of a cover letter’s job is making you interesting. Don’t list any interesting thing about yourself — try to make it relevant to the job. But beyond that, draw in whatever passion or interest you have and make it applicable to the job you’re applying for.

Add a call to action. Don’t forget to add a call to action. This can be as simple as saying you look forward to hearing from them, or it can be that you are excited to discuss your qualifications in an interview. But make sure to use strong verbs and active voice.

Make sure it’s ATS friendly. Not every ATS will scan cover letters, but that does’t mean that you should overlook the importance of keywords. Make sure to put both industry specific keywords as well as ones listed on the job description. If the ATS does scan your cover letter, it’ll show you to be eminently qualified.

It’s always difficult to balance being underprepared for an interview and coming off overly scripted. That means that you need to consider what you know about the position and the company and come up with good off-the-cuff answers, which is a difficult skill to master. But here are some ways to help you answer this question.

Get to the point and stay relevant. It can be easy to go off on a tangent when this question comes up. Get straight to the point and give one or two personality traits that showcase the professional skills you feel the employer values most.

Be honest. Of course, it’s not just about telling the interviewer what you think they want to hear. You’re not doing anyone any favors by lying about your personality or work style . Answer honestly so that both you and the hiring manager can decide whether the job is a good fit for you.

Pick universally likeable traits. Words like “authoritative” or “tolerant” might be positive to some, but others might read negative traits into them. Instead, stick with personal qualities that everyone can agree are positive, like “collaborative,” “curious,” or “diligent.”

Give context. This is the most important part of your answer. It’s not enough to simply rattle off a few adjectives and call it a day. The interviewer will appreciate a story in which the descriptive words come to life.

For example, if you describe yourself as persistent, describe a professional situation in which your persistence paid off with fantastic results.

I would describe myself as a team player who always puts big-picture objectives over personal gain. When I was working on a design project with other graphic designers, we realized late in production that there a number of small, difficult-to-ingrain elements that we failed to implement. While it was a group mistake, I took up the extra work to make sure that the other designers could start work on the client’s next project. That client ended up being impressed with our attention to detail and remains a customer to this day.

Persistence is what sets me apart. When I had a dream for a social media marketing campaign, I worked tirelessly at it. For months, we saw no traction as posts went un-shared and engagement was rock bottom. While I was by no means an expert on this part of digital marketing, I made it a goal to seek out advice and study up on best practices. After six months and countless trials and errors, I was able to earn us over 15,000 subscribers and engagement had gone up by over 1000%. When I know an idea is a winner, I’ll stop at nothing to make it a reality.

My biggest asset is my creativity, and it’s a word my former supervisor used to describe me a lot. We once had a project that involved coding multiple landing pages with similar assets. When I saw that this was going to be a long-term project, I took a few hours to write a Python script that could automate a lot of the grunt work while ensuring consistency. Nobody had approached the problem that way or indicated that this was a possible solution, but my manager was impressed. She credited this creative idea as saving over $10,000 in hours of labor.

As an executive assistant , I find that organization is the trait that defines me in my professional life. When you have a boss who handles dozens of client accounts worth over $1M, you need to make sure that each and every client is receiving the attention they need, when they need it. By creating a master spreadsheet that included all important information, and condensing that master list into highly readable notes for the VP of sales, I was able to streamline client meetings and account management.

You know the feeling you get when your parents try to use phrases to be cool? Like when your mom is hanging out with you and your friends and says something is “sick”. It’s kind of icky, inappropriate, and disgusting. That’s how hiring managers feel when you use buzzwords on a resume.

Are resume buzzwords worth it ? Many of these phrases were cool in their day, but now, these cliches have seriously lost their staying power and it’s time to retire them.

Are you guilty of using any of the following outdated terms? Here are the resume buzzwords and things to avoid putting on a resume .

If you don’t want to make recruiters cringe, explain what you mean in engaging conversational language. Don’t lean on these overused terms.

How do you describe yourself in a resume?

You describe yourself in a resume by using action words, industry-specific skills, and powerful adjectives throughout it. By making the most of the words you use to describe your goals and accomplishments, you can give hiring managers a solid understanding of who you are and what you’re about.

What are three words to describe yourself for a job?

Three words to describe yourself for a job are “motivated,” “reliable,” and “strategic.” There are plenty of other words out there to describe you as well, but these are likely to please almost any employer (just make sure they actually describe you before you use them).

How can I describe myself in one word?

You can describe yourself in one word by choosing a word that can be applied to you in many situations. For example, “tenacious” and “positive” are both words that you can exemplify in a variety of settings.

What are good action words to use on a resume?

Good action words to use on a resume include words like “achieved,” “conducted,” and “assisted.” Use stronger words that evoke more specific meanings, and avoid more bland terms like “managed” or “worked on.”

University of Colorado Boulder – Action Verbs to Use on Your Resume

Harvard Business Review — How to Respond to “So, Tell Me About Yourself” In a Job Interview

Forbes — 34 Words and Phrases That Scream ‘I’m a Leader’ on Resumes

What tips would you give to optimize a resume?

Bill Gutches The Path To Inkc

In an Overview or Value Proposition, use power verbs to start each bullet or statement and be sure to quantify the amount of benefit your client / employer received as a result of your work.

Make sure the Start and Stop dates for each Employer or Contract are contiguous: that there are no gaps in the work timeline.

Create a unique resume with appropriate key phrases for each application so that the words in the resume match as closely as possible to the job description you are applying for.

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Hope Stebbins is an experienced writer and editor within the field of finance and contracts, sales, and business operations. She combines operational analysis with creativity to develop compelling written content. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Eastern University.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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How to Describe Yourself on a Resume (With Examples)

8 min read · Updated on January 23, 2024

It doesn't have to feel like nails on a chalkboard when trying to describe yourself on a resume!

How you describe yourself on your resume directly impacts whether you land that interview you so eagerly want. It's essential to describe your qualifications and experience in such a way as to grab the employer's attention without hesitation. 

How do you do that, exactly? By incorporating self-descriptive words on your resume that stand out to hiring teams and showcase that you're the best fit for the job. 

In this post, we start off with tips for developing self-descriptive words for your resume, followed by examples of descriptive words to use and avoid. 

Tips for developing self-descriptive words for your resume

It's not uncommon for individuals to struggle with talking about their accomplishments and strengths. We tend to share about another's skills and abilities easily, but when it comes to describing ourselves, we fall short. Fortunately, below are some steps you can take to boost your creative juices and find the words for your resume to help you stand out from the competition. 

Ask friends and peers for help

One way to come up with ways to describe yourself is to ask your peers, friends, and managers for input. For a comprehensive perspective, ask for feedback from those in your personal and professional lives. Here are some questions you can ask to receive the information you need:

What are three adjectives you would use to describe me?

How would you describe me to a coworker or friend?

If you could sum up my personality in one word, what would it be, and why?

Consider past performance reviews

Another way to develop self-descriptive words for a resume is to reflect on past performance reviews. What did supervisors have to say about you? What about coworkers who provided input? What were some of the strengths and achievements emphasized?

Make a list of your past accomplishments and strengths

Brainstorm to come up with a list of all your strengths, so you can more easily refer to them when describing yourself on a resume. Do this by first listing some of your key achievements and considering what strengths allowed you to achieve them. 

For example, suppose you implemented a new customer service rating system two weeks ahead of schedule, which led to a 10% increase in customer feedback. In that case, you might describe yourself as efficient and productive. 

Refer to the job description

If you're struggling to come up with the best self-descriptive words for your resume, refer to the job description. Highlight any skills, knowledge, and requirements you possess that align with the job. By incorporating these keywords into your resume, you're not only emphasizing that you meet the job qualifications but are also improving your resume's chances of getting past an employer's  applicant tracking system , or ATS.

Think positive

It's good to be humble and clear on your strengths and weaknesses. However, when it comes to self-descriptive words for a resume, you want to focus on the positives only - your strengths. 

Save sharing your weaknesses for the interview, when you'll likely be asked about them. During an interview, you can - and should - give your weaknesses a positive spin with context, which is challenging to do on a resume.

As you develop your list of strengths and how you'd describe yourself, work to develop some unique adjectives to use that are specific to your qualifications. Refer to the list of strengths you've developed, and look up synonyms for those words that could help you to stand out from other applicants. 

For example, instead of incorporating the commonly used term “creative,” you might use words like inventive or prolific. A word of caution is to avoid words that come across as boastful or exaggerating your qualifications.    

Review example resumes

An excellent resource to refer to when you're attempting to craft your own resume is to look at  resume examples  online. The resume examples you review don't need to be specific to your field, since self-descriptive adjectives and descriptive verbs aren't industry-specific, as shown in the examples below. This approach not only helps to generate ideas for self-descriptive words for your resume but also provides guidance on  how to write your resume  as a whole.

Self-descriptive words for a resume - examples

When it comes to self-descriptive words for a resume, technically, we're referring to adjectives, since adjectives describe a noun. However, two additional categories of words are essential to fully describe your abilities and work history: descriptive verbs and skills.  

Powerful adjectives for a resume

Here are only a few of the many adjectives you could use on your resume, with examples of how you might include them in a sentence. 

Adaptable:  Adaptable professional with ability to move from project to project within different departments. 

Compassionate:  Compassionate caretaker with 10 years of experience, working with hospices and providing end-of-life services. 

Knowledgeable:  Knowledgeable mechanic with 3 excellence awards for superb service and quality, earned in less than 6 months. 

Perceptive:  Perceptive speaker with ability to navigate an audience to know where to direct attention to garner the best outcome. 

Tech-savvy:   Tech-savvy Visual Artist with ability to bring together ideas and people to produce valuable and thought-provoking content, including images, videos, and graphics. 

Top tip: For an extensive list of 100 power adjectives, refer to “ 100 Powerful Resume Adjectives that Can Make Your Resume More Compelling .” 

Descriptive verbs for a resume

Action verbs  are vital in really making your work section stand out. Each bullet point you include for the jobs you list should begin with a power verb that emphasizes your role in the activity or achievement. Power verbs are also used in the resume summary to highlight accomplishments. 

Skills for a resume

Skills on your resume  should include a combination of soft and hard skills. In many instances, hard skills are spelled out and soft skills are inferred based on our past achievements. 

Unusual words to describe yourself on a resume

As mentioned, be creative and specific when selecting self-descriptive words for your resume, to help set you apart. A great way to do this is to use a thesaurus to gather synonyms for the list of self-descriptive adjectives you come up with. Some interesting choices that aren't used as often yet can still sound good on a resume include:

Inventive 

Self-descriptive words for a resume: what NOT to use

Yes, there are some words to leave off your list of self-descriptive words for your  resume. These words tend to be overused, generic, highly subjective, or boastful. Here are a few examples:

You might think you're likable, but likability is in the eye of the beholder. Instead of using likable, consider adjectives that refer to being likable, yet add value, such as team player, compassionate, and energetic. 

Intelligent 

Don't flat-out state you're intelligent, at risk of coming across as overly confident. Also, it should be inferred that you're intelligent by the other adjectives and proof you provide to back them up on your resume. Words like big-picture thinker, agile, and quick learner are better word choices.

Saying you're successful is very broad. Instead, you want to narrow your successes to specific skills and strengths with qualifiers and quantifiable data. 

Here are a few more self-promotional adjectives to leave off your resume. 

Got-to-person

Outside the box thinker

Instead of using these types of adjectives, come up with alternatives where you can show results linked to them. A good place to begin is by asking yourself, "What have I achieved that shows I'm a go-getter, the best, and so on?"

Where to incorporate self-descriptive words on a resume

Now that you've seen some examples of self-descriptive words, where do they belong on your resume? There are three main areas to place them:

Resume summary. Your  resume summary  falls just below your contact information and is the main area where you'll incorporate self-descriptive adjectives, with a few skills and power verbs. 

Competencies and skills list. Your  core competencies or skills list  should include the soft and hard skills required for the job, based on the job description. 

Work experience section. The  work experience section  is where you'll include the power verbs that describe what you did on the job, as well as some of the skills that supported you in doing so. You might also include some adjectives in this section, though generally, the adjectives are inferred. For example:

“Motivated team of 10 to implement an enhanced customer booking log project on time, resulting in an 8% increase in positive customer experience ratings”

From this achievement, one can infer that the person is motivational, a leader, and efficient. 

Apply a variety of self-descriptive words on your resume

Now you have some tips to help you discover the best self-descriptive words for your resume, with examples. You also know where to include them. As a final tip, when you incorporate your descriptive words, be sure to use a variety of adjectives and power verbs so your resume doesn't sound redundant. Good luck! 

If you're wondering if you're using the right self-descriptive words throughout your resume, why not submit it for a  free resume review ? Our  TopResume team of experts  will help to ensure your resume describes you in a way that lands you interview after interview!

Recommended reading:

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What Are the Best Fonts for a Resume

How to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume (with Examples)

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