Words to Describe Yourself to Impress in an Interview

Throughout your life, you’ll have many opportunities to create a first impression, like in job interviews, on the first day of work, or at networking events. 

And you can never make a first impression again. That’s why understanding and embracing your positive personality traits and using the right words to describe yourself are crucial to becoming (and having people perceive you as) the person you want to be.

You might think you’re stuck with the personality you were born with, but consider this: the Latin term “persona” is the root word for “personality.” And “persona” means “mask.” Your personality isn’t an unchangeable representation of who you are inside. It’s the mask you portray to the world, and you can change it.

That doesn’t mean your personality isn’t real. It just means you have more control over it than you may think. And describing yourself with positive words is a powerful way to change the way the world sees you.

One of the most effective ways to build confidence is to change the way you speak to yourself. That’s all self-talk is — the thoughts that run through your head. And if you have low self-esteem, those thoughts probably aren’t very good.

You don’t have to banish all negative automatic thoughts. But when a bad thought arises that your logical brain knows isn’t true, think about what you would say to your best friend if they were feeling that way. Then say those words to yourself.

Studies have shown that positive self-talk is even more effective if you speak the words aloud to your reflection in the mirror. And if you really want the words to make an impact, address yourself in the second or third person.

Here’s what that might look like for someone preparing for an interview while suffering from imposter syndrome:

• Negative thought: “I’m not smart enough for this position. They made a mistake when they asked me to interview.”

• Second-person response: “You’re intelligent, creative, and assertive. They called you because they think you’d be great at this job.”

• Third-person response: “Katrina deserves this job because she’s intelligent, creative, and assertive.”

It might feel strange to call yourself by name. But studies have found that illeism — the practice of speaking about yourself in third person — improves decision-making and emotional regulation.

If you want to overcome self-doubt and feel like you’re the best version of yourself, make a list of positive affirmations and say them to your reflection. This practice retrains your brain to think about yourself positively.

And the next time you’re having a first meeting with a recruiter or hiring manager, they’ll see a person who believes in themselves — and they’ll be more likely to believe in you, too.

Words alone can’t turn dreams into reality. But the law of attraction is a philosophy that suggests positive thoughts and actions attract positive results, and negative thoughts and actions attract negative results. 

Speaking positive words aloud is one way to express the type of positive energy you want to receive from the world. Writing them down is another.

You might increase your chances of landing that dream job, building the life you envision, and becoming the person you aspire to be when you put your goals and affirmations on paper. This is because you’re thoughtfully defining what you want, and your actions will follow to make these things happen. 

If possible, write these positive affirmations on physical paper, not a note on your phone. One study found that writing by hand triggers stronger neural encoding, memory retrieval, and brain activity than making digital notes.

One way to do this is with a manifestation journal. It doesn’t need to be fancy — any physical notebook will do. In your journal, write your goals, desires, and the positive words you’d like to use to describe yourself, even if they still feel like a stretch right now.

Another tactic is to write the words and affirmations on sticky notes, placing them on your mirror, refrigerator, and anywhere else you’ll see them daily.

The act of writing the words on paper helps embed these positive thoughts in your brain. And when you run across your sticky notes throughout the day, they’ll remind you of the reality you want for yourself.

Learning to describe yourself positively is crucial in an interview, because there’s one job interview question you should always anticipate: “Tell me about yourself.” This is often the first question interviewers ask, which means the answer you give carries a lot of weight in establishing a good first impression.

A hiring manager isn’t just looking to hear about your work experience and greatest accomplishments when asking this question. They’re also getting a feel for your personality to see how well you’d fit in with the culture of the company. When preparing for an interview, review the job description to see which words they use to describe the person they want.

But remember: while it’s easy enough to work keywords like “hard-working” and “collaborative” into your cover letter, an interviewer will likely see right through you if you describe yourself with words you don’t believe are true. Use your positive self-talk practice to determine a list of accurate words.

Whether you’re practicing positive self-talk, writing a LinkedIn summary, or preparing for an interviewer, choose words that accurately describe you, even if they’re qualities you need to work on strengthening.

Calling yourself an extrovert when you know it’s not true isn’t ambitious — it’s dishonest, and your new employer will likely notice that it’s not true. (But don’t worry, there are plenty of great jobs for introverts).

Some words that sound positive on the surface might be red flags for employers. Saying you’re a perfectionist could raise concerns that you’re inflexible or inefficient. And calling yourself successful could make you sound arrogant or self-congratulatory.

Here are 50 of the best words to use to frame yourself in a positive light:

1. Detail-oriented: You notice, respect, and pay close attention to details

2. Organized: You’re neat, orderly, and methodical

3. Methodical: You approach tasks and projects systematically

4. Efficient: You know how to produce desired results without wasting time or resources

5. Self-starter: You take initiative without requiring direction

6. Diligent: The effort you put forth is steady, earnest, and energetic

7. Tenacious: You’re persistent about going after things you value or desire

8. Empathetic: You show empathy and understanding about others’ feelings and experiences

9. Easygoing: You have a relaxed demeanor that makes you easy to get along with

10. Sociable: You’re friendly, pleasant, and enjoy being in the company of others

11. Diplomatic: You’re skilled at using tact, reason, and empathy to resolve conflicts

12. Emotionally intelligent: You’re aware of and in control of your emotions and practice empathy and honesty in your interpersonal relationships

13. Inclusive: You accept others and value diverse perspectives

14. Approachable: You have a warm, welcoming demeanor that invites conversation

15. Client-focused: You use strategy and personability to maintain strong relationships and meet clients’ needs

16. Persuasive: You’re skilled at using relatability and reason to persuade others to do or believe something

17. Charismatic: You have an energetic, likable personality that others respond well to

18. Team player: You’re more concerned with helping a group or team succeed than with your own success

19. Collaborative: You’re skilled at working with others to achieve a common goal

20. Cooperative: You’re willing and able to work alongside others

21. Supportive: You volunteer knowledge, encouragement, or time to help your teammates achieve their goals

22. Communicative: You’re skilled at exchanging thoughts and ideas

23. Direct: You value openness and honesty more than politeness

24. Leader: You use your authority or influence to effectively lead others

25. Self-assured: You’re confident and sure about who you are

26. Independent: You’re capable of working and making decisions without direction or influence from others

27. Passionate: You care deeply about the subjects that interest you

28. Visionary: You let foresight and imagination guide your ideas and decisions

29. Decisive: You make decisions quickly and effectively

30. Strategic: You value planning and understanding the role each person and task plays in achieving a larger goal

31. Proactive: You anticipate future needs, problems, or changes and take early action to address them

32. Open-minded: You’re receptive to hearing the arguments or ideas of others

33. Creative: You use your imagination to solve problems or create innovative solutions

34. Artistic: You’re expressive and imaginative

35. Savvy: You’re exceptionally perceptive or knowledgeable in certain areas

36. Innovative: You think outside the box to discover new and unique solutions 

37. Teachable: You’re receptive to the wisdom and knowledge of others

38. Problem-solver: You use your creativity and critical thinking skills to effectively solve problems

39. Resourceful: You’re good at figuring out solutions with the means available to you

40. Data-driven: You make decisions based on measurable, verifiable information

41. Analytical: You’re skilled at using data and reason to approach challenges

42. Results-oriented: You’re more concerned with outcomes than with the process it takes to achieve results

43. Self-aware: You demonstrate a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses

44. Resilient: You’re capable of bouncing back after an unexpected setback

45. Versatile: You can move from one field, subject, or project to another with ease

46. Flexible: You have no problem adjusting to changing circumstances or requirements

47. Dynamic: You’re energetic, enthusiastic, and capable of taking action quickly

48. Trustworthy: You’re an honest person who people can count on

49. Reliable: You’re someone people can depend on

50. Committed: You’re loyal and dedicated to your team and your work

Being able to describe yourself well is one of the most important interview skills. But it can also help you understand who you are and challenge you to overcome the negative core beliefs that hold you back.

Practice positive words to describe yourself in the mirror or with a trusted friend to embed these affirmations. Then when an interviewer asks you about yourself you won’t struggle to use language that impresses them and paints you in the best light.