Describe yourself at job interviews in a way that will keep the recruiters on their feet instead of getting them bored.
“Describe yourself.”
“Talk about yourself.”
“Tell us about yourself.”
“What should we know about you?”
These are all questions that will either break or make the rest of the interview. With all the attention set on your response, you have to use the right keywords to describe yourself at job interviews so that the recruiters do not get bored.
One thing that ruins most candidates’ introduction about themselves at job interviews is word choice. If you choose the right words, you sell yourself better, but if you use the wrong words you take yourself off the shelves. Today, let's look at the words you should stop using while describing yourself at job interviews.
Attentive
Please do not describe yourself as attentive to the recruiters until you answer all the questions asked correctly. If you are asked to prove that you are attentive, can you really do so? That's what I thought. Keep yourself away from such words during your job interview or else you are spoiling your chances of being hired.
Humble
Hey, hey! No one is looking for a humble employee. Humility is encouraged but you are not applying to a Coventry. When you describe yourself as humble, the interviewer may get a distorted idea of you and, anything you say afterward may sound unrelated. Show humility, greet people with respect, say thank you, and say sorry and your character will shine through and speak for itself.
Reserved
I recall many years back when I was still in school and contested for a leadership position. During the selection process, I was asked to talk about myself. At the age of 15 years, the word reserved sounded so brilliant. On the count of three, I described myself as a reserved person. When the panelists asked how a reserved person could be a leader, I had no answer. Therefore, when it comes to job interviews, please keep this word out of your lips and use the word ‘team player’ instead. Team players are not reserved people, employers are looking for someone who engages with others and will fit in easily.
Fearless
Say what now? Apart from interviews for game rangers, why are you describing yourself before the panel as a fearless person? Unless you meant to say you are courageous, it is not needed. Such words may sound strong but can seem irrelevant to the interviewers when you actually blurt them out.
The best alternative to this word is risk-taker, and mentioning it won't be enough. Give more examples of the different risks you took in your previous experiences that actually turned out well.
Passionate
“I am very passionate at what I do, I love graphic designing with a passion,” said the boring candidate. Someone wake me up! Let us get to the basics, passionate is not a word you use to describe yourself at job interviews. It is used to describe how you feel about something instead. Your manager can say that you are passionate about your job. This will come from how you do your work, to what extent you push yourself, how you overcome your challenges, and what not.
Smart interview responses on how to describe yourself will always highlight your key passions if prepared well.
For example:
“I have been working in Sales and Marketing for over 10 years now. I recently undertook a professional course in Marketing at Strathmore University. I believe there is always more to learn in this fast-changing economy every day.”
This response clearly shows the recruiter that you are passionate about sales, you do not have to describe yourself with it. Working in a field for 10 years and still looking for opportunities for attaining growth and knowledge is driven by passion.
Cream
“I am the cream of my current company” Oops. Not only does this word sound wrong but it can rub the interviewers the wrong way. Is it a metaphor? Maybe, but you should not use it to describe yourself. The worst thing you can do in an interview is to make the recruiters less interested in your responses, and this will happen if you keep using such words to describe yourself.
Your achievements and experience are enough to show your credibility. You do not need to beat around the bush to support that.
Creative
Please avoid using this word unless you can back it up with the creative work you have done. To those candidates who do aptitude tests, it is easy to show off your creativity levels there. However, when you have to describe yourself at job interviews, do not use this term.
Multiskilled
When someone describes themselves as multiskilled, I always imagine they have like four hands and six legs or they can be in different places at the same time, and this is so impractical. You can not serve two masters at once. Employers are looking for someone flexible with an extra skill but they are not looking for an avenger. Highlight the key skills needed for the role. Have you seen a job advert looking for a multiskilled person? I have not seen it either!
Knowledgeable
You are knowledgeable about what exactly? If exams in schools were passed according to students who call themselves knowledgeable, then everyone would be studied. Knowledge is not displayed when you say it, it shows through what you say. If you want the recruiters to know you have the required knowledge needed for the role, let your responses show it. Answer questions correctly and do enough interview preparation.
During an interview, be honest with yourself. Resist using words you have no idea about. Those heavy English words that will make your interviewers dumbfounded will only spoil it for you.
The best spice to use in the interview is a smile, genuineness, and good character. Do not get them bored.
Also read: Things you should not say in an interview
