How to Answer -- How Would You Describe Yourself?

Introduction

Imagine you are in an interview, and the interviewer asks how you would describe yourself. This question might seem simple, but it can be tricky to answer. Do you focus on your traits or your professional skills? Do you boast about your achievements or admit your weaknesses? Do you use generic adjectives or specific examples? How do you avoid sounding arrogant or insecure?

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The Challenge of Describing Yourself

I faced this question when I interviewed a candidate for a position in my team. I wanted to break the ice and understand her personality, so I asked her: How would you describe yourself? She seemed puzzled and started to tell me about her background and education. I had to interrupt and remind her of the question, but she still did not know how to answer. She asked me what I was looking for and what kind of response I expected. I laughed it off and moved on to another question, but later, I wondered why this question was so difficult for her and many others.

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The Purpose of Describing Yourself

This question is common in interviews because it can reveal a lot about a candidate's self-awareness, communication skills, and fit for the role and the organization. The interviewer is not asking about 'you' as a person but about 'yourself' as a professional. They want to hear how you perceive your strengths and weaknesses, leverage your assets and overcome challenges, and align your goals and values with the employer's vision and mission.

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The Strategy of Describing Yourself

To answer this question effectively, you must prepare and reflect on your self-image and achievements. One way to do this is to conduct a strengths and weaknesses analysis, similar to a balance sheet. On one side, list your assets (strengths); on the other, list your liabilities (weaknesses) or areas for development if you prefer. You can identify your critical attributes by drawing on your observations, feedback, and performance reviews. Be honest and comprehensive but also relevant and concise. Some people also use a SWOT analysis, adding opportunities and threats, but I think focusing on strengths and weaknesses is enough.

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The Delivery of Describing Yourself

Once you have a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses, you must craft a compelling pitch showcasing your achievements and demonstrating your potential. You want to link your strengths to specific examples of how you used them to succeed in your previous or current roles. You also want to frame your weaknesses as areas you are actively working on to improve. By showing self-awareness and a growth mindset, you can distinguish yourself from other candidates and impress the interviewer. You can also use a strength to balance a weakness or even turn it into a strength if you can justify it convincingly.

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The Tone of Describing Yourself

The key to describing yourself is to be confident but not arrogant, humble but not self-deprecating, optimistic but not unrealistic. You want to use assertive language highlighting your value, but avoid clichés that sound empty and generic. You also want to put your weaknesses in a positive context, not to hide them, but to show how you cope with them and learn from them. For example, instead of saying that you are too friendly at work, you can say that you are a people person and always maintain professional boundaries. It is all about the perspective you choose to adopt.

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Conclusion

Describing yourself is not easy, but it is essential. It can help you take control of the interview and steer it in a direction that highlights your best qualities and minimizes your flaws. It can also help you define yourself on your terms rather than letting others do it. To do this, you need to prepare a strengths and weaknesses analysis, create an impactful pitch, and deliver it with a positive tone. Remember, if you don't describe yourself, who will?