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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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328 Adjectives to Describe Yourself for College

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In adjectives.

Some of my favorite words to describe yourself for college are:

Knowledgeable

Resourceful

In the competitive world of college admissions, effectively describing oneself using personal adjectives is crucial. These adjectives will help you stand out among similarly qualified candidates by creating a vivid, engaging self-portrait that aligns with a college’s ethos. Consistent use of these descriptors enhances the coherence and genuineness of your application, highlighting unique qualities like resilience, creativity, or leadership. 

Below is a long list of adjectives, words, and superlatives that you can use to describe yourself for college. These words have been divided into categories, each listing the adjectives that convey your personality and strengths. 

In this Article

Words to describe your Intellectual Qualities

Words to describe your academic skills, words to describe your leadership qualities, words to describe your personal traits, words to describe your creative attributes, words to describe your social skills, words to describe your emotional intelligence, words to describe your work ethic and determination, words to describe your adaptability and flexibility, words to describe your cultural awareness, words to describe your problem-solving skills, words to describe your interpersonal skills, words to describe your moral and ethical traits, words to describe your passion and enthusiasm, adjectives to avoid when describing yourself for college.

Inquisitive

Intellectual

Philosophical

Perspicacious

Disciplined

Detail-oriented

Critical (as in critical thinking)

Innovative (if it relates to new ideas in academic work)

Questioning

Charismatic

Influential

Authoritative

Motivational

Collaborative

Mentorship-oriented

Goal-oriented

Conscientious

Compassionate

Independent

Introspective

Imaginative

Unconventional

Avant-garde

Experimental

Approachable

Communicative

Accommodating

Facilitative

Harmonizing

Negotiating

Understanding

Emotionally aware

Nonjudgmental

Considerate

Emotionally intelligent

Industrious

Hardworking

Persevering

Unrelenting

Open-minded

Change-embracing

Transformative

Multifaceted

Acclimatizing

Culturally competent

Global-minded

Appreciative

Multicultural

Ethnically aware

Enlightened

Progressive

Cosmopolitan

Culturally sensitive

Socially conscious

Broad-minded

Integrative

Solution-oriented

Investigative

Troubleshooting

Encouraging

Team-oriented

Sympathetic

Trustworthy

Integrity-driven

Responsible

Enthusiastic

Wholehearted

When describing yourself in a college application, it’s important to avoid adjectives that might be perceived negatively, are overly vague, or could be misinterpreted. Here are the adjectives that are generally best to avoid:

Perfectionist: Can imply that you’re unable to accept mistakes or imperfections.

Obsessive: Might suggest an unhealthy focus on certain tasks or subjects.

Laid-back: Could be interpreted as a lack of motivation or seriousness.

Stubborn: Indicates inflexibility or unwillingness to consider other viewpoints.

Aggressive: Can be seen as confrontational or hostile.

Shy: While not necessarily negative, it might suggest a lack of confidence or difficulty in social interactions.

Overconfident: Can come off as arrogance or a lack of self-awareness.

Impulsive: Might suggest a lack of planning or forethought.

Sarcastic: While it can be humorous in social contexts, it might not convey the right tone in an application.

Unconventional: Although it can be positive, without context, it might imply nonconformity in a negative way.

Average: Undermines your unique qualities and achievements.

Lazy: Directly implies a lack of effort and motivation.

Indecisive: Suggests difficulty in making decisions, which can be a drawback in academic and social settings.

Cynical: Can convey a negative or overly skeptical worldview.

Naive: Implies a lack of experience, wisdom, or understanding.

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373 Adjectives in Spanish

Here are my 10 favorite Spanish adjectives that are versatile, expressive, and can add depth to a conversation or description. These adjectives not only enrich vocabulary but also capture a range of emotions and characteristics that can be universally appreciated....

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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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100+ Adjectives To Describe Yourself For College, Interview, Resume

Adjectives To Describe a Person: There are hundreds of thousands of descriptive words or adjectives in the English language that are used to describe a person, place, thing, animals, or situation. Sometimes, even the best minds in the English language do get confused about which adjective to use in what situation and to describe whom. While English is a fun language, it is also a tricky and complicated language that needs a little bit of in-depth understanding to get a good hold of it.

In this particular article on adjectives to describe yourself, we are going to help you understand the different adjectives, where, when, and how to use them in describing yourself and, in general, help you to improve your English.

The following are the topics that we are going to discuss in this particular article on adjectives (unusual words) to describe yourself:

• What are adjectives?
• A list of adjectives to describe yourself
• Examples of adjectives to describe yourself
• Where are adjectives to describe yourself used?
• FAQs on using adjectives to describe yourself

What Are Adjectives?

Adjectives are words in the English language that are used to describe or modify a noun or a pronoun. There are different types of adjectives and their applications, but here we are only going to talk about the adjectives that are used to describe a person or describe oneself.

However, one should note that there is no particular definition for adjectives, but the basic understanding is the same throughout. Adjectives give a tone and texture to a passage or a write-up that enhances the credibility and the visualization of a paragraph.

100 Adjectives to Describe Yourself

Below is a list of 100 adjectives to describe yourself that can be used in interviews, essay writing, autobiography, biographies, etc.

• Intelligent
• Well organised
• Hardworking
• Resourceful
• Experiences
• Enthusiastic
• Mind-blowing
• Belligerent
• Compassionate
• Extroverted
• Introverted
• Constrictive
• Constructive
• Conservative
• Narrow-minded
• Broadminded
• Sympathetic

The above-mentioned adjectives are a few among the 1000s of words in the English language that are used to describe yourself. All these words can be used in varying circumstances to describe a person or a thing. In the subsequent sections of this article, we are going to discuss how, when, and where to use these adjectives to describe yourself for college, on resume, and much more appropriately.

Examples of Adjectives To Describe Yourself

In the below examples, we have used adjectives to describe ourselves in sentence formation. One can make use of the thought process behind these sentences and use them to describe themselves in various situations such as interviews, debates, essays, and emails:

• Most of the time, I am a sane-minded person, but whenever I’m frustrated , I lose my temper.
• My hard work along with smart work got me through the coveted UPSC civil services examination.
• I am the fastest runner in my classroom and secured first place in a 100m running competition.
• I am a self-motivated individual who keeps my teammates motivated as well.
• I am good at multitasking and completing tasks that are given to me well before the deadline.
• I have all the leadership qualities that one might require for the managerial role that you are hiring for.
• My skin is clear and beautiful because I drink water regularly in the daytime.
• My clothes are very clean because I washed them with a unique detergent I got from my cousin in Europe.
• I look particularly sharp and unique in all my wedding photographs.
• I am the highest scorer in the subject of mathematics in the history of our school.

As a simple activity, we advise students to point out the different adjectives that are used in the above examples and then list them out and form different sentences using the same adjectives.

Where Are Adjectives To Describe Yourself Used?

The following are the various situations where adjectives to describe yourself are widely and popularly used:

• Adjectives To Describe Yourself in Interviews:  Interviews are all and mostly about selling yourself and talking positively about yourself, and the use of proper adjectives in front of the interviewer not only enhances your chances of getting hired into the company but also creates a positive impression that is going to last a long time in the organization. However, usage of adjectives to describe yourself in interviews can also harm your image and your persona in front of the interviewer, and hence, one should note that appropriate and judicious use of adjectives is what is required to crack interviews.
• Adjectives To Describe Yourself in Public Speaking: if you have observed popular public speakers such as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, or Barack Obama, they use subtle but powerful words or adjectives to describe themselves, and that is going to imprint a long-lasting impression on our minds about them. The usage of proper adjectives to describe oneself in public speaking forums is going to help your audience connect with you mentally, and you can gain their attention and eyeballs for a longer period of time.
• Adjectives To Describe Yourself Email Writing: Introducing oneself in an email is a daunting task, especially if you’re writing for the first time and to someone outside your organisation. In such cases, the usage of proper adjectives is going to help and create a good virtual impression on your client or partners.
• Adjectives To Describe Yourself in Copywriting: The usage of proper adjectives in writing will improve one’s writing skills and help readers understand the content better and with more clarity of thought.

FAQs on Using Adjectives To Describe Yourself

The frequently asked questions on using Adjectives to describe yourself are given below:

1. Describe yourself using a few adjectives. Answer: Beautiful, intelligent, brilliant, clever, careful, hopeful, etc., are some of the adjectives that can be used to describe yourself.

2. How are adjectives used in these passages? Answer: Adjectives are used in passages and write-ups to describe a person, place, thing, or animal.

3. Are adjectives used to describe yourself both negatively and positively? Answer: Yes, adjectives used to describe yourself can be both positive and negative.

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Best Words to Use in Good College Essays

Why is using good vocabulary so important in an essay?

Using strong vocabulary in college admissions essays is crucial to articulating your skills and competencies, but also central in showing admissions officers that you can express yourself clearly in written English. Although vocabulary may not be the main aspect of your essay that the admissions committee pays attention to, using appropriate and sophisticated vocabulary will nearly always make your essay more compelling. 

Choosing which vocabulary or words to use can be difficult for anyone but it can be even more challenging if English is not your first language. This article suggests some useful words to effectively describe yourself and your experiences when writing college admissions essays.

Table of Contents 

• How to Choose Vocabulary for College Admissions Essays

How to Choose Vocabulary Terms for College Applications Essays

Writing a college essay is all about describing who you are and how you fit into the school you are applying for. Therefore, an important question to ask yourself here would be “Who are you?” rather than trying to boast with elevated and “sophisticated” words that do not quite fit in your essay. It is recommended to first brainstorm and outline the aspects you would like to highlight about yourself in order to choose the right words to use.

Best Words to Use in College Admissions Essays

The following list of adjectives , verbs and nouns are the words commonly used in college admissions essays. Using these words will help you to effectively express yourself in a short essay of about 650 words. Let’s find out why they are effective terms using some specific examples within admissions essays. 

Adjectives to Use in Essays

Adjectives are words that provide information about a noun. When it comes to formatting college admissions essays , using strong adjectives will not only make your essay more visual and distinctive but also help you demonstrate that you can communicate well in English. The following adjectives signal to admissions officers that you are both a good college candidate and a capable writer.

Definition : Able to express ideas and feelings clearly in words

Example : I am an articulate writer and I always aim to intrigue audiences with my message using precise words.

Definition: Able to do things well

Example : Having part-time jobs during the semester helped me become capable at handling multiple things at once. 

Detail-oriented

Definition : Interested in and paying great attention to detail

Example : When working on a scientific report, taking a detail-oriented approach is crucial.

Definition : Giving a lot of attention to one particular thing

Example : My mentor encouraged me, saying that I would do well in college because I am very focused on my studies.

Goal-oriented

Definition : Laser-focused on achieving good results on given tasks

Example Today’s society is goal-oriented , requiring problems to be resolved quickly.

Inspirational

Definition : Making people feel full of hope or encouraged

Example : Students who share their stories of how they successfully completed degrees in foreign country are often inspirational to those who are planning to study abroad.

Definition : Very enthusiastic or determined out of a strong desire to do something

Example : Colleges often seek highly motivated people who will not readily drop out of courses.

Definition : Arranged according to a particular system

Example : My father is one of the most organized people I know, and there is no doubt that I inherited this attitude from him.

Definition : Based on or acting on good judgment and practical ideas or understanding

Example : My colleagues strongly agreed to adopt the sensible suggestions I made. 

Definition : Giving encouragement and/or providing support in the form of action

Example : Knowing that I am a supportive member of the student council, the teachers used to ask me to advocate on behalf of other students.

Verbs to Use in Essays

Verbs are used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In college admissions essays, it is essential to choose verbs that would most appropriately describe your past experiences. Similar to verbs in resume and CVs , using appropriate verbs in your admissions essay can add to the detail and action, enthralling your reader and improving your chances of acceptance.

Definition : To succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim, especially following a significant amount of work or effort

Example : I aim to achieve my goals through continual academic and extracurricular efforts. 

Definition : To express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people

Example : I carefully chose my words to convey the proper amount of urgency about the matter.

Definition : To effectively organize so that all the parts work well together

Example : My role was to coordinate the reports from each department in school and send them to the principal.

Demonstrate

Definition : To clarify something by way of doing it in front of others

Example : As the leader of the after-school cooking club, I demonstrated each step of the recipe to introduce new menus. 

Definition : To improve or increase (especially a skill, feeling, or metric)

Example : Studying abroad was a great opportunity for me to enhance my communication skills.

Investigate

Definition : To examine a crime, problem, statement, etc. carefully, especially in order to discover the truth

Example : It is always important to investigate the terms and conditions before signing any contract.

Definition : To succeed in doing or dealing with something, especially something difficult

Example : After engaging in numerous debates, I managed to learn how to effectively communicate.

Definition : To (cause to) work, be in action or have an effect

Example : Having the ability to operate machines and systems is crucial for systems engineers.

Participate

Definition : To take part in an event or become involved in an activity or group

Example : Students are encouraged to actively participate in discussions and decision-making during the student council meeting.

Definition : To watch a person or activity to ensure that everything is done correctly, safely, and/or according to the rules or guidelines.

Example : I was responsible for supervising students during the event to prevent any possible accidents.

Nouns to Use in Essays

Many strong nouns exist that can be introduced in college admissions essays to help students better express their abilities, talents, achievements, etc. The following nouns will help you articulate the valuable experiences you had in the past and the abilities you gained accordingly. Be careful not to use nouns that you do not understand or that might not sound natural in your essay.

Definition : Something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person’s ability

Example: My challenge was to motivate the survey participants to provide honest responses.

Definition : Understanding of or information about a subject that you get by experience or study, either known by one person or by people generally

Example: Having relevant knowledge in a given field is a power that can only be unlocked through extended hands-on experiences. 

Opportunity

Definition : An occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to do, or the possibility of doing something

Example: I am honored to be given the opportunity to apply for this faculty position.

Definition : An ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practiced it

Example: Through various projects, I learned that communication skills are key when working with others. 

Definition : The action of working together in a group with other people; especially used when the action is successful

Example: Seamless teamwork can drive the most satisfactory outcomes.

If you are currently writing a college admissions essay, see our Admissions Resources page for articles on writing application essays to get into any school, including How to Answer the Common App Essay Prompts. And don’t forget to receive professional English proofreading services , including essay editing services for any of your application documents.

Me, Myself, and I: How to Describe Yourself in College Application Essays

A Student’s College Application Essay Is One Of Their Best Opportunities To Stand Out…

After all, a well-written personal statement can be the difference between acceptance or receiving a waitlist letter. Often, the best essays are those that go into detail about the student themselves. A descriptive essay that shows how a student’s personal hobbies, interests, values, and career goals interconnect goes much farther than just a list of their extracurricular activities.

However, many students find it difficult to break the habit of being humble and write about themselves. In this article, we cover five different ways students can reframe the challenge of writing about themselves to make their college essays feel more personal.

The Importance Of Sharing Your Story

With over 3 million students expected to graduate from high school this year , the pool of college applicants will continue to grow. Because of this, colleges are increasingly seeking ways to adapt the college admission process to allow students the opportunity to share their unique stories.

Across the country, from small liberal arts colleges to leading research universities, schools are increasingly moving in the direction of a holistic admission process . A holistic approach to college admissions goes beyond a student’s test scores and grade point averages to take into account all that a student achieves inside and outside of school.

Because of this shift in approach, it’s never been more necessary for students to share their personal stories however they can in their college application. Most often, students are given the opportunity through essay prompts that ask questions about the student’s views, values, or interests as they relate to the institution.

While many students find these prompts uncomfortable, they are one of the only ways students can take control of the application process by choosing to put themselves in the spotlight. The person who reads a student’s college application and personal statement has no idea who they are; it’s up to each student to leave them with a good first impression.

5 Tips For Writing About Yourself On College Applications

Show personal depth.

While students may be tempted to state just the facts of their background, encourage depth and description in their application. A holistic admissions process loves to see students with interests that interconnect, especially when provided with a record of extracurricular involvement to back it up . Providing detail gives the reader the context they’ll need to get a clear picture of the student.

In other words, students shouldn’t be afraid to nerd out and get passionate! If their interest in political activism is driven by the field they’re most interested in studying, such as climate science, encourage them to work all aspects of their character into their application. Same with art, social justice, psychology, and more! Colleges provide students with essay prompts that invite them to get personal for a reason - they love the inside look at what qualities your student will bring to their campus.

However, students should be careful to not merely rewrite a list of accomplishments, extracurriculars, or commitments that can be found elsewhere on their college applications. A student’s personal essay can lean on these parts of the application by focusing on the most important accomplishments rather than trying to list all of them within a small word count limit.

DESCRIBE YOUR BACKGROUND

Today, it’s possible for students from all walks of life to attend college, each bringing their own unique perspective and background to create more diverse campuses than ever . As this diversity is continually being recognized as a driver of innovation and equality, colleges are giving applicants more chances than ever to describe their background and what factors have shaped them into the person they are today.

Therefore, if there’s a unique aspect of your student’s background that you believe is worth highlighting in their college application, don’t hesitate! Colleges are eager to hear from applicants with experiences during their upbringing that reveal grit, determination, or ambition.

MAKE USE OF STORIES

To this end, students should make use of stories in their personal statements, if given a prompt where a story would make sense. Past experiences that show personal growth, dedication to values or ethics, or willingness to reach out and help those in need can all do more to tell a college about an applicant’s potential as a student than a grade point average ever could.

Shockingly, sometimes the most powerful stories to tell in a personal statement are those where a student has failed, lost, or made a mistake. In these stories, students are not only given the opportunity to display humility and the capability for growth, but also many other soft skills often associated with success in higher education.

Even if the essay prompt doesn’t invite your student to share a story, look for ways to naturally incorporate small anecdotes. Past experiences and stories, even summarized in a few sentences, can add a personal touch to an essay that college admissions officials will notice.

CONNECT TO THE SCHOOL

Students should always aim to be truthful in their college applications and should avoid making themselves seem more connected to the college they apply to than they really are. However, if a student’s interests, values, or experiences align with a college’s, then making an effort to genuinely connect with the school in their college essay can give students an edge.

For example, a student with a nearly life-long passion for debate would be well served to mention it when applying for a school where their debate team has received national recognition.

Additionally, if your child has had positive experiences with a school, whether through official programs or interactions with current students or alumni, a brief mention of this can work well in their college essay. When a student is unsure of how to answer “why this college” essay prompts , this tactic can be a great way to bridge the gap between what first drew a student toward a school and what convinced them to apply.

ASK FOR AN OUTSIDE OPINION

If your student finds themselves struggling to weave their personal story into the essay prompt, one way to spark ideas is to ask a trusted outsider for help. From a counselor to a teacher or fellow student, chances are your student will know someone who is willing to give them an idea of how they’d describe them to others. These outside looks will do wonders for your child’s confidence, creativity, and perspective when it comes to writing their “me, myself, and I” personal statement.

Depending on who your student asks, they may even be reminded of past experiences where they showed personal growth, committed to their values, or helped someone in need. Hearing stories from a different perspective may make it easier to write about them in a way that doesn’t feel self-aggrandizing. If they’ve already written a rough first draft of the story, their helper may be able to fill in details that add strength to the essay.

Make Your Personal Statement Personal

Many students struggle with the idea of writing about themselves. However, the perception that describing your past or telling a meaningful story about yourself is “bragging” couldn’t be further from the truth. Colleges are eager to hear stories that give insight into who a student is beyond their grades and test scores, and students would be wise to take advantage of the opportunities to do so. Yet, even the most accomplished adults struggle with describing themselves and their own accomplishments. It can be difficult to sell yourself, no matter how much value you bring to the table!

If your student is having a difficult time portraying themselves in their college application, we’d love to hear from you and see where our WeAdmit counselors can help. Our counselors are experienced in helping guide students toward submitting the best possible college applications, exploring all their options, and putting their best first impression forward. We would love to hear from you and see how our team can help your student get into their dream college!

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How to Write About Yourself in a College Essay | Examples

Published on September 21, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability. Your essay shouldn’t just be a resume of your experiences; colleges are looking for a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

To write about your achievements and qualities without sounding arrogant, use specific stories to illustrate them. You can also write about challenges you’ve faced or mistakes you’ve made to show vulnerability and personal growth.

Table of contents

Start with self-reflection, how to write about challenges and mistakes, how to write about your achievements and qualities, how to write about a cliché experience, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Before you start writing, spend some time reflecting to identify your values and qualities. You should do a comprehensive brainstorming session, but here are a few questions to get you started:

• What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
• Whom do you admire most and why?
• What are the top five things you are thankful for?
• What has inspired your hobbies or future goals?
• What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

As you self-reflect, consider how your values and goals reflect your prospective university’s program and culture, and brainstorm stories that demonstrate the fit between the two.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Writing about difficult experiences can be an effective way to show authenticity and create an emotional connection to the reader, but choose carefully which details to share, and aim to demonstrate how the experience helped you learn and grow.

Be vulnerable

It’s not necessary to have a tragic story or a huge confession. But you should openly share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to evoke an emotional response from the reader. Even a cliché or mundane topic can be made interesting with honest reflection. This honesty is a preface to self-reflection and insight in the essay’s conclusion.

Don’t overshare

With difficult topics, you shouldn’t focus too much on negative aspects. Instead, use your challenging circumstances as a brief introduction to how you responded positively.

Share what you have learned

It’s okay to include your failure or mistakes in your essay if you include a lesson learned. After telling a descriptive, honest story, you should explain what you learned and how you applied it to your life.

While it’s good to sell your strengths, you also don’t want to come across as arrogant. Instead of just stating your extracurricular activities, achievements, or personal qualities, aim to discreetly incorporate them into your story.

Brag indirectly

Mention your extracurricular activities or awards in passing, not outright, to avoid sounding like you’re bragging from a resume.

Use stories to prove your qualities

Even if you don’t have any impressive academic achievements or extracurriculars, you can still demonstrate your academic or personal character. But you should use personal examples to provide proof. In other words, show evidence of your character instead of just telling.

Many high school students write about common topics such as sports, volunteer work, or their family. Your essay topic doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but do try to include unexpected personal details and your authentic voice to make your essay stand out .

To find an original angle, try these techniques:

• Focus on a specific moment, and describe the scene using your five senses.
• Mention objects that have special significance to you.
• Instead of following a common story arc, include a surprising twist or insight.

Your unique voice can shed new perspective on a common human experience while also revealing your personality. When read out loud, the essay should sound like you are talking.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

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150 Great Words and Phrases to Use During the College Admissions Process

Founder, Director, adMISSION POSSIBLE; author, speaker, adMISSION POSSIBLE: The Dare to Be Yourself Guide for Getting into the Best College for You

Who Are You? The Most Important Question in College Admissions!

At my first college admissions meetings with students, I ask parents to identify nouns, adjectives, phrases, and short stories that will help me know something about their son or daughter. Usually, one parent takes the lead, calling out a rapid-fire list of words: "Brilliant, tough as nails in sports, hard-working, a team player." Then the other parent chimes in with more adjectives: "Caring, respectful, great with children." I like to hear from both parents because moms and dads often have unique perspectives on their kids. To get a little deeper, I might also ask, "What was your son (or daughter) like when he (she) was a little boy (girl)?" Or, "How do you think your daughter's (son's) friends would describe her (him)?"

I take notes on what the parents say, and when they are finished with their verbal offerings, I ask students if they want to add anything. After the meeting, I email the list of the words to the student and parents, so they can keep adding words.

This exercise is the beginning of a process to come up with word messages students want colleges to "get" about them as they fill-out applications, write essays and have interviews. Figuring out how to communicate about what makes you "you" is one of the most important parts of applying to college.

Why do this? Well, last year's Stanford application asked, "What five words best describe you?" As they complete the application School Report and Teacher Evaluation forms, high school counselors and teachers appreciate word lists to help them write about what makes students stand out. Just so you know, research suggests that knowing who you are is a first step in becoming a confident, effective adult.

A Word List Starting Point

Since I always encourage students to develop word lists, many ask me to provide examples of words that other applicant families have come up with. To give you some idea, here is a list of descriptive words and phrases I have collected over the years:

A: Academic, adventurous, an advocate, analytical, animal-lover, animated, articulate, artistic, assertive, astute, athletic, autonomous

B: Balanced, brilliant, business-oriented

C: Can-do attitude, capable, caring, cerebral, good with children, class clown, community service oriented, compassionate, competent, concerned about others, confident, conscientious, considerate, courageous, creative, curious

D: Daring, dependable, detail-oriented, diligent, disciplined, down-to-earth, driven

E: Empathetic, enthusiastic, an entrepreneur, ethical, an explorer

F: Fearless, a finisher, fitness-oriented, flexible, focused, a foodie, friendly, doesn't suffer fools, fun, funny

G: Generous, gentle, genuine, never gives up, goal-oriented, goes beyond what is expected, good natured, good with the elderly, gracious, grounded

H: Happy, hard-working, health-oriented, honest, humble, GREAT sense of humor

I: Imaginative, fiercely independent, inspirational, an intellectual, intelligent, interpersonal, involved

J: Jovial, joyful

K: Kind, has real know-how, knowledge-seeking

L: Good with languages, a leader, a fast learner, logical, loyal

M: Mature, mechanically oriented, methodical, modest, motivated, multi-lingual, musical

N: Natural, nonconformist

O: An "old-soul," optimistic, organized, original, outdoorsy, outgoing, his or her own person

P: Passionate, patient, persistent, poised, polite, popular, positive, has stage presence, a problem solver

Q: Quick, quirky

R: A reader, reliable, a researcher, resilient, resourceful, respected, respectful, responsible, a risk-taker

S: Scholarly, scientific, a self-starter, science-oriented, sensitive to others, sincere, sparkling, spiritual, a sponge for ideas, a sports nut, stands out from the crowd, social, strong-willed, studious, supportive

T: Take-charge person, talented, a natural teacher, a team player, techy, tenacious, deep thinker, thirsty for knowledge, loves to travel, trustworthy

U: Unafraid, unique, unpretentious, upfront

V: Vivacious

W: Willing to step up, worldly, beautiful writer

X: A xenophile (love of foreigners)

I encourage you to take a look at the words above and circle any that apply to you. If other words or phrases pop into your mind, write them down! Keep the list in an accessible place so that you can refer back to them summer/fall of your senior year, when you begin working on college application materials.

By the way, if you want to share your own special words with others, put them in the Comments Section below, or send them to my Twitter (@admissposs) or Facebook pages. I'll then post a running list on my website, www.adMISSIONPOSSIBLE.com

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how to describe myself for a scholarship application.

Hey everyone! I'm currently applying for a scholarship, and they've asked me to use words to describe myself. What are some good, unique descriptions I can use that will reflect positively on me and differentiate myself from other applicants? Thanks!

Hi there! When describing yourself for a scholarship application, it's essential to be authentic and offer details that highlight your personality and strengths. Here are some tips and examples to help you represent yourself in the best possible way:

1. Be honest: Use words that accurately depict who you are, not just who you think the scholarship committee wants to see.

2. Focus on strengths: Think about your most significant attributes, skills, and talents, and use words that reveal these aspects of your personality. For example, you could describe yourself as "resourceful," "adaptable," or "resilient." Be specific—words like “intelligent” won’t move the needle, because any applicant would likely describe themselves that way.

3. Showcase leadership qualities: If you've taken on roles where you've led or mentored others, consider using words like "proactive," "motivated," or "inspirational."

4. Emphasize personal growth: Share words that highlight how you've grown and learned from experiences: for instance, "reflective," "growth-oriented," or "introspective."

5. Describe your passions and interests: Select descriptors that showcase your hobbies, interests, and passions, such as "artistic," "scientific," or "community-driven."

6. Highlight your unique qualities: Think about distinctive aspects of your personality or background that set you apart from other applicants, like "multilingual," "globally-minded," or "entrepreneurial."

Remember, it's crucial to provide context for these descriptors, so try to include brief examples that demonstrate how these words apply to you, to give your readers something to anchor to. Good luck with your scholarship application!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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450+ Words To Describe Yourself: Interview Tips

Rolyns Donald

As seen in:

Dating back in history, the best way to rapidly but correctly use words to describe yourself courtesy of your best qualities is seen to be an elevator pitch .

These pitches are a few, brief and concise words you will say to your interviewer about yourself when you are allowed limited time to describe your qualities.

The elevator pitch was traditionally designed to be used in a job-related circumstance.

Now, in modern times, be it a site where you get to connect with dates, friends or as an entrepreneur who promotes a product or renders services, there are several situations where you need to make people get a clearer picture of who you are.

Considering circumstances of the social media platform, it’s not always necessary to use full sentences as expected but a few words or less.

It is great when you make use of powerful and compelling words to describe yourself. It could be a compelling adjective or noun to talk more about who you are.

With how important and relevant effective self-description has become, nowadays, most people have taken it upon themselves to create a brand of their own describing themselves as well as the product or services they are trying to promote and market.

It is acceptable to admit that the brand describes the person behind the product or services, while your target audience or the site you describe yourself on, determines which adjectives work best.

Words used to describe yourself on a social media platform like LinkedIn will vary when it comes to describing yourself on another social platform like an online dating site since they serve different purposes.

Although, you may find it convenient introducing yourself before someone new as the wild and crazy life of the party even though it is inappropriate to mention same in your job search documents such as your resume or cover letter.

Read on, as we cite different scenarios and the appropriate words for each. Ensure to use your best judgement as each section could further be broken down.

Take for example, a job interview for a sales associate position may allow for use of gregarious and persuasive words while a job interview for a librarian may allow for describing yourself with more conservative words.

Furthermore, do you know that describing yourself in three words might not be as easy as it sounds and might even get trickier than you think when narrowing them down?

This carefully tailored guide will furnish insight on how you can effectively describe yourself in just three words and what perfect words to use.

Our list of 450+ words to describe yourself is not just any given list; we’ve categorized them into specific sections to enable you get the most appropriate words to describe yourself in any situation.

These lists can help you access the right words to describe yourself especially in situations where you need to answer the popular interview question “Tell me about yourself?”

We’ve got you covered in every way. Whether you need to choose from words that describes you as an honest person, words that makes you stand out on your college application or words to describe you, enough to make you look fun and attractive for your online dating profile too.

Abiding by our proven strategies irrespective of the situation will help you give a unique impression and help you with the ability to list out the best qualities about yourself.

In your entire career, you may accept requests to describe yourself and your contributions to a workplace. Understanding how to effectively communicate your best qualities could help you earn opportunities, succeed interviews and advertise yourself to new professional contacts.

Most times, selecting words to describe yourself can serve as an enablement to expand your vocabulary and study your options so you can emphasize your value to potential hiring managers.

As we advance in this article, we hope to outline simple ways you can use words to describe yourself, while discussing key strategies for your success .

So, the next time you have to describe yourself to someone who doesn’t know you, you will be ready with a whole lot of motivating new words and synonyms to describe yourself with.

Let’s dive in!

How To Use Words To Describe Yourself

Below are key steps to consider when choosing words to describe yourself in your job search:

1. Reflect on your strengths

Whenever you are describing yourself to a new potential employer, first and foremost is for you to list out your important traits.

Think about the time you invested in making a positive impact on your colleagues, clients or company and consider what helped you to do so.

For example, if you developed an idea for a guerilla marketing campaign that boosts sales by 10% at your previous job, you might use terms like clever or innovative as words to describe yourself.

2. Review the job description

When you find accurate words to describe yourself by mirroring the qualities mentioned in the job description, it will be advantageous to you as hiring managers won’t think twice in granting you the job role.

Study the job description carefully and mark the descriptive words. For example, numerous hiring managers seek candidates who are fast learners, possess a good sense of humor or have teamwork spirit.

To a very large extent this amiable insight of reviewing job description can inform your choices when choosing words to describe yourself.

3. Be specific

When applying for jobs, you might intend to outstand and segregate yourself from other candidates. Instead of using generic terms like “excellent” or “successful” when describing yourself, you can think of words that are related to your skill set.

You may decide to use a resource like a dictionary to find specific, descriptive words that may help distinguish you from other candidates.

4. Ask your peers for help

Maybe you are uncertain on how to convey your personality and work ethics, then you can call on your colleagues to seek assistance.

You can inquire from your supervisor, peers or friends about how best they can describe you, while you write down their responses.

Their responses might be of benefit to you in developing an all-encompassing description of yourself especially when it comes from people who know you both personally and at work.

If you find it difficult to approach people directly, then you can reflect on positive feedback you have gathered from your past managers and colleagues.

5. Focus on positive traits

In some cases, hiring managers or people within your network may ask that you describe yourself. Note that the words you use may define their notion about you.

It’s really important to focus on your positive traits when describing yourself as this can boost your chances of securing an interview or getting recommended ahead for a new opportunity. Let words that have a positive connotation be your target.

During an interview, when asked by an interviewer to describe your weaknesses, do consider how you can reframe a negative trait into positive.

You could discuss the positive side of your weaknesses or possibly explain how you have learned to overcome it. For example, instead of describing yourself as ”controlling” you could share how you enjoy working independently.

Also, express appreciation for the ease and perspective that can come up especially when you schedule tasks to others.

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Words To Describe Yourself On A Resume

Before you start customizing your resume for a specific job, you are expected to choose the right descriptive words that could help you attract the attention of a hiring manager.

It’s better to use words of your own than copying the language used in the job description so as to help develop a vocabulary of meaningful words which might be profitable to you.

When you are describing yourself on your resume, focus on indicating the most important qualities mentioned in the job posting while being sincere about your abilities.

Your resume ensures getting you ready for an interview, so using the right language can be helpful to capture your ability to successfully carry out the core functions of the job.

Words that imply a positive outcome like “resourceful” “meticulous” and “data-driven” may be profitable depending on the position you are gunning for.

The following are examples of powerful adjectival words to describe yourself on a resume:

Verbs to use in describing your accomplishments on your resume:

Words To Describe Yourself In An Online Profile/Bio

Words to describe yourself in a cover letter.

As your resume reflects the most important parts of your background, a cover letter also allows you to describe yourself and qualifications on a deeper level.

Remember to balance yourself with the company’s value and culture when describing yourself and contributions in a cover letter.

Have an in-depth study of the organization and understand more about the type of people they like to work with and then share on what makes you think you can work in such job environment.

For example, if the company’s website indicates a playful copy, bold colors and discusses the benefits of collaboration within the office work environment, this makes it appropriate to describe yourself as a “charismatic team player.”

Your cover letter also offers you the opportunity to prove your claims with more proofs. Be reminded to add data that enhances your chosen words.

When describing yourself as “impactful,” for example, it might help to express positive outcome of your work such as facilitating an increase in sales leads.

You might like: Cover Letter vs. Resume

Below are some descriptive words to describe yourself in a cover letter:

Words To Describe Yourself On A Dating Profile

Words to describe yourself in an interview.

In most interviews, prospective employers tend to ask candidates to describe themselves in three words.

If an interviewer requests you choosing three words to describe yourself, they might want to know what your thoughts are about yourself in brief.

Numerous employers may decide to employ candidates who are confident, self-aware and honest, therefore choosing the appropriate words could help you succeed in your interview.

As you decide to select the three words to describe yourself, try anecdotes, data or examples. Be keen on professional words that reflects the value you can add to a team.

You can make your response as wide as possible by prioritizing variety.

For example, a single word could speak to your ethics and professional values, another could describe your personality while the third could characterize the quality of your work.

Try making a list of words you feel describes you and consider different pairings until you discover a set that compliments each other effectively.

The stakes might be higher but the same rules from above apply, which requires that you stay positive and honest. The only difference now is for you to be more specific.

If the hiring manager asks this question, what they are trying to assess about you is whether you have the personality and the skills required to excel in three jobs.

The only way to nail this job interview question is to stay relevant and provide proof. Though if the words you used to describe yourself are not relevant to the job, you stand a risk of missing out as the human resources manager won’t be impressed.

Normally, any job seeker can claim to be creative and hardworking but there’s need to follow up the words with examples of how you demonstrate that quality.

For example, let’s say a nurse is seeking a job at a hospital and the interviewer asks “what are three words to describe yourself?” Below is the example that misses the mark.

 It is wrong to reply an interviewer this way:

“I’m reliable, cheerful, and … shy.”

By this time, the human resources manager might be waiting for a follow-up that never comes as the pause in the reply becomes awkward.

On the contrary, there’s nothing wrong with being shy, but shyness is irrelevant to the position at hand.

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Okay, how can we improve the above response to the question; what are 3 words to describe yourself?

What are 3 words to describe yourself?

“Let’s see. I’m reliable—I was so consistent in updating patient’s charts that I was promoted to a position responsible for training new hires. I’m very cheerful—Studies show that positivity can have a huge effect on patient recovery times, so I smile often and crack jokes whenever the time is right. And I’m energetic—In my last position at a long-term care facility, I was single-handedly caring for up to 15 patients per shift. That required me to move fast while still paying attention to small details.”

Wow—Now that’s an answer. Highly relevant, honest, solid work experience and with evidence to back it all up.

Let’s see how this works through another 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:

Wrong Answer:

“I am creative, competitive, and tenacious.”

Now, there’s nothing technically wrong with these adjectives; however, the answer isn’t the best 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 be assertive. Here’s a more interview-friendly way to answer this question:

Correct Answer:

“To begin with, I am creative – in my last school, I came up with a 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.”

Interview words to describe yourself

Words to describe yourself on a college application.

The majority of college applications require that you submit a personal statement. One key way to promote yourself and prove the reason why you are the worthy candidate for a certain program is via a personal statement.

This is unlike motivational letters where you are expected to give a concrete explanation about your academic objectives. Personal statement is vital such that it allows a gap for creativity.

Here, you can get more expressive and personal with the words to describe yourself as opposed to your resume or job interview.

As a college undergraduate candidate, you are expected to list out your key strengths and show what makes you indispensable.

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College application words to describe yourself

Words To Describe Your Personality

Positive adjectives to describe your personality.

Funny Words To Describe Yourself

Positive Words To Describe Yourself

“I am a hardworking, creative and efficient person. I have a positive perspective and can work well with others. I am always ready to learn new things, and I am never afraid to try something new.”

This is one great way to describe yourself. What are some other ways you could describe yourself?

This section will cover the words that you should use to represent yourself. These words are often used in resumes and cover letters, so these words should be chosen carefully.

Words to Describe Yourself – Resume

While it’s sometimes tough trying to describe yourself in a few words to get a hiring manager’s attention, it’s worth spending some time strategizing how you can make a great first impression because once formed, first bad impressions are hard to create a conviction.

Irrespective of the situation, the aim is to stay upbeat and positive when describing yourself.

Now is not the time for humility as the best words to describe yourself will be those that honestly capture your positive qualities.

As far as your job search documents are concerned, you won’t be asked directly to find three words to describe yourself. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t care about the adjectives you choose to give a brief description of yourself.

Your resume speaks for you before you are even selected for an interview. So, your choice of words to describe yourself therein is visibly more important.

Note that it’s not enough to just fill your resume with adjectives here and there and then call it a day. It is expected of you to find the accurate way to market yourself.

In this section, you will be guarded on how to describe yourself the right way using the right words.

Very importantly, your resume profile is the first place to add the right words to describe yourself. Be it via a resume summary or a resume objective, you will need to fix at least one strong adjective to describe yourself and make a good and lasting impression.

If you must know, it is pretty essential, considering that most recruiters or hiring managers spend an average of 15 seconds glancing through a resume. You can now see how first impression matters?

Be rest assured that plugging in some words to describe yourself on resume won’t cut it same as with the interview. Make sure you choose words or adjectives that are most relevant to your job.

Secondly, be reminded to always back up your claims with cited examples or achievements in this case.

Let’s assume that you are a fresh college graduate applying as a Communications Assistant , your resume objective/summary would look something like this:

Resume Objective Example

“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. Possesses 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:

Resume Summary Example

“Task-driven professional with experience in data entry, customer service, and reception. Able to perform accurate and efficient entry of data into administrative software. Driven to attain both the long and short-term goals of a people-driven organization”

Here are some more adjectives to choose from in order to describe yourself:

Interesting Words To Describe Yourself

Words not to describe yourself (professionally).

In the professional context as you can imagine, there are words you should restrain from using to describe yourself.

It’s not like these adjectives that describe you are quite absurd; however, they might not cause a reaction as expected when you use them out of context. What are we insinuating?

Consider the following example; imagine using these words to describe yourself in a job interview:

What will you have me say? Let’s take this for instance;

“I’m amazing, funny and unique”

If you observe very well, it will be more edifying if a colleague or anyone for that matter described you this way.

Addressing yourself as amazing in the presence of recruiters might be a bit too outrageous without really saying anything at all.

Here’s a list of our top 7 words NOT to describe yourself (outside of your friends’ circle):

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 describe yourself using words that are relevant to the job, while backing up your claims with examples.
• Your resume profile is your chance to make a memorable first impression – scan the job description 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 proof, sounds generic, or an adjective that makes more sense being said for you (and not by you), then stay away. 

At this junction, we believe you are more than enlightened and ready to now take a mind-blowing step towards advancing your career using the right words to describe yourself in various styles and fashion.

Best interview wishes! You are ambitious, confident, resourceful and without any doubt, you will do great.

Further Reading

Writing a Cover Letter? Double Check These 4 Things First

How to Find a Job in Boston, MA Fast- All You Need to Know

The Best Books for Professional Development and Success

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