Aside from your skills, hiring supervisors are interested in your attitude and view on work and life. When it comes to making a great first impression during a job interview, knowing how to describe your personality is one of the most important factors. Because your character and behaviour are strong indicators of how well you’ll get along with the rest of the team, it’s no surprise that they ask you to describe your personality early in a job interview.
It seems simple enough—after all, if there’s one topic you’re an expert in, it’s you—but it’s all too easy to get tripped up when it comes to describing who you are as a person. (Also, no, “I’m fantastic! I’m not sure what else to say “won’t take off.)
There are four sorts of workplace personalities, according to consulting company Deloitte: pioneer, driver, integrator, and guardian—each with its own set of positive and bad characteristics. You may find out what your office personality is by taking Monster’s brief workplace personality questionnaire, and then utilise the results to generate talking points for job interviews. Also, keep reading for additional advice on how to describe your personality in an interview.
Examine the Job Advertisement
Job descriptions often indicate the features or personality traits companies are seeking for in candidates, in addition to detailing what hard skills are necessary for the position. As a result, your best strategy is to pick three fundamental soft talents and tell brief tales about how these traits have helped you in the past.
For instance, to demonstrate initiative, you may state, “I’m a manager, but at heart, I’m a people person. My previous position required me to take over a department with a high turnover rate. By giving flexible work schedules, establishing a pleasant work atmosphere, and recognising people for their accomplishments, I was able to increase employee retention.”
Obtain feedback from a third-party source.
It’s one thing to say you’re a leader; proving it with comments from a previous employer or coworker is quite another. As a result, as a means to congratulate yourself, share someone else’s impression of you.
Respond as though you’re being asked, “How would your colleagues define your personality?” Consider the following scenario: “My employer tells me all the time that I’m a team player. Last year, when we were behind on a major assignment, I offered to stay late and assist us in meeting our deadline.”
Select the Appropriate Buzzwords
Employers value soft skills more than technical talents like reading comprehension and arithmetic, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Incorporating a handful of these abilities into your response might help you stand out as a more appealing prospect. Employers frequently search for the following soft skills:
Integrity \sDependability
Adaptability
Professionalism
Teamwork \sRespect
Be truthful.
You must be genuine and honest with the hiring manager when answering any job interview question. Mention the characteristics you believe best describe you and are most proud of.
Obviously, you want to look for any personality features that would make a candidate naturally excellent at doing the work and joining the organisation, and check whether your own personality traits match up. However, if the hiring manager does not believe you are a suitable match for the role, you should seek for another career with a firm that shares your values and interests.
Sample Answers to “Describe Your Personality”
Although your response may vary depending on the position you’re going for and, of course, your personality, here are some decent samples of answers.
Answers that are appropriate
For a work as a financial analyst, you should: “My analytical mind is a key feature of my personality. That was something I used in my previous employment on a number of occasions…”
For a customer service position, you should: “By nature, I’m a problem-solver. When I communicate with a customer, my first priority is to handle their problem as soon and effectively as possible.”
For a position as an administrative assistant, you should: “I’ve always been exceptionally well-organized. That came in handy at my last employment, when my meticulous attention to detail helped the organisation save money on a large account…”
“I’m a wiz at analysing data and putting it into meaningful knowledge,” she says while applying for a data analyst position.
Here’s what you shouldn’t say in the meantime:
Stupid Answers
“I put forth a lot of effort.” Duh! Tell the recruiting manager something unusual about yourself, something she hasn’t heard before.
“I’m a people person. I am quite skilled at making friends and influencing others in social situations.” This response is more about me. “I’m a perfectionist,” you say, focusing on how your personality will benefit the job. Perfectionism can lead to problems with time management, which is a key worry among employers.
“I take pleasure in being a dependable employee. I am always on time for work.” Rather of just stating that you can satisfy the job’s fundamental criteria (e.g., arrive on time every day), emphasise a personality quality that would make you much more useful to a hiring manager than other applicants.
Make your job hunt as exciting as you are.
You’re a fantastic employee. You’re a self-starter with a strong work ethic. You never reheat salmon in the workplace microwave. People who are like you! The first step in establishing you’re a good match at a firm is learning how to explain your personality. Unfortunately, the job search will need more than just being amazing. Do you need some assistance sticking out from the crowd? Create a free Monster profile today. We can offer you career guidance and job-search tips—from updating your CV to negotiating your wage to asking for a raise, Monster’s professional counsel may help you get where you want to go.
