300+ Best Words to Describe Yourself in a Professional Setting

Using the right words to describe yourself is vital in a professional environment where you want to present yourself in the most favorable light. The correct terminology can help you optimally showcase your skills and experiences, give a glimpse into your personality and work ethic, and more. 

In this article, we’re going to examine some of the best words to use to describe yourself in various situations. You’ll learn which phrases and expressions grab attention in resumes, job interviews, college applications, and other scenarios. 

Without further ado, let’s jump right in!

85+ Best Words to Describe Yourself

Knowing the best words to use to describe yourself allows you to navigate a delicate act of self-promotion without sounding arrogant. Adequate terminology helps you emphasize your qualities in both professional and social settings. This is essential, as words shape how others perceive you, be it recruiters, potential employees, peers, colleagues, etc.

Whether you’re about to write your resume or update your LinkedIn profile, or if you’re looking for words to describe yourself in an interview or a networking event, you should know what terms and adjectives to use to maximize your chances of success.

The best words to describe yourself are ones that highlight your abilities, accomplishments, and personality in an honest and authentic way. Instead of haphazardly choosing adjectives to describe yourself, use the terms that genuinely describe your strengths and beliefs.

Moreover, it’s important to acknowledge the context in which you’re going to use those words. For instance, you can describe yourself as a problem-solver when going for both a leadership position and a creative role, but those words will have different meanings.

Finally, remember that any form of exaggeration or insincerity will quickly undermine your credibility and hurt your chances of leaving a good impression.

That being said, here’s a comprehensive list of unique words to describe yourself:

33+ Best Words to Describe Yourself During a Job Interview

Job interviews are professional evaluations where recruiters and hiring managers try to determine whether candidates are good fits for their organizations. During these meetings, it’s common practice for interviewers to ask applicants to describe themselves.

In these situations, it’s crucial to choose the most impactful and relevant words to describe yourself for the job that you’re applying for. Relevance is essential because recruiters aren’t just looking for any list of adjectives that you can give them. Instead, they are after someone who can excel in a particular role in the organization.

Another thing that interviewers want to find out about candidates is their goals, aspirations, and personality traits. For instance, cultural fit interview questions help recruiters assess whether job hunters’ values match the company’s and whether they’d adequately integrate into their team.

A common interview question recruiters ask is for candidates to describe themselves in three words. 

Here’s what a good answer to that question looks like: 

For comparison, here’s a bad answer to this question that includes words you shouldn’t use:

Here’s a comprehensive list of the best words to describe yourself during a job interview:

33+ Best Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume

Your resume is often your first point of contact with a recruiter, which is why it’s paramount to know the right words to use to describe yourself. You only get one chance at leaving a good first impression, and should you succeed, you’ll significantly improve your chances of being contacted for an interview.

The terminology you choose can demonstrate your skills and qualifications, assist in showcasing your work history, and help you stand out from the competition. Your main goal should be to highlight your competence while ensuring your attributes align with the company’s needs.

Here are some notable sections where you should use the strongest words to describe yourself:

Let’s see a good example of how you can use words to describe yourself in a resume summary:

Now compare that to a bad example with inadequate writing and terminology:

Here’s a thorough list of the best words to describe yourself on a resume:

37+ Best Words to Describe Yourself in a College Application

Knowing the best words to describe yourself in a college application can help you persuade admissions committees, which often go through thousands of applications.

Most colleges require applicants to write and submit personal statements. These documents are less formal than resumes and motivation letters, as their focus isn’t solely on your skills and career goals. Instead, you should be creative and use catchy words to describe your personality.

Ultimately, you should underscore your drive, dedication, and unique qualities. You want to demonstrate confidence while not forgetting to balance that with humility and self-awareness. The goal is to portray yourself as a motivated candidate who understands that they are at the start of their journey and are willing to grow.

Here’s a good example of how you can use words to describe yourself as a student who is worthy of college admission:

Now, here’s a bad example that makes a candidate sound pretentious instead of skilled and motivated:

Finally, here’s an extensive list of the strongest words to describe yourself for college:

33 Words Not to Use to Describe Yourself

While it is critical to know what words to use to describe yourself, it is just as important to know which phrases not to use.

For example, you should never describe yourself as “amazing,” “genius,” or a “marketing ninja.” Bringing up these terms in a humorous way to a friend, colleague, or mentor is one thing, but describing yourself like that in front of recruiters and hiring managers will do you more harm than good.

Many of these words aren’t inherently bad; they just aren’t suitable for use in a business environment. Some of them can make you sound arrogant or out of touch. For instance, describing yourself as “perfect” likely won’t convey that you’re competent. Instead, it might suggest that you think you have no flaws and thus won’t make any effort to improve.

Including these words in your resume or using them during an interview can make you sound immature. Recruiters might see you as inflexible, stubborn, and hard to work with. This can undermine your credibility, even if you have quantifiable results and concrete achievements to showcase.

Another thing you should avoid is using generic and vague adjectives that aren’t supported by solid proof. Describing yourself as “talented” or “visionary” without providing any relevant accomplishments to show for it will likely have the opposite effect than what you’re going for. 

With all that in mind, here’s a long list of words to avoid when describing yourself:

Final Thoughts

Using the right words to describe yourself is vital in both your private life and your professional career. While some terms make you come off as arrogant and boastful, others make you appear competent and sophisticated.

We’ve given you words to use and shown you concrete examples of how to describe yourself to maximize your chances of writing a job-winning resume or succeeding in an interview. Remember to be thoughtful when selecting the adjectives, use them to emphasize your unique qualities, and ensure they match the company’s needs. Best of luck!