I have complete understanding for your feelings. Responsible, detail-oriented, skilled, flexible, elaborate, adaptable, sociable, listener, talker, alive. And that’s the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, a chance to explain how the characteristic will help you in your new job, or why the one is so important, so special to you, that you picked it from the huge selection of words that characterize your character, life, and attitude…. Dynamic. This can work work, especially if you pick something fitting to the job description, or for the the company culture. However, if the “sales talk” hasn’t been going well up to this point, if you feel that your chances are getting slimmer with each next question, you can try your luck with something unconventional, or even bizarre. I hope so! That’s really a tricky situation. Or you feel lonely, deserted, or almost a nobody. What to do, however, when hiring managers ask you to describe yourself with the help of one word only? Some of them are just too underwhelming while others are a bit too boastful. Let me give you a few examples. After all, our emotions change, so do our roles in life. Ambitious, bold, creative, positive, passionate, empathic, transparent, honest, resilient, humble. Recruiters want to hire someone who has a positive attitude towards everything and is full … Check also sample answers to other tricky interview questions: Matthew has been working in international recruitment since 2008. Leader, follower, manager, coach, technician, engineer, teacher, winner, entertainer, entrepreneur. Interview is a sales talk, and you should try to tell them something that makes a good impression, that show you in the best possible light. Maybe you feel like a victim, or really unlucky in your life. Intelligent; Superior; Perfect; Obsessive; Humble; Straightforward; Lazy; Uncooperative; Rude; Vindictive; Entitled; Absent; Dramatic Ready to answer this one? Or you are just a dreamer, still waiting for your opportunity to realize your ambitions. Because it’s also a test of your ability to follow instructions and orders, so one word is one word, and if you say three or opt for an entire sentence, you are losing points in this interview. It’s better when they remember you in any association, than when they forget you five minutes after the end of your interview, perhaps because you told them the same things everyone else did…. It is always good if the hiring managers get an impression that the interview is important to you, that you are happy to be where you are. If you were an animal, what would you be? Hence it is fine to pick something fleeting, something that describes who you are, or how you feel, in the exact moment when they ask the question. Be careful about your choice. You can describe these feelings when they ask you to describe yourself in one word. Leader, follower, manager, coach, technician, engineer, teacher, winner, entertainer, entrepreneur. Still, it would be only somehow accurate. However, you should focus on something positive in a job interview. And you should not remain silent, or think for five minutes before you pick the one word that describes you better than anything else. Not a bad choice for most hiring managers. The stakes are higher, but the same rules from above apply (stay positive and be honest). Athlete, artist, musician, painter, player, gamer, builder, destroyer, gunner, victim. And even if they do not ask you to elaborate on your strange choice, it is definitely something they will remember long time after the end of your interview. 27 Bad (SHOULDN'T use) Example One Word Answers To "Describe Yourself In One Word" These answers are less than ideal for a number of reasons. Dreamer, idealist, philosopher, realist, optimist, pessimist, poet, soul, brain, heart. One word is not really enough, but initially that’s what you should say. All of us have some bad days. Lost, unemployed, thriving, struggling, hoping, praying, trying, dreaming, screaming, nothing. Crazy, unpredictable, superhero, lunatic, demon, God, devil, archangel, joker, ace. Nobody wants to hire an employee who will walk around the office with their head bent, pitting themselves, or even seeding negativity in their colleagues. Tall, young, old, experienced, inexperienced, learner, pupil, short, healthy, fit. Silly or not, you may get this question in your interview. Nervous, confident, brilliant, forgiving, unprepared, prepared, strong, excited, happy, undecided. 2. Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview . He helps job seekers from all walks of life to pursue their career goals, and to prepare for their interviews. However, if there’s a moment of silence once you tell your word, you may ask whether they do not want you to elaborate on your characteristic, on the one word you picked. We have our strengths and weaknesses, our past, dream,s our friends and role models. Does your academic record accurately reflect your capabilities? He is the founder of InterviewPenguin.com website. When you find yourself in a situation when you have nothing to lose, why not characterize yourself as crazy, alive, or as an ace, an idealist, or even as a soul? If the interview isn’t going well, or you flopped some questions, you can even pick unprepared, or nervous for your answer. Such a choice allows for a lot of options when they ask you to elaborate on your answer. Avoid these at all costs. Why not saying that you are excited, or enthusiastic? One common interview question goes something like this: “What are 5 words to describe yourself?”. They typically expect to hear your greatest strength, or something that is really characteristic for you, something that makes you stand out from the other job applicants in the hiring process. Indescribable, unique, me, nobody, complicated, complex, human, mother, father, loner. Each of us is unique, and it may take more than 1,000 words to give at least a somehow accurate description of any person in the world. Each of us is a complex human being. What would you do if you saw a co-worker stealing a small item or giving food to someone without paying? But it’s a silly question indeed, because one word does never tell the entire story…. Enthusiastic (may be a good word for roles needing a change agent) Organized (good for managers or those working with a lot of moving parts) Focused; Productive; Steady; Creative; Active; Helpful; Responsible; Dedicated; Honest; Versatile; Valuable; Flexible; Tenacious; Analytical; These are all great words to describe yourself during a job interview. If you pick a character ability–some strength (empathic, responsible, honest, etc), it suggest that you built your identity around this ability, and consider it the greatest asset you can offer to your next employer. Let’s see if you can find your winner in my selection. If you pick a role, or a name of a profession you have or field you studies (manager, engineer, teacher, programmer, etc), it shows that work is really important to you, that it is what you think about the most, and perhaps even live for. It indicates (at least in the eyes of the interviewers) what matters the most to you. I put together a list of 100 words, each of them telling something about a person, and divided it to ten groups. The only difference is now you have to be more specific. Who says that he never experienced something similar is lying.