How Can You Describe Yourself in a Sentence
Are you stuck-up amidst the Board of Directors of your 3rd job interview, and this especially is the job you have ever thought or dreamed of, then just because you are asked to describe yourself in just a sentence, you are really confused about what to say? You just keep thinking and ruminating, should I tell them my name or better still tell them who I am ( i.e. telling them I am a person of reputable character, for example, a pastor or even an imam, just to earn their trust), where I am from and even what I am made of.
Smiles, oh yes I just mentioned what you have in mind. Just take a deep breath and say to yourself, “All is well” because that question is not going to put an end to your dream. Moreover, it is not the only difficult question asked during interview sessions, so why worry about this (oops, did I just say difficult? Yes it is difficult if you did not prepare yourself before the interview).
We will talk about the reasons behind the question, what you think they want to know, what they want to know and how to answer depending on when you are asked.
Why this Question?
It is of a notable experience that most companies ask this question and a lot of people keep wondering why it keeps coming. Well, the answer is simple; imagine a child of eight years of age still feeding on breast milk. Gosh, that sounds irritating, right? Because you expect such a child to have grown to past that. Good, the same way we expect a child at eight to have stopped breast milk, so the same way those companies also want to stop feeding on just anything.
As we all know that the child won’t grow as expected and every human at every stage of our lives want to grow and be better than the latter. So, that answers the question. Or are you still confused? OK, let me say you are been asked that question simply because they want to know what you have to offer, they also want to grow, they want to be better than the previous, they want to know why you are there, if you are been hired and the company did not improve then what is the point. So for them to have decided to replace that seat which you are about to take over, then they must know if they will get better or they are about to make the biggest mistake of their life.
What You Think They Want to Know?
So many people when they hear ”can you describe yourself in one sentence?” gets carried away about the fact that it is in just a sentence and think all they have to talk about is their name. Let me take us back to our basic school composition where we are always told to write about ourselves and all we write about is our name, our age, our height, our complexion, our best food etc, these are not what is expected from you. You don’t have to tell them about your background (who cares)
You might also think because you want them to know about you, probably because so many people tell you that you are hardworking, you are this, you are that then you might start choosing your words as much as it reflects you as someone that is proud, supercilious etc. Mind you no boss wants to employ his/her boss to her company.
You might even choose your adjectives wisely enough to be likable (no one is 100% likable) or probably because you don’t want to show yourself as arrogant then you pick your words as if you are not worth the post you are been interviewed for.
So, since your thinking might be wrong, you need to know what they really want to hear.
What do they want to know?
They want to know about your perfect qualities and characteristics. Since you shouldn’t present your answer as a proud, likable or lowly person, so then you should make that one sentence simple and catching. Note that your answer will give an insight into how you see yourself and the good you have for the company. Mainly what they want to know are the Adjectives you have in your head that you can describe yourself with, putting in mind the job description. So in your answer, they want to know about your;
- Competence
- Responsibility
- Professionalism
- Experience
- Creativity
- Reliability
- Ability
- Flexibility
- Passion
- Dynamism
Imagine yourself as the CEO of a company and you are interviewing a candidate and you asked “how would you describe yourself in one sentence?” and your candidate reply by saying “I am a people person, you will really enjoy meeting and working with me” what will you think of such a person, has he/she really said anything? The above response hasn’t given the response they need.
Has it?
How to answer, depending on when you are asked
(Best answer to describe yourself in one sentence)
On entering the board room you can be asked to describe yourself just in a sentence. Definitely shouldn’t your name be included? Take for instance; having the door ajar and the interviewer just bumped you with a question of the old; describe yourself in a sentence? Then you should respond at this: OK! (Your name) and inclusively add one or two of your strength in line with the job you want to put in for. Perhaps; By nomenclature, I am Jeff Bezos; proactive and efficient in computer operation and technical aspect thereof best fit in for this position.
With such an opener; you have given them as a bait to bargain into your ability and capability. And then by that, you have to open off the floor for several interrogations and with your power of creativity and your experiences, you possess you are good to go for it.
On the other hand; what if you are in the middle of the interview and you are the verge of ending the session and the question just bumped in; ‘how would you describe yourself in a sentence’. Would you not be stuck up having to engage in a long conversation with them?. This is what you do: Cook up one of your experience that saved a company you once worked for and how helpful it was. For instance; At the verge of ending the session and you were accosted with that same old question: Your response should be in form; OK! As known my name to be Chris Olamide. An efficacious personnel who could make things happen when we are at our closed ends; though assumed to be a staff already; thence this confidence will make them make a clapping or even a standing ovation for you and then you are worked.
Several Ways “Describe Yourself In A Sentence” Could Take
- Who are you?
- Can we meet you?
- Could you please, tell us more about yourself?
- What can you offer us?
Wondering if you could describe yourself adequately using one sentence, or if all the qualities you possess can be compressed into one sentence? Then here’s a tip on what to say:
1. I am an introverted person who doesn’t like prying into other people’s affairs
2. I am positive minded and always see the good in others.
3. I am very hardworking and committed even to the smallest things
4. I am a very shy person but you can get the best of me when you get closer to me.
5. I’m quite crazy but it’s all to bring out the creativity in me.
6. I am flexible, that is, I easily fit into any situation I find myself in.
7. I am a goal chaser, I don’t give up until I achieve my goals.
8. I can perform very well under any working condition(either good or bad).
9. I am a wonderful mediator, I can make things work between two different parties without any of the two feeling cheated in any way.
10. I am quite interesting, quiet this moment, and extremely loud the other moment, it depends on the side you want to see.
11. I enjoy being optimistic, I see the bright side of even the worst situation you could ever imagine.
12. I am quite inquisitive like I’m not satisfied with hearsays.
13. I am a reality freak, I deal majorly with facts and not fallacies.
14. I am a morning person, you get the best of me mostly during the early hours of the day.
15. I am a fun lover, I believe jobs are made easier when fun is fully involved.
16. I am a voracious reader, I’ve read the good, bad and the ugly.
17. I am a practical person, I don’t just deal with the theoretical aspect of an idea, I also go into the practical aspect.
18. I am a time freak, Whatever I do, I work with time.
19. I have strong leadership ability, I’ve been able to bring out the best in others as a result of being a leader.
20. I am very enterprising, I see business opportunities in everything.
21. I am easily motivated and can easily motivate others to bring out the best in them.
22. Being a principled individual, I find it easy to abide by the given rules and regulations of any organization I belong to.
23. I am a multifaceted individual, I can adapt to any given condition easily.
24. I am very determined, I don’t give up, even against all odds.
25. I am polite, generous and loyal to a fault.
26. I have that special ability to make preparations for future occurrences despite planning for the present.
27. I am a good orator, as such, I can easily influence people to achieve the desired goal.
28. I am very dynamic.
29. I am friendly, jovial and accommodating.
30. I am very outspoken, I can’t do without making new friends.
So over to you, if you were to describe yourself in one sentence what would you say? Kindly share with us using the comment box
I always have a to-do list, so I constantly find myself working towards something more.