“Describe yourself in three words.”
I’m sure you’ve faced that challenge before.
It’s a common job interview question, but you might also hear it on dates or other situations where you are getting to know someone.
Heck, you may even make a discussion out of it with your friends.
And then there is the challenge of writing dating profiles, resumes, or other documents where you need to give the best first impression possible.
But what are the right words to describe yourself?
Which adjectives fit you down to a T?
To help you figure this out, we’ll explore a wide range of attributes that may apply to you.
We’ll provide 50 primary words along with alternatives for each, giving a total of 250 words to describe yourself as a person.
110 Words To Use In A Job Interview Or On A Resume
When you are trying to land a job and you want to impress the recruiter, you can integrate some of these words into your interview answers and/or your resume.
Remember, it is always best to use words that actually describe yourself – who you are and not who you think they want you to be.
Honesty is the best policy.
1. Conscientious – you take your duties seriously and take care to do things well every time.
Alternatives: diligent, meticulous, attentive, precise, dutiful.
2. Independent – you are able to work well by yourself and find solutions to any problems you encounter.
Alternatives: self-reliant, self-sufficient.
3. Creative – you are able to think outside the box and come up with ideas to drive the business forward.
Alternatives: inventive, imaginative, innovative, inspired, resourceful, unconventional.
4. Motivated – you have an inner drive to work hard, get the job done, and do well in your career.
Alternatives: driven, willing, ambitious, hungry, self-starter, determined, industrious.
5. Flexible – you are able to learn quickly and take on new duties with ease and as required.
Alternatives: adaptable, versatile, all rounder, dynamic.
6. Analytical – you have a talent for working with data and systems.
Alternatives: logical, inquisitive, detail-oriented, attentive.
7. Tenacious – you do whatever it takes to get something done.
Alternatives: persistent, dogged, steadfast, resolute, focused.
8. Trustworthy – you can be counted upon to do the right thing.
Alternatives: responsible, reliable, dependable, honest, principled, truthful.
9. Efficient – you get things done with the minimum of fuss and with the least wasted time or resources.
Alternatives: productive, organized, methodical, practical.
10. Cooperative – you are able to work harmoniously with others.
Alternatives: amiable, personable, friendly, sociable, easy going.
11. Articulate – you are able to communicate effectively.
Alternatives: expressive, persuasive, reasoned, well-spoken.
12. Assertive – you have leadership qualities that people are willing to follow.
Alternatives: confident, decisive, self-assured, strong-willed, firm.
13. Committed – you are willing to stick at something and are prepared to stay in for the long haul.
Alternatives: dedicated, loyal, faithful, devoted.
14. Positive – you have an attitude that looks for the good and promotes happiness.
Alternatives: constructive, optimistic, cheerful, hopeful.
15. Professional – you act in ways that best represent and promote the company you work for.
Alternatives: respectable, courteous, charming, polished.
16. Perceptive – you are able to quickly assess situations or people.
Alternatives: astute, insightful, incisive, sharp, shrewd.
17. Genuine – you are a straight talker and you don’t hide who you are. What you see is what you get.
Alternatives: sincere, candid, straightforward, blunt, plain-spoken.
18. Enthusiastic – you are very eager to be a part of the company and get involved in what it is doing.
Alternatives: passionate, excited, willing.
19. Proactive – you are a doer. You don’t wait around for things to happen; you make them happen.
Alternatives: enterprising, daring, bold.
20. Composed – you stay cool and calm under pressure and don’t let your emotions get the better of you.
Alternatives: collected, unflappable, poised, self-assured, level-headed.
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70 Words To Describe Yourself On Dates / A Dating Profile
If you are looking to impress a potential partner, it helps if you can talk about yourself in ways that best represent all the positive qualities you have.
Here are some examples of descriptive words that you can use both when talking to your date and on your profile for dating websites and apps.
If you use these words to describe yourself, you’ll stand a better chance of landing a date and then transitioning to something more serious.
1. Thoughtful – you look for ways to do nice things for people and you think before you speak/act to avoid causing upset.
Alternatives: considerate, attentive, courteous, compassionate.
2. Caring – you like to make sure people are well looked after.
Alternatives: loving, big-hearted, generous, warm-hearted, kind.
3. Adventurous – you like to try new things and expand your horizons.
Alternatives: daring, thrill-seeker, free-spirited, intrepid, spontaneous.
4. Cheerful – you like to look on the bright side of life and see the good in everything.
Alternatives: joyful, cheery, sunny, upbeat, chirpy.
5. Loyal – you can be trusted upon without question and will always have your partner’s back.
Alternatives: faithful, devoted.
6. Energetic – you have bags of energy and like to be active as much as possible.
Alternatives: spirited, lively, animated, tireless, vivacious.
7. Laid back – you don’t take things too seriously and are happy to go with the flow.
Alternatives: relaxed, light-hearted, easy-going, carefree.
8. Honest – you tell the truth, even when the truth is hard to say.
Alternatives: sincere, genuine, frank, straight.
9. Confident – you believe in yourself and the qualities you bring to the table.
Alternatives: self-assured.
10. Perceptive – you notice the little things and you pay attention to what people say.
Alternatives: observant, intuitive, sensitive.
11. Affectionate – you like to show people that they are loved.
Alternatives: tender, cuddly, emotionally expressive.
12. Intelligent – you know a thing or two and you don’t hide that fact.
Alternatives: smart, well-informed, bright, cultured.
13. Creative – you like to make things, come up with ideas, and express yourself in different ways.
Alternatives: free-thinker, artistic, imaginative.
14. Outgoing – you are someone who enjoys spending time with other people.
Alternatives: friendly, sociable, welcoming, cordial.
15. Optimistic – you believe that things will always work out for the best one way or another.
Alternatives: hopeful, sanguine.
70 Other Adjectives To Describe Yourself
There will be other times when you are telling people about yourself when you might wish to use some of these words to describe yourself too.
1. Open-minded – you are willing to listen to other perspectives, learn new things, and be open to different ways of doing things.
Alternatives: non-judgmental, unbiased, impartial, tolerant, accepting.
2. Entrepreneurial – you enjoy business and are willing to take risks to make a success of yourself.
Alternatives: enterprising, aspirational.
3. Competitive – you revel in going up against others and trying to win at whatever you do.
4. Diplomatic – you are good at managing conflict and bringing people together.
Alternatives: accommodating, obliging, tactful, amicable, peacemaking.
5. Gentle – you have a soft nature that seeks to get on with everyone.
Alternatives: mellow, placid, genial, soft-spoken, well-mannered.
6. Humble – you realize that you are not the center of the universe.
Alternatives: modest, unassuming, unpretentious.
7. Silly – you just like to have lots of fun and don’t mind how you do it or what you look like.
Alternatives: fun-loving, mischievous, playful.
8. Persuasive – you know how to get people to come around to your way of thinking.
Alternatives: convincing, influential, believable, credible, eloquent.
9. Contemplative – you like to sit and think about your life, your past, your future.
Alternatives: reflective, meditative, introspective, deep thinker.
10. Respectful – you treat people as you would wish to be treated.
Alternatives: polite, gracious, courteous.
11. Sensible – you act with thoughtful consideration of the consequences.
Alternatives: prudent, rational, wise, judicious.
12. Mature – you display behavior that shows you are a real grown up.
Alternatives: sophisticated, worldly, cultured, experienced.
13. Unique – because everyone is unique in their own way.
Alternatives: quirky, different, unusual.
14. Competent – you are skilled at a particular task or duty.
Alternatives: capable, proficient, accomplished, adept, qualified, talented.
15. Brave – you are willing to face your fears and take risks.
Alternatives: courageous, fearless, gutsy.
This list of words to describe yourself is not exhaustive by any means. There are endless possible ways to talk about yourself.
But these particular adjectives are both well understood by most people and will be enough for most situations.
Choose wisely as whether you are in a job interview situation, working the dating scene, or just chatting to people you meet, it’s important to be succinct.
When picking words to describe yourself, make sure they really reflect who you are as an individual and put you in the best light possible.
