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Self-descriptive questions are frequently asked by the employer
to gain some insight into the candidate's personal style. The
following are typical of questions you can expect to encounter
in the interviewer as the employer attempts to gauge your personal
style-your key traits and characteristics:
- How would you describe yourself?
- What five or six adjectives best describe you?
- If we were to ask two or three of your co-workers to describe
you, what would they likely say?
- If we asked your boss to list three or four of your most
positive attributes, what would he or she tell us?
- What traits and characteristics would your boss describe
as less pleasing?
- What words best describe your personal style?
- Which of your personal traits and characteristics have proven
most beneficial to your career?
- Which personal traits and characteristics have most hindered
your career progress?
During past performance reviews, which of your personal traits
and characteristics have most often been cited as strengths?
- During such reviews, which of your personal traits and characteristics
have been cited as areas for improvement?
- In your most intimate conversations
with family and close
friends, what have people said they most like about you?
- In similar conversations, what aspects of your personal
style have been suggested as areas for improvement? Which of
your traits and characteristics do you personally find most
frustrating?
- Of which of your traits and characteristics are you most
proud? Why?
- Of which of your traits and characteristics are you least
proud? Why?
- What is there about yourself that you would most like to
change? What change would you make? Why?
- Which of your personal traits and characteristics most enhance
your effectiveness with others?
- Which of your personal traits and characteristics sometimes
gets in the way of your relationship with others?
- Which of your personal traits and characteristics best qualify
you for this job?
- Of which aspects of your personal style are you most sensitive
and are you most trying to improve?
The Classic Answers
Although different organizations will
require different answers. the following sample answers
are illustrative of some approaches you could take to answering
these kinds of questions:
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1. "The three adjectives that, in my opinion, best describe
me are creative, energetic, and result-oriented. I have
earned a good reputation for coming up with creative solutions
and ideas to solve difficult problems. I tend to get a
lot accomplished in a relatively short time."
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2. "I think my co-workers would likely describe me as neat,
well-organized and highly dependable. I seem to have a
real propensity for making order out of disorder, and
bringing a sense of efficiency and focus to the work environment.
I've forgotten who said it, but I guess I am a strong
believer in the saying, 'A cluttered desk reflects
a cluttered mind.' Although I can function well in
the midst of chaos, sooner or later, I will get it organized
and gain a sense of control and efficiency."
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3. "I think my boss would describe me as positive,
energetic, and having a strong influence on the group. No
matter how dire the circumstances, I always manage to
maintain focus on the 'positive possibilities.'
I just refuse to let things get me down. I enjoy the challenge
of turning negatives into positives. As a result, I believe
I serve as an inspiration to others, and they like having
me around. I also tend to put a lot of positive energy
into turning the comer and bringing positive results about.
To me, that's the real challenge and the reason why we're
here."
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4. "Perhaps the single trait that has gotten in my way in
the past has been a tendency to sometimes be a little
too impatient and aggressive. I tend to be very
hard-working and result-oriented, and sometimes in my desire to
get things done quickly and efficiently, some may have
viewed me as being somewhat pushy or aggressive. Although
certainly never a major issue, I have attempted to be
more sensitive to this tendency and have been working
on it. I think I have managed to temper things quite a
bit, and am now much more tolerant and patient than I
used to be. Today, I think I can honestly say that I am
no longer seen as being this way by others."
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These examples will also serve as an inspiration to you in
building a convincing story to tell employers about your positive
traits, characteristics, and attributes, and how they will be
of benefit to the organization.
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