Before you can prove your professional abilities in an interview, you first have to express yourself through your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, recruiter emails, or personal website. And especially since on average, recruiters only spend six seconds scanning your resume, the language you choose to convey your experience carries weight.
Career coach Tazeen Raza says language can help people—especially women—feel empowered, respected, and confident at work.
“Women are notorious for underplaying what they do, as well as how well they do these tasks,” she says. “On the other hand, men tend to be more comfortable talking themselves up. Even if it's something they haven't specifically accomplished, they tend to express more confidence through their wording to convince the interviewer that they can actually do the job at hand.”
A Harvard Business School study seeking to determine whether men or women were more likely to assess their work positively backed up this notion. In the study, women, on average, reported their performance as being 15 points lower on a 100-point scale than the average man—despite the fact that the men and women performed just as well as each other on the test.
The researchers attributed the discrepancy to women believing that self-promotion is an inappropriate way to behave. This is due to socialization—women are taught that being boastful about their abilities and accomplishments is inherently wrong.
The confidence gap is also evident in how men and women apply to jobs—women only apply to jobs if they meet 100 percent of the qualifications, whereas men apply for jobs when they meet only 60 percent of them.
“It’s important for women to speak confidently about their accomplishments and abilities and feel comfortable describing what they do to make sure they get the credit they deserve at work,” Raza says. “During a pitch, you have to be your own advocate. Sprinkling in adjectives to describe yourself is a great way to do this because it shows the confidence you have in yourself, how you see yourself, and the pride you have in your accomplishments.”
But she says using good adjectives to describe and pitch yourself isn’t limited to resumes and interviews—it extends to your everyday life. “You should be pitching yourself every day through the words you use and the tasks you accomplish in the workplace. Women can exhibit more confidence through subtle changes to the way they speak, such as reducing the use of the word ‘sorry,’ eliminating filler words like ‘um,’ and speaking more directly.”
Here are 131 adjectives to use and convey confidence in a variety of situations.
131 adjectives to describe yourself in the workplace
Adjectives for describing work ethic
1. Accountable
2. Adaptable
3. Consistent
4. Cooperative
5. Decisive
6. Dependable
7. Disciplined
8. Intentional
9. Nimble
10. Open
11. Resourceful
12. Self-assured
13. Self-motivated
14. Strategic
Adjectives for describing management style
15. Accepting
16. Accommodating
17. Approachable
18. Attentive
19. Aware
20. Bold
21. Committed
22. Equitable
23. Good listener
24. Inclusive
25. Objective
26. Observant
27. Proactive
28. Respectful
29. Responsive
30. Supportive
31. Trustworthy
32. Unconventional
33. Welcoming
Adjectives for job interviews
34. Accomplished
35. Advantageous
36. Artistic
37. Analytical
38. Congenial
39. Diplomatic
40. Engaging
41. Focused
42. Hardworking
43. Helpful
44. Insightful
45. Innovative
46. Methodical
47. Meticulous
48. Organized
49. Persevering
50. Persuasive
51. Productive
52. Professional
53. Proficient
54. Results-oriented
55. Thorough
56. Tireless
57. Skilled
58. Systematic
Read more: Ask a Recruiter: How Can I ‘Pitch’ Myself for a Job I’m Not Qualified For?
Adjectives for resumes
59. Collaborative
60. Data-driven
61. Detail-oriented
62. Eager
63. Efficient
64. Entrepreneurial
65. Ethical
66. Experienced
67. Expert
68. Motivated
69. Persistent
70. Personable
71. Proficient
72. Self-starter
73. Skillful
74. Thoughtful
75. Tireless
More adjectives for describing yourself
76. Adept
77. Adventurous
78. Authentic
79. Balanced
80. Communicative
81. Charismatic
82. Confident
83. Considerate
84. Constructive
85. Courageous
86. Creative
87. Curious
88. Determined
89. Direct
90. Dynamic
91. Eclectic
92. Emotionally intelligent
93. Energetic
94. Enthusiastic
95. Flexible
96. Friendly
97. Generous
98. Genuine
99. Helpful
100. Honest
101. Imaginative
102. Independent
103. Inquisitive
104. Intelligent
105. Intuitive
106. Inventive
107. Inspiring
108. Knowledgeable
109. Kind
110. Logical
111. Loyal
112. Open-minded
113. Optimistic
114. Original
115. Passionate
116. Patient
117. Perceptive
118. Persistent
119. Practical
120. Reflective
121. Reliable
122. Responsible
123. Self-reliant
124. Self-possessed
125. Sincere
126. Sociable
127. Straightforward
128. Understanding
129. Versatile
130. Vibrant
Read more: 225 Strong Action Verbs For Your Resume
