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 129 adjectives to use and convey confidence in a variety of situations.
129 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. Objective
25. Observant
26. Proactive
27. Respectful
28. Responsive
29. Supportive
30. Trustworthy
31. Unconventional
32. Welcoming
Adjectives for job interviews
33. Accomplished
34. Advantageous
35. Artistic
36. Analytical
37. Congenial
38. Diplomatic
39. Engaging
40. Focused
41. Hardworking
42. Helpful
43. Insightful
44. Innovative
45. Methodical
46. Meticulous
47. Organized
48. Persevering
49. Persuasive
50. Productive
51. Professional
52. Proficient
53. Results-oriented
54. Thorough
55. Tireless
56. Skilled
57. Systematic
Read more: Ask a Recruiter: How Can I ‘Pitch’ Myself for a Job I’m Not Qualified For?
Adjectives for resumes
58. Collaborative
59. Data-driven
60. Detail-oriented
61. Eager
62. Efficient
63. Entrepreneurial
64. Ethical
65. Experienced
66. Expert
67. Motivated
68. Persistent
69. Personable
70. Proficient
71. Self-starter
72. Skillful
73. Thoughtful
74. Tireless
More adjectives for describing yourself
75. Adept
76. Adventurous
77. Authentic
78. Balanced
79. Communicative
80. Charismatic
81. Confident
82. Considerate
83. Constructive
84. Courageous
85. Creative
86. Curious
87. Determined
88. Direct
89. Dynamic
90. Eclectic
91. Emotionally intelligent
92. Energetic
93. Enthusiastic
94. Flexible
95. Friendly
96. Generous
97. Genuine
98. Helpful
99. Honest
100. Imaginative
101. Independent
102. Inquisitive
103. Intelligent
104. Intuitive
105. Inventive
106. Inspiring
107. Knowledgeable
108. Kind
109. Logical
110. Loyal
111. Open-minded
112. Optimistic
113. Original
114. Passionate
115. Patient
116. Perceptive
117. Persistent
118. Practical
119. Reflective
120. Reliable
121. Responsible
122. Self-reliant
123. Self-possessed
124. Sincere
125. Sociable
126. Straightforward
127. Understanding
128. Versatile
129. Vibrant
Read more: 225 Strong Action Verbs For Your Resume
