Self-Description
The self-description assessment (from Payne and Associates) uses "words that describe you" to help students prepare for job interviews. The goal is to identify self-descriptive words and to relate them to the characteristics required for the job. It is important that the student be honest when doing this assessment, recognizing faults and praising assets.
Instructions for the self-description strategy are as follows.
Underline all the words that describe you in the list below. From the list of underlined words, circle fifteen that would make you a good worker. From the list of circled words, place an asterisk (*) next to the five that would make you an outstanding worker.
Select from the word list below.
| active | accurate | adaptable | aggressive |
| alert | ambitious | bold | broad-minded |
| business-like | calm | capable | careful |
| cautious | charismatic | cheerful | clear-thinking |
| clever | competent | competitive | confident |
| conscientious | considerate | cooperative | creative |
| curious | determined | discrete | eager |
| easy-going | efficient | emotional | energetic |
| fair | firm | flexible | forceful |
| friendly | flexible | forceful | friendly |
| good-natured | healthy | helpful | honest |
| imaginative | independent | industrious | intelligent |
| jealous | likeable | logical | loyal |
| mature | nervous | obliging | open-minded |
| optimistic | organized | original | outgoing |
| outspoken | patient | pleasant | prompt |
| poised | polite | practical | precise |
| purposeful | quick | quiet | realistic |
| relaxed | reliable | resourceful | responsible |
| self-confident | self-controlled | sensible | sensitive |
| serious | sincere | sociable | stubborn |
| tactful | teachable | talkative | thorough |
| thoughtful | tolerant | trusting | trustworthy |
| stable | steady | understanding | versatile |
| warm | wise | wishful | wholesome |
Now list the five outstanding characteristics (those with an * beside them) in order of importance to the job you are searching for or a job you would like to have.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Evaluate your use of the self-description strategy.
Have I been honest in my evaluation? Yes ____ No ____
Have I underestimated myself ? Yes ____ No ____
Have I overestimated myself ? Yes ____ No ____
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