Introduction
When you’re in a job interview, answering personality questions can be one of the most challenging aspects.
During job interviews, employers often ask questions related to a candidate’s personality to determine if they are a good fit for the job and the company’s work culture.
No matter how well-suited you are for the position, you might feel uncomfortable or caught off-guard because you don’t know what kind of answer the interviewer is looking for.
These questions can come up in any industry, from healthcare to sales, and they can be tricky to handle.
This article will provide you with insights into how to answer personality questions for job interviews.
How Would You Describe Your Personality?
Different Ways to Ask
Employers may ask about your personality in various ways, such as –
“Please describe your personality in 5 words,” “How would you describe your personality?”, “Describe your character.” “Describe your weakness and strength”
Regardless of the phrasing, it is necessary to prepare ahead of time and have a clear understanding of your positive and negative traits.
Other Personality Questions That Can Be Asked
There are several other questions that can be asked to evaluate your personality, including –
- “How do you resolve conflicts in general?”
- “Who has had the most influence on your life and why?”
- “What would you want to do if you were not in this field?”
- “Tell me about some of your strengths as a salesperson?”
- “Are you a perfectionist?”
- “What is your communication style?”
- “How do you deal with difficult personalities?”
- “How do you resolve conflicts in the workplace?”
- “How would you describe your leadership style?”
- “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
Surviving Personality-Based Interview Questions
Personality questions and personality tests are difficult for those in the interview seat.
Employers use them to see if you can keep your composure and weed out anyone who would reveal something bizarre or extremely negative about their history, attitude, or methods.
To survive these questions, you must prepare by reviewing your history, researching your industry, the company, and available position.
You should stay calm, confident, and stay on the positive side. Lastly, you should always be ready to bring any topic around to how you can make a positive contribution to the company.
1.) Describe Yourself – The “Describe Yourself” question is a common one that can be challenging to answer.
However, by focusing on your positive traits, acknowledging your negative traits, and highlighting your relevant skills, you can provide a strong and compelling answer.
When asked to describe your personality, it is essential to start by highlighting your positive traits.
These can include both moralistic and professional traits such as honesty, selflessness, quick learner, responsive, insightful, takes responsibility, motivated, initiates and punctual. It is also important to mention traits that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
For example, sales and marketing positions require excellent communication, negotiation, enthusiasm, persuasion, adaptability, cooperation, and goal orientation.
2.) “Tell Me About a Time” Questions – Questions that start with “Tell me about a time” can be tricky.
The best way to handle these questions is to prepare for the interview by reviewing your work history, including your resume, letters of recommendations, employment history, and old communications.
Write down particularly interesting projects you have worked on and think about positive experiences that can be alluded to. Keep your story positive, even if the situation didn’t end in complete success. The more you can quantify your results, the better.
3.) “What Books Have You Read Lately?” – Interviewers may ask personal questions like “What books have you read lately?”
Although this question may seem unrelated to the job, it’s an opportunity to show that you have been keeping your skills and industry knowledge up to date.
This is also a great way to save yourself if you aren’t a pleasure reader. If you do enjoy reading, you should discuss appropriate books, such as literature or non-fiction.
4.) Weaknesses and Strengths – It is helpful to review examples of strengths and weaknesses that are common in the workplace.
This can help you identify your own strengths and weaknesses and prepare your responses to potential interview questions.
5.) Acknowledge Negatives – No one is perfect, and it is essential to recognize your negative traits when asked about them during a job interview. Being honest about your weaknesses shows that you are self-aware and willing to improve.
Common negative traits in the workplace include – emotional, opinionated, reacting, judgmental, and picky.
By acknowledging and addressing these traits, you can demonstrate your willingness to learn and grow.
Personality Interview Questions and Answers
With the right preparation and mindset, you can handle personality questions successfully. When describing your personality, it is important to be authentic and honest.
By highlighting your positive traits, and demonstrating your willingness to learn and grow, you can make a positive impression on potential employers.
Remember to tailor your responses to the specific job and company to make a strong impression on potential employers.