How To Describe Yourself
Talk About Yourself Without Bragging
Whether its for business or meeting new friends or that special someone, one of the hardest questions (for most of us) comes up, "So, tell me a little about yourself. How do you talk about yourself without seeming like you're bragging? More on that in a minute. The most important part of any conversation is LISTENING! Notice the question above said a LITTLE about yourself! Don't take this opportunity to spew everything you've ever done in a nonstop stream. So how do you pick and chose what to say? The key is to be prepared. If you're job hunting, especially in these hard times, there are many people competing for the same job. If you're trying to strike up a relationship with the most popular guy or gal in school, it's pretty much the same thing. What makes you stand out? Why are you special? Why should they invest time with you? Make a list, actually, you should make a few lists. You'll put down things that you like and dislike, what your strengths are and your weaknesses. That's sometimes a big question in a job interview! Also, you can take personality tests online. CareerBuilder has a section and there's also the Keirsey Personality Test. You may (or not) be surprised at some of the things that are revealed. After you have more of an idea of who you are; pretend you're talking about one of your friends or coworkers - when you first do it, it's hard to even write about yourself. Next, sit down and make a list of the things you want to be noticed for in this particular area (hard worker, good dancer, etc). Now, take some time to write down an introduction. " Well, I spent the summer volunteering at the Y, I've been at the same job for three years, and I'm detail oriented. Or, I live to skateboard, shoot and edit my own videos, fly my own corporate jet (only use the true stuff) and then look at your list. Practice saying it about someone else, then practice saying it about yourself without bragging (too much). Next record yourself and play it back,; over and over. It takes a little while to get over the sound of your own voice, but, it's a really important step. Practice and practice until it seems smooth. Then, just go out and try it somewhere, remember, it's not fatal; you'll learn more as you go....Eddie.
