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How to Say That I'm a People Person in a Job Application

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Good people skills are essential to many positions, particularly those that deal with customer service. To give potential employers a strong indication of your people skills and personality traits, reference your interpersonal abilities throughout your job application. Use terms like, "friendly," "personable" and "customer-focused" to describe yourself.

Communication Skills

Saying you're a “people person” can come across as a bit cliché, particularly when what you mean is that you interact well with a variety of personality types. Focus on your interpersonal communication skills, such as listening, empathizing and problem-solving. You should have the opportunity to list these traits under the “skills” section of a standard job application.

Customer Service Experience

Emphasize your customer service background when filling out a job application. This is especially important if you’re applying for a job that requires close interaction with consumers. Detail your patience, your ability to troubleshoot, explain corporate policy and help customers come away from your business with a positive perception.

Highlight Cultural Understanding

If you're working in an industry that caters to a multinational clientele or has a diverse staff, emphasize your knowledge of different cultures and customs. Understanding the fine nuances of working with people from different backgrounds is valuable to many employers, and will be a plus in your favor.

Describe Your Affability

People persons are usually have a genuinely pleasant disposition, don't judge others and are open to team and group projects. Emphasize that you’re interested in collaborating with colleagues, contributing to a pleasant workplace environment and forging good working relationships with others.

Provide Examples

If the job application asks you to describe your past behavior in various workplace scenarios, share examples that highlight your people skills. Describe a time you helped a customer solve a problem, assisted a colleague on a last-minute project or helped mediate an inner-office conflict. This will demonstrate you’re a “people person” without coming right out and saying it.

Mention Peer Recognitions

Most employment applications have a section where you can detail awards and recognitions. Emphasize accolades given by peers or awards that recognize you for your positive people skills. This demonstrates to an employer that you are well-liked by your customers, your colleagues and your bosses.

References
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Writer

Lisa McQuerrey has been a business writer since 1987. In 1994, she launched a full-service marketing and communications firm. McQuerrey's work has garnered awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Associated Press. She is also the author of several nonfiction trade publications, and, in 2012, had her first young-adult novel published by Glass Page Books.

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