The finance team of my organization was struggling with a project involving our . Situation - My biggest achievement was during my internship as a customer support representative at Company X. I was the first custom support intern there, so I didnt have a lot to go off of and had to learn a lot by myself. All rights reserved. If you're success-oriented and if you've gone above and beyond in your work. Understanding Greatest Accomplishment. In my previous role as a health-focused restaurant manager, customers always complained about food having ingredients they did not eat and not knowing about it until they tasted it. Its always better to have a recent story versus one from ten years ago, especially if the skills you display are no longer relevant to the modern work youll be doing. Recently graduated college with not much work experience to speak of? First, I decided to create a document of the Frequently Asked Questions I was getting, for personal use. All Rights Reserved. Human resource experts and researches have come up with a STAR method to give an answer that is satisfactory. Charitable work or volunteering. My greatest accomplishment happened last quarter, when my team was behind on our sales quota. Remember, the interviewer called you knowing this might be your first job interview. ACTION: I endured painful physical therapy and light walking for the first three months. It was tiring at times, but I scheduled pretty much everything I had to do in my personal calendar. The basics of a great response. It could be something you're proud of from your work, from home or a combination. Preparing an answer. 1. Follow the STAR method as an answering format for a comprehensive reply. Avoid saying you do not have any accomplishments, even if you are recently out of school. As an experienced professional, you have a wealth of professional achievements on your resume. But these kinds of questions can put the candidates in a difficult position, when suddenly asked, often leaving candidates feeling ill-prepared. For example, if theres a big focus on customer service in the role youre interviewing for, you might select a story that showcases your people skills over your technical abilities. Here are some techniques to answer questions about your greatest accomplishments: Start off by telling the interviewer a story. My consistency and effort were rewarded with a promotion after just four months. He then went home and continued reading. They expect to hear about an accomplishment from your education, volunteerism, or part-time work. I was diagnosed with a hip impingement and torn labrum after dealing with months of pain during the travel softball season. Obviously, the result should be monumentally positive for this answer, since were talking about your greatest accomplishment. Task. Your commitment to work: The greatest achievement question helps employers determine your work ethic and commitment to growing in your profession. Why Are You The Best Person For This Job? Running your first marathon. Your response provides them with insight about your personal and professional achievements, and your ability to establish and achieve goals. Lets start with the basics: whats the point of this job interview question? TASK: I was tasked with understanding why people stayed out so long on their breaks, even after the fines were introduced, and how to overcome the issue. Women at Cambridge. Follow the STAR method as an answering format for a comprehensive reply. Learning how to cook an exotic dish. Structure your answer effectively. In my last position, I negotiated with a new supplier to lower the cost of the raw materials we purchased to make our products. RESULTS: As a result, our food tastes better, and positive online reviews increased threefold. Since I had led similar projects before, I offered to help get it finished. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users. Try to stick with professional career or job-related strong answers. If you find it difficult to think of specific accomplishments, consider times that youve been recognized for your work. Prepare your answer in advance, so you don't have to think up an accomplishment on the spot. The company promoted me from a mid-level position and tasked me with improving retention and recruitment. Buying your first car. Dont hold back here include even small achievements. How much work are you willing to put in to accomplish something at work? SITUATION: My greatest achievement was being promoted through self-motivation and learning. What was your role in the situation? "My most significant career achievement was being the youngest person ever awarded a sales management position at my current company. If you have multiple significant accomplishments, select one that demonstrates measurable results for the company. We got together during his break period once a week to read Lord of the Rings and make drawings for each chapter. SITUATION: My biggest achievement was earning money after starting a blog from scratch. In fact, they had talked of stopping supply to that market due to the limited sales volume. 1 How ambitious you are, and what drives you. However, if you cant quantify your accomplishment, avoid the temptation to stretch the truth or claim that you did something you didnt. This one is career-relevant and has a dollar value attached. I was very passionate about these Olympiad exams. I was part of a small team assigned to redesigning the agency website in hopes of attracting new regional clients.". What that means is, the interviewer wants to understand your past performance, and how you handle specific situations (for example, under pressure). Do not just brag about what you have done or let your ego take control. The restaurant was completely packed 90%+ of the time, and we barely had any breathing room., Task We had to be very efficient at work to make sure that we wouldnt get overwhelmed., Action - The most important part of making this work was being proactive. Use your strongest accomplishment in your answer to make sure that you tell your best story. I learned that younger potential donors found our materials out-of-touch. The more prepared you are, the better it will go. He obtained his BA and Masters from Appalachian State University. 5 Tips for Your Answer. It tells about your potential as an employee and how much of a valuable asset you can be to the company. I recently moved to a different country, and the first few days were so hard because I could not understand what anyone was saying. Have you ever failed to meet a clients expectations? Answering this common behavioral question about your greatest professional achievement is a great way to show you are the best candidate for the role. I assigned a few new team members to the project and worked through a weekend to bring myself up to speed. The following are common types of accomplishments followed by a few more specific examples. In my previous position as a sales representative, our team produced at lower levels than in other regions. What three things should I say for accomplishments? Concrete examples of your work. Pick a Recent Accomplishment. Are you a mid-level professional in your field? Be respectful of your current, or previous, employer's "confidential" information. I really wanted the blog to work, and even though I used to share the link to my contacts on Whatsapp and followers on Instagram, it was still underperforming. They will be looking at your response to see if you have the skills and experience necessary to do the job. They close with a measurable positive impact on the company, placing the focus back on the benefit for the employer. When answering this question you want to make sure you prepare your answer, read the job description, and use the star method in your answer. Tips on how to answer "tell me what your proudest accomplishment is". Choose your greatest achievement that is relevant to the position. What happened and how did you handle it? Youre one step away from getting the job. I took the initiative to research potential customer relationship management solutions. E.g. Dont lie. After all, odds are pretty good that if youve worked long enough to have one big accomplishment, its not the only accomplishment that youve had. In other words, associate your accomplishment with a specific percentage or dollar amount. ACTION: I decided to talk with the team, especially the ones with multiple fines, and understand where the problem was. My contribution was published by Oxford Press. I finally went with the [XYZ] CRM system and worked with the IT team to implement it. This ultimately saved the company thousands of dollars a year in materials and lowered our cost of goods sold, which had a big impact on company profitability. Use a creative template and give your resume a little flair to highlight your creative side. In addition, good answers are concise and entice further follow-up questions. Reflect on your time in education, extra-curricular activities and hobbies to identify something you accomplished that made you feel proud. A lot of it was fast-paced too, and at first, I wasnt even sure if I was doing things right., Task - I felt out of place and I had to think fast if I wanted to move up in the company. Check Out These Videos, 40 Strategic Interview Questions To Ask Candidates: What To Ask and Why, Maximize Your Job Search: How To Land More Interviews. 'My greatest achievement' examples could include: Giving a great presentation at work. RESULTS: Today, my blog is one of the biggest in its niche, and I no longer write articles because we produce long-form content every three days a week. SITUATION: My biggest achievement was buildingafter a devastating loss. Its the perfect example of a behavioral job interview question, and as a refresher, heres what you need to know when answering: Looking for more ways to prepare for your job interview? In my first job out of college, I was tasked with managing a companys social media channels. Mentoring a coworker or fellow student. I also set up in-person meetings with three donors who had expressed interest but had not donated. Find the example below that best mirrors what stage you are at in your career, and consider how youd adjust it to describe your biggest achievement. What is your greatest accomplishment example answer? Your qualifications: Some accomplishments help employers establish . Your greatest accomplishment could be like Gennifer's, Morgan's or Asha's or it could be completely different. I lost everything in a fire two years ago, and it couldnt have come at a worse time as I was also supporting a sick family member and was trying to finish my degree. Whenever possible, connect the achievement to key skills needed for the position. Resume, CV and Cover Letter Writing Expert, Why Interviewers Ask What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?, How to Pick the Perfect Answer with the STAR Method, 3+ Whats Your Greatest accomplishment Sample Answers, What is Your Greatest Accomplishment Sample Answer for Mid-Level Professionals, What is Your Greatest accomplishment Sample Answer for Fresh Graduates, What is Your Greatest accomplishment Sample Answer for the Service Industry, graduated college with not much work experience, 35+ Interview Questions and Answers [Full List], 19+ STAR Interview Questions - Complete List, 10+ Situational Interview Questions & Answers [Complete List], How to Ace Interviews with the STAR Method, Why interviewers ask the What is your greatest achievement? job interview question, How to reply with the perfect answer using the STAR method, 3+ What is your greatest achievement sample answers. ACTION: I would use all my breaks to do assignments or write some code, which was exhausting but very helpful. Use our modern templates if you'd like to give your application a newer, more contemporary aesthetic. Result. You know you need to ace this common interview question. Ideally, the greatest accomplishment you answer with should be from the last two to three years. Example answer for returning to the workforce. Be clear in your description and avoid any vague generalizations. However, in the end, we completed the project a day in advance and the client was thrilled with the end result. I discussed a plan with the CEO and the accountant to see how we could use the kitchen in the office to make lunch for the workers at an affordable price they could pay at the beginning of the month, and everyone agreed. Working with a good team means open communication, high trust . Describe how your interest in medicine drove you to become a doctor. The whole story follows the STAR method down to the T. It uses numbers and data to describe the context and shows relevance. 4. send our content editing team a message here, 25 Best Why Do You Want to Work Here Sample Interview Answers, 21 Best Describe a Challenge You Faced and How You Overcame It Examples, 50 Most Asked Nursing Interview Questions with Answers, 20 Best Answers to Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Job, 10 Best Answers to Why Do You Want to Be a Manager, 11 Best Answers to What Does Leadership Mean to You Interview Question, 50 Most Asked Front Desk Interview Questions with Answers, 10 Best Ways to Answer Sell Me This Pen in an Interview, 10 Most Asked Integrity Interview Questions with Answers, 25 Most Asked Confidentiality Interview Questions with Answers, 50 Most Asked Phone Interview Questions with Answers, 10 Best Answers to What Are Your Interests and Hobbies. EXAMPLE ANSWER: "The accomplishment I'm most proud of is completing my degree with a 3.95 GPA. Additional interview resources. When a recruiter or hiring manager asks you about your greatest accomplishment, they really want to know three main things: Your work ethic. However, Im proud of the fact that I got through it and excelled. Situation: "My greatest accomplishment was when I was a content leader at a local design agency. Get a sense of the candidate's nursing skills and experience. Building Relationships. Tell me about a time where you set a specific goal for yourself. If youre having trouble choosing just one example for your greatest accomplishment, keep the following things in mind: Stick to work examples. Beating sales targets. Scholarships or grants. Dont lie or embellish too much, but think about which of your examples makes the best story. I wanted to increase productivity and efficiency, and in the end, save time spent on looking for documents., Action - I decided to take initiative and implement a new team HR document management software. Try to consider more than one major achievement, at most three. Sample Answer 3 - Side Hustle Personal Achievement. This can help you have specific accomplishments in mind that you could refer to based on what youre discussing in the interview. Looking For More Information About Common Interview Questions? RESULTS: Following months of hard work and my doctor telling me hes never seen anyone recover so quickly, I lead the team in batting average. To answer just about any behavioral job interview question right, we recommend using the STAR method. I came up with a new marketing strategy involving social media campaigns that increased our sales by 155%. 2. Learn more: 7 Situational Interview Questions to Prepare For. In case no one was available, I personally filled in for them., Results - Overall, the summer went pretty well with minimal incidents. I shortened the time for onboarding by 50% and once our sales reps were out in the field, they started making sales on day one, which was unheard of before. Office of Personnel Management Structure Interviews, Harvard Business Review 10 Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them. My greatest achievement was getting to work with wonderful people at Atlas Copco Power Technique. Your Greatest Achievement In Life As A Student Is Beyond Academics . Why Interviewers Ask "What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?" Let's start with the basics: what's the point of this job interview question? . 1. While finding an accomplishment thats relevant to what the company is looking for is an important first step, how you structure your story is also something you should consider. Your answer should serve as another opportunity to talk yourself up and let hiring managers know why you should be their top choice. Ryan Morris was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog who tried to make the job process a little more entertaining for all those involved. Through focus and time management, I excelled in my classes and even filled in for student co-workers when they were struggling to keep up. Beating sales targets. Choose something recent, if you can. TASK: I had to try something different to gain more awareness, or else my blog would not grow. We were losing customers and getting brutal reviews online. I was assigned the task of reworking how we onboarded remote hires, since it was taking a long time to bring them up to speed. Create a connection. However, you should always discuss what sets you apart from the other candidates with specific accomplishments in life or in previous roles. This response highlights the students top grades and work experience. So, I mobilized my fellow interns and created a new campaign targeting donors under 35. Never miss an opportunity thats right for you. What do you view as being an accomplishment? Your greatest accomplishment is a significant event or achievement that you are proud of and that has had a meaningful impact on your life. "What is your greatest professional achievement" Answer example "My greatest achievement at my last company was when I designed and implemented a loyalty card scheme for customers. Some examples could be: Awards or competitions. Situation - Well, as a recent graduate of XYZ University, I think my greatest achievement was what I managed to accomplish during my time there. Making a resume is easy with the right tool. We were understaffed and needed to complete projects on time to retain our only clients and attract more. " My most outstanding achievement is completing my Bachelor's degree in 4 years with a 3.8 GPA. In this post, we hope to take some of the hard work out of your preparation by sharing some sample answers for the most significant accomplishments. Give an answer demonstrating your abilities as the best candidate for the job. Common phone interview questions and answers, How to ask for feedback after an interview the right way, Why are you suitable for this job? sample answers, How to answer Walk me through your resume, How to answer What are your weaknesses?, How to answer What is your greatest strength?, How to answer Where do you see yourself in 5 years?, Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work example answers. My greatest accomplishment so far was finishing my Bachelor's and Master's degree in time with a 3.9 GPA. We went from in use losses to enhanced revenue. Like with all good interview questions, when an interviewer asks you about your greatest accomplishment, theyre not just taking that answer at face value. So if you feel like you dont have any good answers to this question because you havent been working long enough, youre going to have to get a little creative. Then use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly show how your skills resulted in a valuable achievement. Next, its important to understand the company to get a better understanding of what the hiring manager values or is looking for in a candidate. The greatest achievement question can be stressful for students and new graduates. Are accomplishments in general out of the ordinary for you? Learn why employers ask this question, how you can answer, and some sample answers that can be useful as you craft your own response. By reading and understanding the job description, you should know what the job requires. Sample Answer 1 - Sales Achievement. Did you learn anything or determine how to complete the task differently next time? Learning the best way to answer What is your greatest accomplishment? or What is your greatest professional achievement? is extremely important when interviewing with a potential employer. Display specific qualifications. Check out our full guide on the topic here: Student & Graduate Resume Guide & Sample [Plus 10 Skills for Savvy Job-hunters]. ResumeGenius.com is owned and operated by Sonaga Tech Limited, Hamilton, Zweigniederlassung Luzern with offices in Luzern Switzerland. What are your greatest accomplishment examples? Regardless of how true it is, I dont really have any greatest accomplishments is just bad optics all around. Examples: My greatest achievement' examples could include: Giving a great presentation at work. Now, your answer is obviously going to vary depending on your background and where you are in your career right now. Way to Answer "what was your greatest achievement?" interview question. Well show you how to nail this common question and impress your interviewer with our expert sample answers and tips below. Common Phone Interview Questions And Answers, How to Answer What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?, Example Answers to Whats Your Greatest Accomplishment?, Tips for Answering What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?, How to Choose Just One Example for Your Greatest Accomplishment, Why Interviewers Ask What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?. When talking about your greatest accomplishment, keep the following things in mind: Mention how good the accomplishment was for you, but focus on the value added to your employer. This is your moment to really connect to the interviewer by mentioning details that are related and relevant to the company . The employees have spoken. Shows resourcefulness, teamwork, and leadership qualities. But what do you say? This is a compelling way to share a big accomplishment with potential employers. Task: I decided to experiment with new ways to promote it in-store. In an accounting department, this might include ways that you strengthened controls, exceeded schedule or documentation reports or built new systems. Action: With my supervisors permission, I created promotional posters and asked everyone to suggest the drink to people who seemed indecisive. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc, How to Answer 'What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment? Building Support. When asked about your greatest accomplishment in an interview, take the opportunity to share a story that highlights your skills, work ethic, and determination. And now a few full sample answers to tie all our advice together: My greatest accomplishment happened at my last role as an HR manager. R: Result Was the outcome successful? Obviously the most important thing about the accomplishment to you was the way that it affected your own life, but an interviewer is going to be wondering how youre going to benefit them and their own company in the future. Here is how the STAR approach works: Situation: Provide some context for your accomplishment in the initial portion of your response. My first job out of school was as a customer care agent at a fast-paced tech company. Take a look at the following great answers to this common behavioral interview question and how they cover some of the candidates greatest strengths. What is your greatest accomplishment as an accountant? Use the STAR method. Three things you should say for any accomplishment are: This is why using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) is so helpful. Your answer could look something like the following: Situation - I think my greatest accomplishment was during my last job as an HR administrator. Action. ACTION: I decided to actively look for answers on why my blog was not growing by talking to experts in the field and researching techniques for growing my audience. But at a job interview, your job is to be anything but humble. At MatchBuilt, weve counseled 1000s of job seekers on how to answer common behavioral interview questions just like this one. How to Choose Your Greatest Achievement for Interviews: 1. While academics is the basic scale of measuring success for students, what they do and learn beyond their textbooks also plays a vital role in forming their personal attributes. ACTION: I asked my manager to give me a month to work on my regional sales. Make sure you prepare for this question ahead of time. What did you do? Sample Answer 2: (Leadership Position) I worked as an occupant advisor for the restricted college for numerous years. Instead of simply saying "I increased sales by 600 percent in one year," describe how you did it. Describe your accomplishments by promoting your abilities and focusing on results. We had a month of training and a test to show we understood the terminologies used by callers, and I passed with flying colors. The materials we had for training werent very relevant or helpful for their duties, and we had received only 19% positive reviews from new hires who completed the training. This example is from a student who graduated at the top of their class: My greatest achievement was becoming valedictorian of my senior class at [University]. Shows relevance to the specific workplace. My part of the project was [your duties]. New graduate interviewing for an entry-level marketing job -. My parents could not afford the tuition fees initially for me to attend college, but I knew I wanted to further my education no matter the circumstances. SITUATION: My biggest achievement was growing sales in an underperforming territory. 1st Answer Example. Then work on building out the supporting examples for these accomplishments. When answering What is your greatest accomplishment?, your interviewer will listen closely to what you say and how you say it. This was a win-win as not only did the food taste better, but we broke even with the change. Connect the dots. Not only does it illustrate your skill and competency as a nurse in critical situations but it also expresses an experience that is meaningful to you. When asking this question, the HR manager wants to learn about your professional and personal sides. The company was taking a loss every time we entered a new market. It is also important that you give context and highlight how your skills added value to the situation. In my research, I learned about SEO and engagement, which made me drop a few things I was doing on the side to focus on the blog fully. SITUATION: One of my greatest achievements at work was wearing numerous hats and working long hours to achieve a huge goal. Research. Show the great strides you made in your education and the accolades you received for the same. Youll leave out details, or worse, forget your best stories. Task: "As a senior member of the team, I was tasked with being both the content strategist and the overall project manager. Dont go negative. There was no more lag-time between sharing documents with HR, Payroll, and supervisors. Your interviewers will assess how well your work style and values fit with the company culture. I started a blog last year on a topic I was passionate about, but it did not do as well as I had expected. Just keep in mind: No matter how few jobs youve had before the one youre interviewing for, you should always have an answer to this question. Well get you started with a brief template to give you an idea of how to organize your answer: My team achieved our goal of [goal your team was working toward]. As with all behavioral interview questions, choosing a relevant example and using the STAR . During the first 6 months of the launch we saw increases in revenue of 19%, which was the biggest increase the company had ever seen during a 6-month period. Let's begin! Its relevant to a fresh graduate who might not have a lot of. Summary. Looking to enhance your professional life? SITUATION: My biggest managerial achievement was maximizing team effort and reducing lateness. Revenue Directly or indirectly achieving revenue. I used to post weekly and engage with the comments on a particular day of the week. First of all, I was incredibly lucky in my life. What is Your Greatest Accomplishment? We went from 100 followers to over 5,000 within one year and social media is now a steady channel for generating sales leads. A business driver is often a key metric (e.g., quality) but not always (e.g., best practice). Concentrate on following the STAR method and avoid the following: What is your greatest accomplishment? We raised $20,000 from that cohort by the end of the year. TASK: Find a way to still deliver each project on time per customer expectations. Heres a sample answer from an undergraduate student: While studying marketing as an undergraduate, I volunteered with my community orchestra to raise funds for a scholarship program.