Pick a Recent Accomplishment. What you consider an achievement may differ from what others think, but there are often common traits that achievements share, such as: A problem you addressed. It is common for these to be listed on a performance review or resume and to be discussed in an interview. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into your proven work and what achievements you view as most valuable and important. I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment, as it . 1. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users. Buttoned up yet stylish. The best answer to this tough interview question will entail a real accomplishment thats free of BS and includes a specific example. See the Best Places to Work 2023! Professional templates for applicants in formal industries. One final note from Idealist is to keep track of your achievements as they happen at work. I was diagnosed with a hip impingement and torn labrum after dealing with months of pain during the travel softball season. Action: With my supervisors permission, I created promotional posters and asked everyone to suggest the drink to people who seemed indecisive. Concentrate on following the STAR method and avoid the following: What is your greatest accomplishment? 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. 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. I'm proud of this accomplishment and I feel that what I learned is going to give me a big advantage in my . In addition to showcasing their strengths, a job seeker should be effective in mirroring a companys core values and fitting in with the company culture in their answer to this behavioral interview question. Use your strongest accomplishment in your answer to make sure that you tell your best story. Women at Cambridge. Sample Answer 2: (Leadership Position) I worked as an occupant advisor for the restricted college for numerous years. My greatest accomplishment was my promotion last year to manager. I was very passionate about these Olympiad exams. SITUATION: My biggest achievement was persevering and thriving following an injury. Achievements are the building blocks that enable someone to construct a sense of themselves as a success. There, I also learned a lot about marketing, how to communicate with our followers, and managed to organize the biggest university event where up to 300 students showed up., Wondering what a job-winning resume might look like as a recent graduate? I see my greatest accomplishment as implementing a new customer relationship management system at my previous job. Job seekers are often haunted by lies, so its best to avoid them altogether. 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. 1 How ambitious you are, and what drives you. My scholarship only covered half of the tuition, and my family was unable to support me financially. TASK: I decided to leave my comfort zone and change that by taking coding courses online as I continued working at the company. Get a sense of the candidate's nursing skills and experience. E.g. " is a common behavioral interview question, so be sure to practice your answer ahead of time. Take a look at the following great answers to this common behavioral interview question and how they cover some of the candidates greatest strengths. I knew automating the process would make things easier and help us close more sales. Using this method, you talk about the situation or problem you were facing, the task or role you played within the situation, the action you took to solve the problem, and the result you achieved. We've got a lot more example answers for the most common interview questions: If you want to read up on interview tips instead, check out our in-depth guides here and ace your next interview: To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Its known as a behavioral interview question, which means the hiring manager is looking for an example of your past behavior that will indicate success in the future. Trying to be funny - For example: " My greatest achievement was when I managed to get to work on time for once. While asking about your greatest achievement may seem like an intense question, its not as intimidating once you understand the interviewers motivation. How to answer "What is your greatest accomplishment?" Research the job and company and tailor your answer accordingly. The main idea here behind the STAR method is that every answer should cover the following topics: Now, lets take a well-written behavioral job interview answer using the STAR method, What is a professional achievement youre most proud of?, Situation - Well, my last role was as a manager at a seasonal restaurant in Nantucket. 1. Three things you should say for any accomplishment are: This is why using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) is so helpful. Boost your application with an effective cover letter. Achievements also provide tangible evidence that colleagues, competitors and the wider world use to judge a person as more or less successful. 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. CVs are often longer than resumes. Because of my poor test grade, the amount of time I studied more than doubled, which made me a . While this project wasnt revolutionary, Im proud of it because I learned [skill or concept you learned that relates to the job]. However, in the end, we completed the project a day in advance and the client was thrilled with the end result. Well cover why interviewers ask about your greatest accomplishment, provide tips for giving the best answer, and tie it all together with a few sample answers. Heres what your greatest achievement might sound like. There's not much risk in screwing this one up, other than the fact that you might be missing out on a lot of free points if you don't take full advantage of this interview question. ResumeGenius.com is owned and operated by Sonaga Tech Limited, Hamilton, Zweigniederlassung Luzern with offices in Luzern Switzerland. 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. The importance of salary expectations Whether you are currently filling out a job application or preparing for an in-person interview, you may be asked A Guide to Delivering an Irresistible Elevator Pitch Picture this: You step into an elevator, and right after you steps in a well-dressed woman. Glassdoors Blog provides valuable content to the conscious job seeker and employees who are passionate about furthering and deepening their careers. I also accepted a work-study position as a laboratory assistant to gain relevant work experience. Out of the 4 months I spent there, 3 of them were a total nightmare. The more examples you have to pull from, the better youll be able to tailor your stories for multiple interviews. Heres a sample answer from a professional interviewing for a Chief Human Resources Officer position: "What is your greatest professional achievement?". It's something you're proud of and shows what you're capable of. There are other interview questions about conflict and challenges, but your answer for this question should be overwhelmingly positive. My greatest achievement was getting to work with wonderful people at Atlas Copco Power Technique. Weve also continued to use the same strategy for new products, which has cut down the time it takes them to reach customers significantly. If you can, quantify the results in a way that speaks to the value youd bring to the job youre applying for. If youre having trouble choosing just one example for your greatest accomplishment, keep the following things in mind: Stick to work examples. Try our cover letter generator and make a cover letter fast. I wrote up a five-question survey and sent it to a selection of people on our list of potential donors. Prepare your answer in advance, so you don't have to think up an accomplishment on the spot. Shows relevance to the specific workplace. Home Interview What is Your Greatest Accomplishment, December 20, 2022 | By Corissa Peterson | Reviewed by Conrad Benz. The following answer to "what is your greatest achievement" can help you grasp what exactly employers are looking for when they pose this key question: "I believe my greatest achievement came seven months ago in my previous job as an advertising consultant. your challenge or responsibility). It could be something personal, such as completing a difficult project or achieving a personal goal, or something professional, such as receiving a promotion or winning an award. The way to best accomplish this is by using the STAR method. What is your greatest accomplishment? is one of the most challenging and common questions you can expect during a job interview. Write about the moments in your life when you felt the proudest, such as when you finished a marathon or were congratulated by your boss. The sweetest and best achievement.be made of nothing .something important My achievements as a teacher: 1. The whole story follows the STAR method down to the T. It uses numbers and data to describe the context and shows relevance. Be respectful of your current, or previous, employer's "confidential" information. Self-reflections gives you opportunity to look back on your life and see how it brought you to where you are today. My first job out of school was as a customer care agent at a fast-paced tech company. Professional accomplishments are achievements beyond your daily work responsibilities. So make sure you think about your proudest accomplishments and rehearse giving specific examples so you will be ready to nail this question during the interview process. Not to mention that your other accomplishments may come up when youre answering a different interview question. 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. "My greatest accomplishment was completing my bachelor's degree in 3 years or Graduate Degree in 2 years while pursuing an example (Business Degree), being a single parent, and working full-time. Your answer could look something like the following: Situation - I think my greatest accomplishment was during my last job as an HR administrator. Looking for a job-winning customer service resume you could use as inspiration? I can hold 3/4 of a cup (180 mL) of water in my mouth. For example, if your greatest achievement is 100% customer retention, the values behind this accomplishment can be humility and service. How To Respond To A Recruiter Email (With Examples), How To Answer Why Are You Interested In This Position? (With Examples): Job Interview Question, Topics: Get The Job, Guides, Interview Questions. Action - I decided to start learning as much as I could about our product (a social media automation tool) by talking with the other employees when I could, and reading up on everything I could get my hands on that was related to the product. The best way to answer this job interview question is by incorporating a great achievement that includes a work ethic that mirrors the companys culture. If we had just rolled with the punches and focused on putting out fires, the whole thing wouldve turned into a mess real fast. To keep your answer focused on the right information, use the four-part STAR method, which includes the: Heres a brief example of how to use the STAR method in an interview answer: Situation: Shortly after starting my last barista role, I noticed people werent buying our new salted caramel latte drink. and your relevant "hard skills" (computer technologies, project . I was part of a small team assigned to redesigning the agency website in hopes of attracting new regional clients.". However, I decided to find a way to get to the office at least four hours before opening to pull in my weight and help with the extra work. The most compelling answers to this interview question will be the most relevant ones. Structure your answer effectively. Describe the challenge you were up against, your plan of attack, and the success you saw on the other side. So, I mobilized my fellow interns and created a new campaign targeting donors under 35. In only four months, we were achieving 50-80% above our chosen goals. Use a recent and relevant accomplishment. Use a creative template and give your resume a little flair to highlight your creative side. Why Interviewers Ask "What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?" Let's start with the basics: what's the point of this job interview question? We had a month of training and a test to show we understood the terminologies used by callers, and I passed with flying colors. This student succinctly explains a challenge they overcame and the skills they used to do it. Your response provides them with insight about your personal and professional achievements, and your ability to establish and achieve goals. 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. Read the job description closely. If you can stand out with an answer that ties your qualifications and skills directly to the job description, you can get a lot done with this answer. Task. Whether or not you have such an incident which you consider to be the greatest achievement in your life up till that point, be honest about it. To answer this question effectively, choose the accomplishment that best demonstrates the relevant skills and qualifications needed in the role youre applying for. Here are some techniques to answer questions about your greatest accomplishments: Start off by telling the interviewer a story. ACTION: I took a second job to help with the extra bills, maximized my time so I could continue with a rigorous college curriculum, and leveraged help from neighbors and friends. Over the following year, I got promoted to the Customer Support Team Lead, and helped with scaling up the overall customer service efforts (consulted with hiring, training new reps, communicating issues and questions with the product, and so on). Learning how to play an instrument. Check out our professional templates. You dont want to be scrambling to remember a story at the last second. 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. When a recruiter or hiring manager asks you about your greatest accomplishment, they really want to know three main things: Your work ethic. How hard do you routinely work? Explore various aspects of your life: work, hobbies, studies, extra-curricular activities, etc. How you answer an interview question is almost as important as what you say. However, you could refer to school, volunteering or even your hobbies, so long as you demonstrate transferable skills and prove you are the best person for the job. I researched the best remote training methods and implemented them into a new system using XYZ software. If thats not possible which it often isnt at this level you can still pick something that impacts others. I would get to the office at 5 am by hitching a ride on one of my neighbors cars and managed to work extra four hours each day for a month. 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?. Work accomplishments are positive and notable work outcomes. Get ideas from our in-house career coaches. By reading and understanding the job description, you should know what the job requires. "So far, my greatest accomplishment was organizing a food drive at my high school. But you want to talk about something thats not just impressive to you you want it to be impressive to anyone. Acquiring Skills. So now that you know what an employer is looking for with this question, how do you go about answering it in a way that makes you look like a good candidate? The greatest achievement question can be stressful for students and new graduates. I learned that they only took a long time because they had to walk a very long distance to find a place with affordable meals for their breaks. Dont lie or embellish too much, but think about which of your examples makes the best story.