The candidate proves their ability to meet and exceed HR objectives on a large scale, while focusing on what they did to get there. "My most significant career achievement was being the youngest person ever awarded a sales management position at my current company. One final note from Idealist is to keep track of your achievements as they happen at work. This way, you are sure to construct the best answer and help the recruiter take notice of your specific skills and abilities. Use the S-T-A-R format (the Situation you faced, the Task required, the Action you took, and the successful Result of your action) to describe your accomplishment. It's something you're proud of and shows what you're capable of. ACTION: I was still new to the job and had no car, so I could not stay late in the office for safety purposes. By the end of the year, his reading scores had gone up by over 15%, but the real accomplishment for me was getting him interested in learning something that had previously frustrated him. e. Be honest. But what do you say? Task: I decided to experiment with new ways to promote it in-store. ', Sign up to become a member of Glassdoor so you can, Why employers ask about your accomplishments, How to answer 'What is your greatest accomplishment? When the interviewer asks you this question, they want to know what you are most proud of as a nurse. Whats your greatest accomplishment? might sound like an awfully complicated question. Sample Answer 6 - Living Abroad Greatest Personal Achievement. Monday to Friday, 8AM 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048. Buttoned up yet stylish. Self-reflections gives you opportunity to look back on your life and see how it brought you to where you are today. His parents called to tell me that they had never seen him excited to do homework before, especially when it involved reading. Use the STAR method. Your greatest accomplishment reflects your values, goals, and aspirations. Generally, the best full proof . How to answer "What is your greatest accomplishment?" I took the initiative to research potential customer relationship management solutions. 'What is your greatest accomplishment' is one of the best questions you can be asked in your next interview because it's really just a chance for you to brag about something great that you did. What did you do? What is Your Greatest Accomplishment? Using this method, you talk about the situation or problem you . 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?. Our professional builder will do the hard work for you. For the next three months, I was able to begin a weight training program and hitting lessons. Copyright 2023 Novorsum ApS. Try our cover letter generator and make a cover letter fast. I learned that younger potential donors found our materials out-of-touch. The interviewer knows the candidate is motivated, independent, and possesses relevant career skills. Obviously, the result should be monumentally positive for this answer, since were talking about your greatest accomplishment. 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. 27 Crisp and Impactful examples of what is your greatest achievement sample answer for freshers. However, you should always discuss what sets you apart from the other candidates with specific accomplishments in life or in previous roles. Ideally, the greatest accomplishment you answer with should be from the last two to three years. Sometimes, the hardest problem youll face in answering this question wont be coming up with a single answer: Itll be choosing between several different ones. Try to stick with professional career or job-related strong answers. Talking about your own achievements can be pretty uncomfortable for some were taught not to brag from an early age. I recently moved to a different country, and the first few days were so hard because I could not understand what anyone was saying. Building Relationships. 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. When describing the outcome, if possible, mention numbers and quantifiable facts. We went from 100 followers to over 5,000 within one year and social media is now a steady channel for generating sales leads. . This gives them some insight into big projects you might have undertaken in the past, and it gives them a basis for their expectations of your work in the future. Whats your greatest accomplishment? is a behavioral job interview question. This was a win-win as not only did the food taste better, but we broke even with the change. Your commitment to work: The greatest achievement question helps employers determine your work ethic and commitment to growing in your profession. 1. The top achievement of my career has been the transformation of my former department as vice president of human resources. 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. Explore various aspects of your life: work, hobbies, studies, extra-curricular activities, etc. When I took on the position, turnover was high and our cost-to-fill was skyrocketing. You know you need to ace this common interview question. Theyre hoping to gain some sort of insight about you from the way you choose to answer the question. Well show you how to nail this common question and impress your interviewer with our expert sample answers and tips below. Its the inverted version of tell me about a time you failed, but theyre both behavioral interview questions, meaning youll need good stories to tell the hiring manager for each. Your interviewers will assess how well your work style and values fit with the company culture. My greatest accomplishment happened last quarter, when my team was behind on our sales quota. Interviewers ask this question to gain insight into your proven work and what achievements you view as most valuable and important. The company was taking a loss every time we entered a new market. SITUATION: My biggest achievement was growing sales in an underperforming territory. I was part of a small team assigned to redesigning the agency website in hopes of attracting new regional clients.". Now, when you walk into the restaurant, you learn all about where our ingredients come from and their health benefits. I noticed that we hadnt secured any new donors for a while. I started a blog last year on a topic I was passionate about, but it did not do as well as I had expected. Summary of How To Answer What Is Your Biggest Achievement? Make a list of all your professional accomplishments. Practice your example answers before your interview. In my last job I helped my employer to increase the yearly sales volume by 20%, in two consecutive years. Professional templates for applicants in formal industries. Example answer for returning to the workforce. Pick a Recent Accomplishment. 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. The fact that you ran a marathon after eating an entire box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts is impressive, but maybe not pertinent to how good of an engineer you are. Looking For More Information About Common Interview Questions? 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. The company promoted me from a mid-level position and tasked me with improving retention and recruitment. Our guides cover formatting, writing, and more. Summary. Boost your application with an effective cover letter. My greatest accomplishment was developing a formal training program for the sales team in our last company. TASK: I made a commitment to myself that I would find a way to finance and pay to attend the college of my choice. I finally went with the [XYZ] CRM system and worked with the IT team to implement it. You can start by describing the problem that your team or company faced. Sample Answer 4 - Paying For College Myself Achievement. In a nutshell, you want to stick to a single example if you can unless they ask you for more and you want to make sure that this example represents the best work youve done in the past while simultaneously being an interesting story. So, I mobilized my fellow interns and created a new campaign targeting donors under 35. Applying for a position with numerous qualifications? 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. Try to determine if your involvement made a difference, such as creating a new website, a fundraiser, or a department restructuring. Action: With my supervisors permission, I created promotional posters and asked everyone to suggest the drink to people who seemed indecisive. He then went home and continued reading. In only four months, we were achieving 50-80% above our chosen goals. What if I dont have any accomplishments? 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. 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. I assigned a few new team members to the project and worked through a weekend to bring myself up to speed. So, I didnt really have a lot of instructions. For some job candidates, its difficult to determine what accomplishment to use and how to communicate it effectively, so well try to get the juices flowing with some sample answers here. The most effective way to answer any tough interview question is to follow the STAR approach. Moving out of your parents' house. your challenge or responsibility). . However, the tech world is dynamic, and even with our weekly knowledge update sessions, I would come across questions I did not understand during calls. I needed to know my list of tasks, when each was due, and how long they would take. Practice your example answers before your interview. Be sure to take credit for your accomplishments. In other words, associate your accomplishment with a specific percentage or dollar amount. How you answer an interview question is almost as important as what you say. The whole experience taught me how to effectively manage and prioritize my time. Here are some techniques to answer questions about your greatest accomplishments: Start off by telling the interviewer a story. 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. CVs are often longer than resumes. Sample Answer 5 - Persevering Through Injury Achievement. Your answer could look something like the following: Situation - I think my greatest accomplishment was during my last job as an HR administrator. Yes, this has been tested. Structure your answer effectively. Be the first to rate this post. For 16 months, I often stayed late to make additional sales calls and would go on-site to dormant accounts one to two days per week. Training for and completing a marathon. Tell Me About A Time When You Made A Mistake On The Job, How To Answer Tell Me About A Time You Disagreed With Your Boss. " is a common behavioral interview question, so be sure to practice your answer ahead of time. The Bottom Line on The Biggest Achievement Interview Question. Understanding Greatest Accomplishment. Chances are youll have several good stories to choose from, and they might all be comparable in terms of their impressiveness. 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. The restaurant was completely packed 90%+ of the time, and we barely had any breathing room. 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. When Have You Made A Split Second Decision? First, when an interviewer asks, "What is your greatest achievement?" they're really asking for your greatest professional (or academic) accomplishment. It is also important that you give context and highlight how your skills added value to the situation. You should review the job description, any social media sites, the company website, and any employee reviews you can find online. This question is a behavioral interview question. If you dont have much professional experience to draw from, consider accomplishments from your academic career and any internships or volunteer work youve done. What you choose as your greatest assignment depends on your background. I was very passionate about these Olympiad exams. By reading and understanding the job description, you should know what the job requires. Shows relevance to the specific workplace. Dont lie. A great answer includes a real accomplishment thats free of BS, includes a specific example, and is concise in a way that entices engagement from the interviewer. Your choice should also be appropriate and relevant to the responsibilities of the job your are interviewing for. My marketing ideas brought in an additional $800,000 in income for the company. What is your greatest accomplishment? is one of the most challenging and common questions you can expect during a job interview. I started making short, funny videos around the office, showing what we did as a company while humanizing the brand. This response highlights the students top grades and work experience. We went from in use losses to enhanced revenue. Further, great answers about your proudest accomplishment can show how well you communicate and display your creativity, leadership skills, and other useful skills that the job requires. SITUATION: My biggest achievement was earning money after starting a blog from scratch. 1. RESULTS: My calls started getting better, and after a month into my course, I was awarded employee of the month for offering the best solutions to our customers. From sharpening resumes and elevating LinkedIn profiles to providing interview preparation and career advancement strategies, our blog is a wealth of knowledge, drawing from our extensive experience working with hundreds of clients and positively impacting the lives of thousands of job seekers. 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. In my first job out of college, I was tasked with managing a companys social media channels. 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. 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]. This is your moment to really connect to the interviewer by mentioning details that are related and relevant to the company . 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. I also wanted to gain some work experience during my time there, so that I could start working directly after graduating., Task - So, I learned early on that I had to manage my time down to the hour in order to be efficient and on top of everything., Action - Through hard work and dedication, I managed to balance studying, working part-time, and even volunteering to gain some experience. Spend Time Reflecting (and Taking Notes) Sometimes, the hardest part of answering this question is remembering what you've achieved over the years. The employees have spoken. Give an answer demonstrating your abilities as the best candidate for the job. How to Choose Your Greatest Achievement for Interviews: 1. RESULTS: As a result, our food tastes better, and positive online reviews increased threefold. What is your greatest accomplishment in life so far?#minecraftshorts #AskReddit #youtubeshort #short #AskReddit I'm proud of this accomplishment and I feel that what I learned is going to give me a big advantage in my . Regardless of how true it is, I dont really have any greatest accomplishments is just bad optics all around. Lets take a look at another sample answer. Last year, I had a student who was struggling with dyslexia. Instead of simply saying "I increased sales by 600 percent in one year," describe how you did it. ACTION: I would use all my breaks to do assignments or write some code, which was exhausting but very helpful. I used to post weekly and engage with the comments on a particular day of the week. Your hard skills might be on display while you answer this question, and your soft skills certainly will be. Ensure your greatest accomplishment is work-related or demonstrates skills which can be directly applied in the workplace. I needed to find a full time job to support my studies, because my family couldn't help me. Some examples could be: Awards or competitions. After a while, I started noticing a trend with the questions I was getting from our customers. You should answer such questions by following the S.T.A.R method in a reverse manner, meaning you'd start with the result and end with the . My greatest accomplishment was finishing college at the top of my class while holding a full-time job. Here are the four parts of the STAR method: S: Situation The situation or the task that is relevant to the job description. 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. Reflect on your time in education, extra-curricular activities and hobbies to identify something you accomplished that made you feel proud. A year later, we had met and exceeded the goals I set when I took on the position. is a common behavioral interview question, so be sure to practice your answer ahead of time. You're simultaneously making the program easier to understand while also removing a lot of potential sources for bugs (research tells us that the number of bugs in a program is proportional to the number of lines i. Shows resourcefulness, teamwork, and leadership qualities. "What is your greatest accomplishment? Now, your answer is obviously going to vary depending on your background and where you are in your career right now. Building Support. 1. I can hold 3/4 of a cup (180 mL) of water in my mouth. At MatchBuilt, weve explored other common interview questions, such as Why do you want to work here?, Why do you want this job?, Tell me about yourself, What are you passionate about?, What areas need improvement? and Why should we hire you? and we invite you to review them as well. When an interviewer asks you about your greatest accomplishment, one of the things they are trying to understand is what motivates you into action. The task that was required to be . This way, I never missed a deadline, assignment or any other responsibility., Results - In the end, I graduated with a GPA of 3.8, almost no student loans, and also interned as the university social media assistant during my last 2 semesters. Have you ever failed to meet a clients expectations? This one is career-relevant and has a dollar value attached. While asking about your greatest achievement may seem like an intense question, its not as intimidating once you understand the interviewers motivation. 2. To answer just about any behavioral job interview question right, we recommend using the STAR method. That means picking your accomplishment based on how good of a story its going to make. The finance team of my organization was struggling with a project involving our . I wrote up a five-question survey and sent it to a selection of people on our list of potential donors. Examples: My greatest achievement' examples could include: Giving a great presentation at work. B) "My greatest accomplishment is graduating in the top 3% of my class of over 2,000 students last year, with a GPA of 3.88". Failure; The Unsuccessful Accomplishment. My greatest accomplishment was my promotion last year to manager. The, To structure your answer, we recommend using the. You cant borrow or copy an accomplishment, but you can borrow structure, style, and delivery. I learn to prioritize my time between family and work. They needed volunteers, so I took the initiative. Wondering how to answer the question modestly (while at the same time, showing off how awesome you are)? We had a month of training and a test to show we understood the terminologies used by callers, and I passed with flying colors. Download one of our 2-page CV. Revenue Directly or indirectly achieving revenue. The achievements that matter most combine to form a version of success that has meaning and substance for the individual. Mistakes continued, even after teaching the waitresses all of the receipts so they could explain the ingredients clearly to the guest. Three things you should say for any accomplishment are: This is why using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) is so helpful. This can often be tied together with the situation in one or two sentences. Like with all good interview questions, when an interviewer asks you about your greatest accomplishment, theyre not just taking that answer at face value. Beating sales targets. 2. Be specific in details, but make it short and to the point. Sometimes, its not easy to talk about ourselves and our past experiences but practicing for this, and other key behavioral questions will pay dividends in the long run. My greatest accomplishment was getting a gold medal in the International Olympiad of Science. ACTION: We decided to upgrade our ingredients and showcase them in all of our marketing. The STAR method allows you to frame your answer in a way that shows what you did, how you did it, and what happened as a result of your efforts. 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. 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. 30 Life Accomplishments You Want to Remember. 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. TASK: The only way to keep the region open was for sales to improve. My scholarship only covered half of the tuition, and my family was unable to support me financially. Follow the STAR method as an answering format for a comprehensive reply. Tell Me About A Challenge You've Faced At Work. Here are a few example answers to questions about your accomplishments: In my last job, our senior web developer had to take time off unexpectedly. TASK: Find a way to still deliver each project on time per customer expectations. RESULTS: Between saving in those summers, working during college, and applying for scholarships, I graduated from Michigan State University debt free. Mentoring a coworker or fellow student. Entry-Level College Grad. Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict while working in a team. ". They expect to hear about an accomplishment from your education, volunteerism, or part-time work. Sample Answer 2 - Cashier Job at a Fast Food Restaurant. 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. 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. When interviewers ask this question, theyre usually looking for three things: To come up with a great answer, think of your greatest professional accomplishments and choose one that demonstrates these key components. Concrete examples of your work. Office of Personnel Management Structure Interviews, Harvard Business Review 10 Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them. Sample Answer 1 - Sales Achievement. This candidate describes initiative, organization, and insight into the teams needs. Learn every detail about making a resume. Example Answer #1 - For Entry-Level worker. improving an algorithm) Awards & Recognition. It can be particularly difficult if you're a recent graduate and don't have a lot of experience to draw on. https://passmyinterview.com/50-interview-questions-and-answers/#interviewquestion. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT? Your values. Result. Display specific qualifications. If you're success-oriented and if you've gone above and beyond in your work. Whenever possible, connect the achievement to key skills needed for the position. My family doesnt have the means to contribute to my siblings and my education, so I secured scholarship funds based on my grades and community service. SITUATION: One of my greatest achievements at work was wearing numerous hats and working long hours to achieve a huge goal. Then you can determine to what extent you made this change happen or contributed to it. When I left that role, 97% of new hires gave positive reviews for the training program. "What is your greatest accomplishment?" is one of the most common job interview questions, but particularly for someone fresh out of college or high school it can be daunting to answer.We'll cover why interviewers ask about your greatest accomplishment, provide tips for giving the best answer, and tie it all together with a few . Even though . Answer (1 of 6): While working for the chemistry necessary in the Human Genome project I have synthesized the most difficult fluorescent base in the project, in a contest with a group of PhD chemists. Acquiring Skills. Lets start with the basics: whats the point of this job interview question? 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. At my current job as a fifth-grade teacher, my greatest accomplishments always involve watching my students achieve something. Looking for a job-winning customer service resume you could use as inspiration? She graduated from the more, 25+ Common Interview Questions & Answers for 2023, 15 Best Job Interview Tips To Get You Hired, 17 Common Phone Interview Questions & Sample Answers, How to Successfully Answer What is Your Greatest Strength? in an Interview, 35+ Most Common Behavioral Interview Questions, How to Ask for Feedback After an Interview, How to Send a Follow-up Email After An Interview, 2023, Sonaga Tech Limited. 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.