Your greatest accomplishments serve as your greatest selling point when you offer yourself to the company. What Sets You Apart From Other Candidates? You dont want to be scrambling to remember a story at the last second. I finished my course and went on to learn more programming languages, and I am now about to graduate as a software engineer. ACTION: I endured painful physical therapy and light walking for the first three months. His parents called to tell me that they had never seen him excited to do homework before, especially when it involved reading. Charitable work or volunteering. 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. Companies . education, discipline, etc.). 1. Job seekers are often haunted by lies, so its best to avoid them altogether. Youll leave out details, or worse, forget your best stories. 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. My scholarship only covered half of the tuition, and my family was unable to support me financially. TASK: To get back on the field in time for the high school season, I had to physically and mentally prepare to endure a rigorous therapy process. What if I dont have any accomplishments? Then work on building out the supporting examples for these accomplishments. Building Relationships. 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. Avoid winging it as not preparing ahead for a good answer can derail your interview. Ready? One of the common interview questions a recruiter may ask a potential candidate is, What is your greatest accomplishment? Potential employers prefer this question as it gives them insight into what you consider important parts of a job and how motivated you are to reach your career goals. 1 people already answered this question. SITUATION: One of my greatest achievements at work was wearing numerous hats and working long hours to achieve a huge goal. Take a look at the following great answers to this common behavioral interview question and how they cover some of the candidates greatest strengths. Like the examples above, this story focuses on what the candidate did to create real results. 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. First, when an interviewer asks, "What is your greatest achievement?" they're really asking for your greatest professional (or academic) accomplishment. 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. There is no standard answer to the question, What is Your Biggest Achievement? similar to discussing your greatest strengths because people come from different backgrounds and have different levels and ideas of success. 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. 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. A year later, we had met and exceeded the goals I set when I took on the position. The company promoted me from a mid-level position and tasked me with improving retention and recruitment. Even though . How do you answer what are your key achievements? This saved me a lot of time, and eventually, the document got repurposed to its own web page. 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. What did you do? Heres a sample answer from a professional interviewing for a Chief Human Resources Officer position: "What is your greatest professional achievement?". EXAMPLE ANSWER: "The accomplishment I'm most proud of is completing my degree with a 3.95 GPA. 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. 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. Out of the 4 months I spent there, 3 of them were a total nightmare. Be clear in your description and avoid any vague generalizations. What happened, and how did you attempt to rectify the situation? I wanted to ensure our prospects and leads would feel understood, knowing our sales team cared about their success. Task. Now, your answer is obviously going to vary depending on your background and where you are in your career right now. A simple way that you can show a potential employer what youre capable of is to quantify your accomplishment. It could be something you're proud of from your work, from home or a combination. Think about school projects, trips, private tragedies, public disasters anything that required you to work to overcome something while contributing to something or someone else around you. Since I had led similar projects before, I offered to help get it finished. 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. The following are common types of accomplishments followed by a few more specific examples. improving an algorithm) Awards & Recognition. Educational accomplishment. 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. Business Recovery. We were having trouble selling our new product, despite our best marketing efforts. All Rights Reserved. Concentrate on following the STAR method and avoid the following: What is your greatest accomplishment? Choose something that is as modern as possible and somewhat relevant to that job. If you dont think you have any accomplishments, self-reflect and ask others for help. Training for and completing a marathon. Trying to be funny - For example: " My greatest achievement was when I managed to get to work on time for once. Dont make anyone else look bad in your story; just talk about a time you were really proud of something impressive you did. In my last position, I negotiated with a new supplier to lower the cost of the raw materials we purchased to make our products. The interviewer knows the candidate is motivated, independent, and possesses relevant career skills. In my first job out of college, I was tasked with managing a companys social media channels. In other words, associate your accomplishment with a specific percentage or dollar amount. We were losing customers and getting brutal reviews online. Show the great strides you made in your education and the accolades you received for the same. Regardless of how true it is, I dont really have any greatest accomplishments is just bad optics all around. TASK: I had to stay positive, take control of the situation, and find a way to start over and rebuild. Never miss an opportunity thats right for you. ACTION: I was still new to the job and had no car, so I could not stay late in the office for safety purposes. My contribution was published by Oxford Press. Practice your example answers before your interview. When a recruiter or hiring manager asks you about your greatest accomplishment, they really want to know three main things: Your work ethic. In only four months, we were achieving 50-80% above our chosen goals. Achievements also provide tangible evidence that colleagues, competitors and the wider world use to judge a person as more or less successful. It can be particularly difficult if you're a recent graduate and don't have a lot of experience to draw on. In this article we break down what interviewers want to hear when they ask you about your greatest achievement, and how to answer this question the right way. Obviously, the result should be monumentally positive for this answer, since were talking about your greatest accomplishment. 27 Crisp and Impactful examples of what is your greatest achievement sample answer for freshers. Preparing an answer. Use our modern templates if you'd like to give your application a newer, more contemporary aesthetic. Examples for your greatest accomplishment could be: Giving a presentation for an important event, Providing mentorship to a fellow student or employee, Winning an award for academic or professional activity, Completing a rigorous training or educational course, Exceeding expectations in a metric-based assignment. Try to stick with professional career or job-related strong answers. All rights reserved. Remember, the interviewer called you knowing this might be your first job interview. The, To structure your answer, we recommend using the. Sample Answer 4 - Paying For College Myself Achievement. See the Best Places to Work 2023! We raised $20,000 from that cohort by the end of the year. I came up with a new marketing strategy involving social media campaigns that increased our sales by 155%. 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. Display specific qualifications. They needed volunteers, so I took the initiative. When answered properly, youll be able to share what you value most, demonstrate your work ethic, and showcase why youre the best person for the job. e. Be honest. Use the STAR method. Agent of Change (pushing change forward) Artistic Expression. Result. When Is the Best Time To Interview for a Job for Optimal Results? 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. The most effective way to answer any tough interview question is to follow the STAR approach. " is a common behavioral interview question, so be sure to practice your answer ahead of time. When describing the outcome, if possible, mention numbers and quantifiable facts. 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. Your commitment to work: The greatest achievement question helps employers determine your work ethic and commitment to growing in your profession. 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 . Personal Accomplishment as a Doctor. I learned a lot through teaching 2.Satisfaction through satisfying students and their parents 3.Respect through dedication in quality of work I believe that my greatest achievement as a teacher is being a wholesome person. I finally went with the [XYZ] CRM system and worked with the IT team to implement it. One that could also centralize file management within the department, streamline onboarding, and also help with other small tasks (like bulk document importing, automated backfile conversions and so on)., Results - In the end, our timesheets indicated that the time spent looking for files and documents had been reduced by 5-10 hours. How did you ensure that you would meet your objective? Each team or individual could instantly access the files they needed in one HR filing system, and increase their overall productivity., Are you wondering what are some other accomplishments you can mention during your interview? I wanted to discover how our outreach was missing the mark, and what types of new donors we should focus on pursuing. While this project wasnt revolutionary, Im proud of it because I learned [skill or concept you learned that relates to the job]. 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". What three things should I say for accomplishments? Task: After describing your part in the situation. I see my greatest accomplishment as implementing a new customer relationship management system at my previous job. 1. For more help preparing for your interview, check out some of our other articles below: Corissa is a Career Advisor and Staff Writer at Resume Genius, where she loves equipping others with the tools they need to pursue their dreams. Your values. You can start by describing the problem that your team or company faced. Ideally, the greatest accomplishment you answer with should be from the last two to three years. Set your story up with a brief description of the situation that led to your accomplishment. Examples: My greatest achievement' examples could include: Giving a great presentation at work. Answer (1 of 19): A few things; removing unnecessary code is extremely satisfying. If you need to simplify your story for simplicity and the sake of keeping it brief, thats fine as long as the essential terms of your accomplishment are accurate. I have delegated duties to my team, signed up for affiliate marketing sites and google AdSense, and monetized the blog without doing anything other than managing the blog. You cant borrow or copy an accomplishment, but you can borrow structure, style, and delivery. 1 How ambitious you are, and what drives you. So, I didnt really have a lot of instructions. 4. If you're success-oriented and if you've gone above and beyond in your work. Not to mention that your other accomplishments may come up when youre answering a different interview question. Experienced professional interviewing for a website management position -. 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? 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. 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?. 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. What was the outcome of your action? 3 A little about your problem-solving skills, if possible. If youre having trouble choosing just one example for your greatest accomplishment, keep the following things in mind: Stick to work examples. Organizing a successful charity event. 2 If you have the right attitude and are a good fit with the company/team. I earned the top GPA in my class of more than 1,500 students while maintaining a part-time job on campus. As with all behavioral interview questions, use the star method: Situation. 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. Sample Answer 2 - Continuous Learning Professional Achievement. By taking initiative, I earned myself a senior developer position and a company car to help me navigate from home to work. I also set up in-person meetings with three donors who had expressed interest but had not donated. Create a connection. Best Method to Answer What is your proudest accomplishment: The most effective method to answer these questions and its variations is to follow the S.T.A.R format (Situation/ Task/ Approach/ Result). Is this the kind of work you typically do? 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. TASK: The only way to keep the region open was for sales to improve. ACTION: We decided to upgrade our ingredients and showcase them in all of our marketing. Accomplishing any task requires a set of values. If you're applying for a job as an accountant and your greatest achievement is baking the best cake ever at your office party, you're not making the cut. Make sure your achievements match the skills and experience needed for the job at hand. 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. My first job out of school was as a customer care agent at a fast-paced tech company. You can also use the STAR method to help you find the answer. 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. How to answer "What is your greatest accomplishment?" In case no one was available, I personally filled in for them., Results - Overall, the summer went pretty well with minimal incidents. "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 . 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. " My most outstanding achievement is completing my Bachelor's degree in 4 years with a 3.8 GPA. S [SITUATION] Describe the situation that led to the achievement, T [TASK] Talk about the task you had to do to accomplish the achievement, A [ACTIONS] Describe the actions you implemented to achieve the accomplishment. They expect to hear about an accomplishment from your education, volunteerism, or part-time work. Looking to enhance your professional life? ACTION: I started working toward this goal in high school and took any job that was a skill match, no matter how much I hated it. "What is your greatest accomplishment? Example answer for returning to the workforce. Choose an answer related to your professional or academic life. Out of the 4 months I spent there, 3 of them were a total nightmare. However, in the end, we completed the project a day in advance and the client was thrilled with the end result. SITUATION: My biggest achievement was growing sales in an underperforming territory. ". 1. 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. Your goal is to convince the interviewer that you're the right candidate for the job. I wanted to improve, and a lot of the other employees were often too busy to help me out. However, if you cant quantify your accomplishment, avoid the temptation to stretch the truth or claim that you did something you didnt.