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Instead of simply saying "I increased sales by 600 percent in one year," describe how you did it. "My most significant career achievement was being the youngest person ever awarded a sales management position at my current company. Short on time or simply dont like writing? '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. 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. They needed volunteers, so I took the initiative. What is your greatest accomplishment? is one of the most challenging and common questions you can expect during a job interview. The, To structure your answer, we recommend using the. Scholarships or grants. Human resource experts and researches have come up with a STAR method to give an answer that is satisfactory. When an interviewer asks you about your greatest accomplishment, one of the things they are trying to understand is what motivates you into action. Trying to be funny - For example: " My greatest achievement was when I managed to get to work on time for once. and your relevant "hard skills" (computer technologies, project . It mentions transferrable skills focus and time management and subtly mentions that they could keep up when others couldnt. Be sure to check out our career blog for more actionable guides and the latest job-hunt tips and tricks. Connect the dots. We went from 100 followers to over 5,000 within one year and social media is now a steady channel for generating sales leads. For some job candidates, its difficult to determine what accomplishment to use and how to communicate it effectively, but the tips in this post should help you get started framing up a great answer. Then you can determine to what extent you made this change happen or contributed to it. 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. 1 people already answered this question. Using this method, you talk about the situation or problem you . You can also use the STAR method to help you find the answer. 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. In case no one was available, I personally filled in for them., Results - Overall, the summer went pretty well with minimal incidents. There can be a time and a place for humour in a job interview, but it is not when . When asking this question, the interviewer wants to learn 3 things: Now that weve got that out of the way, lets talk about how to answer this question. The company had instilled fines for that, but certain employees still came in late regardless of multiple fines. The accomplishment that Im most proud of is how rapidly I was promoted to the team lead position for our sales team. 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. 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. If you want to become successful in life, you must help yourself first. Office of Personnel Management Structure Interviews, Harvard Business Review 10 Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them. Obviously, the result should be monumentally positive for this answer, since were talking about your greatest accomplishment. 1. A year later, we had increased our close rate by 26% and our renewal rate by 17%. The achievements that matter most combine to form a version of success that has meaning and substance for the individual. Agent of Change (pushing change forward) Artistic Expression. '. "So far, my greatest accomplishment was organizing a food drive at my high school. 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, 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? Your choice should also be appropriate and relevant to the responsibilities of the job your are interviewing for. Sample Answer 4 - Paying For College Myself Achievement. Describe your accomplishments by promoting your abilities and focusing on results. The employees have spoken. The STAR translates to Situation, Task, Action, and Resolution. However, you should always discuss what sets you apart from the other candidates with specific accomplishments in life or in previous roles. I came up with a new marketing strategy involving social media campaigns that increased our sales by 155%. " My most outstanding achievement is completing my Bachelor's degree in 4 years with a 3.8 GPA. Your Greatest Achievement In Life As A Student Is Beyond Academics . 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. Utilize the STAR Method, Situation Describe the situation in your personal life or professional career that led to the achievement; Task talk about the task you had to do to accomplish the achievement; Action describe the actions you implemented to achieve the accomplishment; Results discuss the results. RESULTS: I rebuilt within a year after the ordeal and learned much about what I can accomplish and how resilient I can be. Check out our professional templates. By reading and understanding the job description, you should know what the job requires. Look for actions you took that made it possible for you to be in the position to interview for this job. Learning the best way to answer What is your biggest accomplishment? or What is your best professional achievement ? job interview question is a great way to show an interviewer and prospective team members more information about you and your capabilities. SITUATION: My biggest achievement was buildingafter a devastating loss. 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. When they ask about your greatest accomplishment, they're interested in learning about three main things: Work ethic: Interviewers may want to know what you view as an accomplishment and the work you completed to . SITUATION: My greatest achievement was being promoted through self-motivation and learning. 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. For example, a doctor who finds a cure for a rare disease shows their commitment to the job and the hard work of developing a cure. In my last position, I negotiated with a new supplier to lower the cost of the raw materials we purchased to make our products. My first job out of school was as a customer care agent at a fast-paced tech company. Have you ever failed to meet a clients expectations? 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. First, I decided to create a document of the Frequently Asked Questions I was getting, for personal use. Be sure to take credit for your accomplishments. A year later, we had met and exceeded the goals I set when I took on the position. 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. 2. Sample Answer 3 - Side Hustle Personal Achievement. "What is your biggest accomplishment at work?". But what do you say? It could be from a previous job, volunteer position, or another event. So, I didnt really have a lot of instructions. If so, why mention this example specifically? Youre sitting across from an interviewer, and it happens they look up from your resume and ask: What would you say is your greatest achievement? I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment, as it . Situation: "My greatest accomplishment was when I was a content leader at a local design agency. Practice your example answers before your interview. Create a connection. By taking initiative, I earned myself a senior developer position and a company car to help me navigate from home to work. Tell Me About A Challenge You've Faced At Work. They close with a measurable positive impact on the company, placing the focus back on the benefit for the employer. If you can, quantify the results in a way that speaks to the value youd bring to the job youre applying for. Download one of our 2-page CV. If you have questions about resumes, cover letters, or CVs, we answer hundreds of them here. Use your strongest accomplishment in your answer to make sure that you tell your best story. Why Interviewers Ask "What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?" Let's start with the basics: what's the point of this job interview question? The hiring department had difficulty locating specific files and managing documents, especially during busy periods, and this ate up too much time., Task So, I thought there was room for improvement with employee file management. First, when an interviewer asks, "What is your greatest achievement?" they're really asking for your greatest professional (or academic) accomplishment. RESULTS: Our client was so happy at the end of the project that he decided to give us another contract and refer two more clients to the company. How did you ensure that you would meet your objective? Youll leave out details, or worse, forget your best stories. My greatest accomplishment was my promotion last year to manager. Prepare your answer in advance, so you don't have to think up an accomplishment on the spot. Pick a Recent Accomplishment. Building Support. What is your greatest achievement? If youre having trouble choosing just one example for your greatest accomplishment, keep the following things in mind: Stick to work examples. Accomplishing any task requires a set of values. Follow the STAR method as an answering format for a comprehensive reply. The candidate proves their ability to meet and exceed HR objectives on a large scale, while focusing on what they did to get there. 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. What was your role in the situation? 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. Whenever possible, connect the achievement to key skills needed for the position. Heres a sample answer from a professional interviewing for a Chief Human Resources Officer position: "What is your greatest professional achievement?". Not only that, but it had a knock-on effect of increasing user engagement with our social media platforms by 70% in just a month. 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. I asked team members what features they wanted and needed and discussed budgeting with my higher-ups. "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 . Use our modern templates if you'd like to give your application a newer, more contemporary aesthetic. For example, if you notice that taking ownership of projects and exceeding expectations is a core value for the company youre interviewing with, you might choose to tell the hiring manager about a time you stepped up to take responsibility for something, even when it may not have been your responsibility. My greatest accomplishment was getting a gold medal in the International Olympiad of Science. His parents called to tell me that they had never seen him excited to do homework before, especially when it involved reading. Follow the tips below to ensure you mention all the relevant facts and answer the question appropriately. 1. I also set up in-person meetings with three donors who had expressed interest but had not donated. Just kidding, my real greatest achievement is. I wanted to discover how our outreach was missing the mark, and what types of new donors we should focus on pursuing. Acquiring Skills. 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. Professional templates for applicants in formal industries. Second, this is a classic behavioral interview question, so a strong answer starts with a strong success story. Because of this experience, next time I run into this challenge, Ill be able to use my newfound abilities with [skill or concept].. . Starting your first job. Your commitment to work: The greatest achievement question helps employers determine your work ethic and commitment to growing in your profession. Says a lot about the candidates values (i.e. 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]. 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. It's something you're proud of and shows what you're capable of. 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). Looking for a job-winning customer service resume you could use as inspiration? While behavioral questions may make you nervous, there are ways to prepare the best answer and come out ahead of other qualified candidates who are interviewing for the same position. Soon after, I started a summer landscape business where I earned over $10,000 in my sophomore, junior, and senior years. 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 . 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. Try to stick with professional career or job-related strong answers. Educational accomplishment. Get a sense of the candidate's nursing skills and experience. 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. At MatchBuilt, weve counseled 1000s of job seekers on how to answer common behavioral interview questions just like this one. This was a win-win as not only did the food taste better, but we broke even with the change. ACTION: I was still new to the job and had no car, so I could not stay late in the office for safety purposes. In my previous position as a sales representative, our team produced at lower levels than in other regions. Dont just stop at your work-related achievements. Be specific in details, but make it short and to the point. 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. Best answers to "what is your greatest accomplishment". New graduate interviewing for an entry-level marketing job -. TASK: I had to try something different to gain more awareness, or else my blog would not grow. If you dont think you have any accomplishments, self-reflect and ask others for help. RESULTS: As a result, our food tastes better, and positive online reviews increased threefold. your challenge or responsibility). 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. Shows relevance to the specific workplace. It is common for these to be listed on a performance review or resume and to be discussed in an interview. When I got to my previous company as a human resources manager, employees spent so much time on lunch breaks, which would interfere with the working hours and the teams output. I knew automating the process would make things easier and help us close more sales. "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. While its sometimes not easy to talk about ourselves and our past experiences, practicing for this and other key behavioral questions will pay dividends in the long run. Make sure you prepare for this question ahead of time. TASK: I had to stay positive, take control of the situation, and find a way to start over and rebuild. RESULTS: We took a month to find the right suppliers and implement the plan, but after that, lunches were less than 30 minutes, and work output was never affected again. Honesty is the best policy. Do not focus on other people in your answer. They expect to hear about an accomplishment from your education, volunteerism, or part-time work. At MatchBuilt, we believe in empowering individuals to pursue their passions and reach their career goals, regardless of industry experience or formal education. 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. Within two months, I had introduced a new onboarding process, introduced and incentivized managerial training, and adopted a new recruitment software. For example, if your greatest achievement is 100% customer retention, the values behind this accomplishment can be humility and service. 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. Its relevant to a fresh graduate who might not have a lot of. 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. Not to mention that your other accomplishments may come up when youre answering a different interview question. It isn't uncommon for the details to fade a bit as time passes, making it difficult to add in the information. Task: "As a senior member of the team, I was tasked with being both the content strategist and the overall project manager. I used to post weekly and engage with the comments on a particular day of the week. Sporting achievements. Mistakes continued, even after teaching the waitresses all of the receipts so they could explain the ingredients clearly to the guest. As a sales manager, I saw my coworkers struggle to find information about leads and accounts, sometimes at the cost of a new client. This can often be tied together with the situation in one or two sentences. 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. 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. Set your story up with a brief description of the situation that led to your accomplishment. 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. Certainly it was a team effort, but I was the main man on the sales floor, helping customers to . And if not, what made it an outlier? Example Answer for Your Greatest Achievement or Accomplishment (Entry-Level): My greatest professional achievement was completing my Bachelor's degree in 4 years with a 3.8 GPA. Ensure your greatest accomplishment is work-related or demonstrates skills which can be directly applied in the workplace. Your hard skills might be on display while you answer this question, and your soft skills certainly will be. 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. RESULTS: After one month of the new demonstrations, that region was our biggest market, and our sales as a company increased by 10%. 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. Yes, this has been tested. 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. You should review the job description, any social media sites, the company website, and any employee reviews you can find online. Mentoring a coworker or fellow student. I also started a reward system - if someone called in sick, youd get rewarded if you filled in for them. 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. 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. 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. Your greatest accomplishment is a significant event or achievement that you are proud of and that has had a meaningful impact on your life. Try to stick with professional career or job-related strong answers. Choose anything that is as recent as feasible and at least tangentially related to this position or your career. ACTION: I asked my manager to give me a month to work on my regional sales. We were losing customers and getting brutal reviews online. (S) Situation - Describe the situation and the context in which the event took place. I can hold 3/4 of a cup (180 mL) of water in my mouth. 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. While finding an accomplishment that's relevant to what the company is looking for is an important first step, how you structure your story is also something you should consider. There are other interview questions about conflict and challenges, but your answer for this question should be overwhelmingly positive. 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. We were understaffed and needed to complete projects on time to retain our only clients and attract more. Now, when you walk into the restaurant, you learn all about where our ingredients come from and their health benefits. Applying for a position with numerous qualifications? I began my career in fast food washing dishes and worked my way up into a management role in just four years. You cant borrow or copy an accomplishment, but you can borrow structure, style, and delivery. When you can demonstrate that your work produced results that helped the business serve its customers, manage its finances or achieve its mission, you are . I learned that younger potential donors found our materials out-of-touch.