"My most significant career achievement was being the youngest person ever awarded a sales management position at my current company. Here is how the STAR approach works: Situation: Provide some context for your accomplishment in the initial portion of your response. Reflect on your time in education, extra-curricular activities and hobbies to identify something you accomplished that made you feel proud. Example Answer #1 - For Entry-Level worker. "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. ', 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? Wondering how to answer the question modestly (while at the same time, showing off how awesome you are)? At my current job as a fifth-grade teacher, my greatest accomplishments always involve watching my students achieve something. I earned the top GPA in my class of more than 1,500 students while maintaining a part-time job on campus. They will be looking at your response to see if you have the skills and experience necessary to do the job. Answering interview questions is more of a skill, but don't worrywe'll go into greater . Your qualifications: Some accomplishments help employers establish . My greatest accomplishment was getting a gold medal in the International Olympiad of Science. Ideally, the greatest accomplishment you answer with should be from the last two to three years. This is a compelling way to share a big accomplishment with potential employers. I also started a reward system - if someone called in sick, youd get rewarded if you filled in for them. Cover letters don't have to be dry. Applying for work where you might need to wear a suit? Be sure to check out our career blog for more actionable guides and the latest job-hunt tips and tricks. For example, if your greatest achievement is 100% customer retention, the values behind this accomplishment can be humility and service. . Honesty is the best policy. This saved me a lot of time, and eventually, the document got repurposed to its own web page. Your greatest accomplishment reflects your values, goals, and aspirations. A realization of your values or goals. When I left that role, 97% of new hires gave positive reviews for the training program. This candidate describes initiative, organization, and insight into the teams needs. Dont hold back here include even small achievements. Concrete examples of your work. Dont lie or embellish too much, but think about which of your examples makes the best story. Second, this is a classic behavioral interview question, so a strong answer starts with a strong success story. (A) Action - Explain the actions you took to address the above-mentioned challenges or responsibilities. Charitable work or volunteering. 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. Follow the STAR method as an answering format for a comprehensive reply. The employees have spoken. 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". Working with a good team means open communication, high trust . Answer (1 of 19): A few things; removing unnecessary code is extremely satisfying. This way, you are sure to construct the best answer and help the recruiter take notice of your specific skills and abilities. TASK: I had to try something different to gain more awareness, or else my blog would not grow. SITUATION: My biggest achievement was persevering and thriving following an injury. 2. In an accounting department, this might include ways that you strengthened controls, exceeded schedule or documentation reports or built new systems. A challenging process. 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. At MatchBuilt, we believe in empowering individuals to pursue their passions and reach their career goals, regardless of industry experience or formal education. Learn every detail about making a resume. 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 background, I studied literature in school, which did not involve any tech information. Talking about your own achievements can be pretty uncomfortable for some were taught not to brag from an early age. Its relevant to a fresh graduate who might not have a lot of. Additional interview resources. Your response provides them with insight about your personal and professional achievements, and your ability to establish and achieve goals. All Rights Reserved. Your first travel experience. For more help preparing for your interview, check out some of our other articles below: TASK: I made a commitment to myself that I would find a way to finance and pay to attend the college of my choice. Trying to be funny - For example: " My greatest achievement was when I managed to get to work on time for once. In other words, associate your accomplishment with a specific percentage or dollar amount. (S) Situation - Describe the situation and the context in which the event took place. That means picking your accomplishment based on how good of a story its going to make. Contemporary templates perfect for new job seekers or anyone looking for a fresh start. (T) Task - Talk about the tasks you had to complete (i.e. Job seekers are often haunted by lies, so its best to avoid them altogether. Learn more: How to Prepare for a Behavioral Interview. My greatest accomplishment so far was finishing my Bachelor's and Master's degree in time with a 3.9 GPA. My greatest accomplishment was finishing college at the top of my class while holding a full-time job. 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. As with all behavioral interview questions, choosing a relevant example and using the STAR . If you're success-oriented and if you've gone above and beyond in your work. Looking for a job-winning customer service resume you could use as inspiration? R [RESULTS] What were the results of what you did? Chances are youll have several good stories to choose from, and they might all be comparable in terms of their impressiveness. There are other interview questions about conflict and challenges, but your answer for this question should be overwhelmingly positive. When I took on the position, turnover was high and our cost-to-fill was skyrocketing. Achievements also provide tangible evidence that colleagues, competitors and the wider world use to judge a person as more or less successful. 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. First, I decided to create a document of the Frequently Asked Questions I was getting, for personal use. 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 was newly hired as a junior developer in a small tech company that had just started a branch in my area. This response is focused, specific, and goal-oriented. Business Recovery. 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. TASK: Find a way to let customers know what was in the food before eating it. ". It could be something you're proud of from your work, from home or a combination. 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. Show the great strides you made in your education and the accolades you received for the same. 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? Entry-Level College Grad. The more prepared you are, the better it will go. ACTION: I started by talking to my neighbor who could speak a bit of English, and then my interest grew to me signing up for a French class and dedicating hours a day to learning the new language. 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. Achievements are the building blocks that enable someone to construct a sense of themselves as a success. Tips on how to answer "tell me what your proudest accomplishment is". Because of my poor test grade, the amount of time I studied more than doubled, which made me a . Let's begin! Whenever possible, connect the achievement to key skills needed for the position. At MatchBuilt, weve counseled 1000s of job seekers on how to answer common behavioral interview questions just like this one. 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. Buttoned up yet stylish. The company had instilled fines for that, but certain employees still came in late regardless of multiple fines. I learned that younger potential donors found our materials out-of-touch. The following are common types of work accomplishments with examples of each. Situation: "My greatest accomplishment was when I was a content leader at a local design agency. 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. The more prepared you are, the better it will go. I see my greatest accomplishment as implementing a new customer relationship management system at my previous job. Highlight both your relevant " soft skills " (leadership, conflict resolution, decision making, etc.) Failure; The Unsuccessful Accomplishment. My consistency and effort were rewarded with a promotion after just four months. Be the first to rate this post. Never miss an opportunity thats right for you. "What is your biggest accomplishment at work?". The greatest achievement question can be stressful for students and new graduates. How much work does it take for you to feel as though youve contributed to a work accomplishment? Your greatest accomplishment is a significant event or achievement that you are proud of and that has had a meaningful impact on your life. By taking initiative, I earned myself a senior developer position and a company car to help me navigate from home to work. TASK: I decided to leave my comfort zone and change that by taking coding courses online as I continued working at the company. T: Task The goal you aimed to achieve, such as increasing sales, decreasing costs, or others. So, I mobilized my fellow interns and created a new campaign targeting donors under 35. I was very passionate about these Olympiad exams. I asked team members what features they wanted and needed and discussed budgeting with my higher-ups. When asking this question, the HR manager wants to learn about your professional and personal sides. The second answer is going to be more memorable and more impressive, so that's why you should review your own story/example you plan on giving to refresh yourself on as many details as possible. By asking this question, the hiring manager can see if your accomplishments and work ethic aligns with the needs of the organization. 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. Beating sales targets. Your answer should serve as another opportunity to talk yourself up and let hiring managers know why you should be their top choice. I shortened the time for onboarding by 50% and once our sales reps were out in the field, they started making sales on day one, which was unheard of before. 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. When Is the Best Time To Interview for a Job for Optimal Results? If you have questions about resumes, cover letters, or CVs, we answer hundreds of them here. Volunteer jobs like these are ideal sources for greatest accomplishment answers for entry-level candidates. I lost everything in a fire two years ago, and it couldnt have come at a worse time as I was also supporting a sick family member and was trying to finish my degree. 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. In my previous position as a sales representative, our team produced at lower levels than in other regions. 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. That way, you can choose an accomplishment that best aligns with the duties of the new job. If youre a recent graduate, you may want to think about volunteer work that youve participated in or even academic accomplishments that youre proud of. It isn't uncommon for the details to fade a bit as time passes, making it difficult to add in the information. This question essentially forces a full S-T-A-R behavioral answer, since it puts the "R" (results achieved) first, which makes it easy to trace the trail for how you got there. Are accomplishments in general out of the ordinary for you? E.g. 1. Your choice should also be appropriate and relevant to the responsibilities of the job your are interviewing for.
