What have you accomplished in life so far? What do you consider your greatest professional achievement? These are just some of the questions related to personal achievements you may, and likely will, face in the interviews. But what do the interviewers try to figure out while asking them? And what achievements should you choose for your answer? And what if you have no professional or other achievements in life so far? I will analyze it all, and more, on the following lines.
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The Basics
- Most common interview questions belonging to this area: What are your greatest achievements in life? What are you proud of?
- Less common questions belonging to the area: What do you want to accomplish in your professional career? If you should choose just three things to put on your resume, what would you put there?
- Out of 10 random jobs, in how many cases will this area be tested during the hiring process: 8/10. It is one thing working or studying somewhere, and another one actually achieving something during your stint with this or that company. What’s more, what you pick for your achievements, and the way you talk about them, tells a lot about your attitude and your way of thinking. That’s the main reason why questions about achievements gained popularity in the interviews. You will face at least one such question in 8 out of 10 cases.
- Difficulty: 4/5. In my opinion, this is a fairly difficult question. First of all, because we live in the world of high expectations and social pressure. People often struggle to find an achievements that’s worth mentioning, and simply remain silent in the interview. Secondly, because this question has many hidden traps in it, and mistakes are very common. But do not worry, I will explain all the common mistakes and traps both on sample answers and in the “advanced information” section of this page.
- Main goals of the hiring managers with questions belonging to this area: Learning the most important thing about your previous working experience–not only that you worked somewhere, but also what you actually did and achieved there. Understanding your way of thinking and attitude when it comes to achieving something–do you care mostly about your own results, or about the results of the business? Can you give credit to other people who helped you on your way? And do you actually strive to achieve something, or do you simply just go to work and do the bare minimum to get your pay?
- Your main goals with answers to questions belonging to this area: Convincing the interviewers that you have the right attitude to both your work and your achievements. Showing desire to actually achieve something tangible in your new job, once they hire you.
7 sample answers
Sample answer no. 1: Applying for a job in sales, referring to successes in a previous job in retail:
In my last job I helped my employer to increase the yearly sales volume by 20% during two consecutive years. Certainly it was a team effort, and I understand many things played a role here, such as an improved marketing. But I was the main man on the sales floor, helping customers to make the right decisions. The store got great reviews on Google as well, and I think that during my stay with them we did an excellent job as a team.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: Numbers give your answer credibility in the eyes of the hiring managers, and make it easier to imagine what you have actually accomplished (“…increase the yearly sales volume by 20%, during two consecutive years.”). Notice also that the applicant gives credit to other team members, as well as to the marketing department. A really good answer overall.
Sample answer no. 2: Fresh grad applying for their first corporate job:
I am just starting my professional career, and still waiting for a chance to achieve something great for my first employer. I think that my greatest achievement so far is the Master’s degree in marketing that I managed to earn at the University of Ohio, and my thesis about sales funnels in social media marketing, which actually helped real companies to attract new customers.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: If you’re just starting out your career, you can always refer to the degree you earned, your thesis, etc. Notice how the applicant shows the desire to actually achieve something for their employer (“…waiting for a chance to achieve something great for my first employer.”). That’s definitely the kind of attitude hiring managers are looking for.
Sample answer no. 3: A case manager (social work):
Working as a case manager, I succeeded in helping a troubled couple with three children. They struggled, and both of them carried lot of emotional wounds from their childhood. But together with therapists we managed to help them open up, and to overcome the crisis of their marriage. The three daughters continue to grow up in a family, and I consider it my greatest achievement so far. It was a difficult case and we worked on it for months.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: Stories do work, and explaining your achievement in story make things easier to imagine for the interviewers. A feel-good story is always welcome in the interviews. Notice again how the applicant gives credit to their colleagues as well (“…together with therapists we managed to help them…”).
Sample answer no. 4: Applicant with background in administrative jobs that do not offer much room for big accomplishments:
Speaking honestly, job of an administrative assistant does not offer many opportunities to achieve something extraordinary. But I managed to build a really good relationship with my managers, and I think that the entire office worked very efficiently while I was there. I also felt good in work most days, and think that the managers had the same feelings. Maybe it’s not much, but as an administrative assistant that’s perhaps the most you can hope for.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: Many jobs do not offer opportunities for some big tangible achievements, but you can still point out some positives your presence brought to the employer (“…the entire office worked very efficiently while I was there.”). It shows that it matters for you to actually bring some value to the employer, that you strive to achieve whatever is possible within the limits of the job. The answer would be even better if the applicant quantified the improved efficiency in numbers.
Sample answer no. 5: A man who actually struggled in their past jobs:
There have been more lows than highs in my professional career so far. I want to be honest with you. I struggled to fit into the team in my first job, and in the second one the entire company failed to resist the competition, and ended up out of business. Surely I played my part, and could do things better. But I have a desire to succeed, and to help my employer prosper. I learned my lessons in previous jobs, and hopefully I can turn the lead to gold this time around.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: Honesty always make an impression on the hiring managers. When you do not have much to account for in your previous jobs, the key is to show your desire to change this in the next one. It is also important to accept your responsibility for past failures (“Surely I played my part, and could do things better…”), instead of trying to explain what others did badly and saying that you didn’t meet your goals because of their mistakes.
Sample answer no. 6: A manager talks about his achievements in the previous role:
I think that would be a better question for my former employer. I climbed the career ladder, I got promoted several times, but honestly I consider it more as a result of my real achievements–things I did for the company. I helped them to acquire some strategic clients, and played a key role in negotiating important deals with the suppliers. That’s what I did for them, and I hope to do something similar also for you–if you hire me, of course.
- Quick thing to notice: This answer starts rather badly, with the job candidate speaking about climbing the career ladder, getting promoted, etc. If they ended up there, it would be a bad egocentric answer. However, they elaborate on it in the second part, focusing on the achievements from the point of view of the business (“I helped them to acquire some strategic clients, and played a key role in negotiating important deals”). While it is a bit vague, it clearly shows the right attitude–focusing on the achievements for the business, and not on personal promotions and accolades.
Sample answer no. 7: Applying for a job of a flight attendant, with no previous working experience:
This is my very first job application. Hard to say whether I achieved anything great in my professional career so far. But I learned to speak two foreign languages, an that is definitely an achievement considering that I am just 23 years old. I also hope to benefit from my language skills in a job of a flight attendant.
- Quick thing to notice: Learning a certain skill (foreign language, programming, playing an instrument) is a good alternative for your answer, especially when you lack previous working experience. In an ideal case, you should connect this achievement with the job you are trying to get (“…hope to benefit from my language skills in a job of a flight attendant”).
Advanced information
Mistakes people make while answering questions about their achievements in the interviews
- Focusing on yourself, instead of the company. This is definitely the most common mistake. Speaking about prizes you won, promotions you achieved, employee of the month awards, and so on. It shows that you are self-centered and care mostly about your own achievements. The right attitude is exactly the opposite: focusing on things you achieved for the company. Sales you made, processes you improved, projects you accomplished, simply how you made things better for your employer. Sure, the two things are often connected (you will hardly get promoted for doing a bad job), but to show the right attitude in the interview, you have to make this connection obvious in your answer, and give the priority to the business.
- Speaking vaguely about your accomplishments. Numbers and details give your answer credibility in our eyes. Many people simply say that they did a good job in their previous role, or something similar. And while it is fine, it is super vague and everyone can say that. If you really did a good job, explain us how, add numbers, simply tell us exactly what you did for your previous employers.
- Remaining silent. I remember quite a few people remaining completely silent when I asked them about their achievements. This is obviously a mistake with any question. Look, regardless of how hard you’re life has been so far, regardless of how many mistakes you’ve made, there is always something to be proud of. In some extreme cases it can simply be that you’re still alive and applying for a new job. Maybe you have no professional achievements, but you managed to quit smoking, lost 20 pounds, or finally improved relationships with your family members. If there are no professional achievements to talk about, go with achievements from your personal life. Everything is better than remaining silent.
Few points from the perspective of the hiring managers/interviewers
- We love stories, just like everyone else. Typically there is a story (sometimes a rather dramatic one) behind every achievements. Interviewers do like stories. To make your answer stand out, tell us not only what you achieved, but also narrate the story behind it. The starting point, challenges you faced, the drama, and the eventual ‘victory’. Mention who helped you along the way, and show desire to replicate similar successes in your new job, and you have a perfect answer ready for us, one that we will remember even after talking to ten other job candidates.
- Try to always give credit to other people. Of course interview is a sales talk and it makes sense talking mostly about your contribution, when it comes to achievements in your past jobs. But we are looking for people who can acknowledge others and give them credit. In order to make the best possible impression on us, make sure not to attribute your achievements solely to yourself…
7 keywords to remember when answering questions belonging to this area
- Always focus on the employer, tangible achievements are better, numbers and details give your answer credibility, even the most simple jobs offer opportunity for achievements, avoid the ego trap and give credit to others, fall back on degree and thesis when there’s nothing else to talk about, tell us a story.
So that’s it! You’ve just covered area no. 8 out of 25 areas that cover 99% of questions you may ever get in the interviews. Just 17 areas left! Check the next one: Salary, or go back to homepage for the full list of 25 areas and pick one you want to learn about and practice right now.
