How To Answer The Interview Question: What Achievement Are You Most Proud Of?
With interviews, as with anything, preparation is key. Learning how to get just a little better at job interviews is one of the best-value things you can do for yourself. The best preparation consists of thinking through how you want to answer common questions, so you don't get caught off guard.
One of the questions you're likely to be asked in an interview is "What achievement are you most proud of?". Your answer to this question may allow your prospective employers to learn about the skills, experiences, and qualities you can bring to the role and assess whether you're a good fit for the position. This question may also allow you to share your professional interests or background and discuss the credentials and experiences that qualify you for your prospective role.
Related: 6 Red Flags to Look Out for When Accepting a Job Offer
What does the interviewer want to find out?
Many people assume that their CV alone can adequately convey their achievements, but that presupposes the interviewer has had time to read your CV before the interview when many interviewers are just too busy. When asked asked asked what achievement are you most proud of? This is actually your opportunity to sell yourself and your accomplishments to the interviewer. With that in mind, you'll want to make sure your response is relevant to the job you're interviewing for.
Think about what qualities or skills would be most valuable in the role you're interviewing for and focus on an achievement that highlights those qualities. For example, if you're applying for a job that requires excellent written communication skills, you might want to discuss an achievement related to writing, such as publishing an article in a professional journal. Alternatively, if you're interviewing for a position that emphasizes customer service, you might want to share an experience in which you went above and beyond to help a client or customer.
Your answer should also be relatively recent so that it's relevant to your current skills and abilities. For example, if you're interviewing for a job that requires experience with a certain software program and you're proud of becoming certified in that program five years ago, mention that you recently completed the certification process again to ensure your skills are up-to-date.
Finally, it's important, to be honest in your response. The interviewer is likely to follow up with questions about your achievement, so be prepared to discuss the details of your accomplishment and what role you played in achieving it.
Related: The Right Mindset for Attracting Your Dream Job
Examples of the best answers
You've been asked in an interview what achievements you are most proud of. Here are some examples of responses that you can answer.
"In my previous role, I was responsible for leading a team of customer service representatives. We were able to increase customer satisfaction scores by 15% over the course of six months through a combination of training, process improvements, and increased communication between departments. I'm proud of this achievement because it demonstrates my ability to lead and manage a team effectively."
"I'm proud of the fact that I was able to learn a new software program in just two weeks so that I could support my team's transition to using the software. It was a challenging program to learn, but being able to quickly adapt and learn new things is an important skill for me professionally."
"When I started working at my current company, one of my goals was to streamline the onboarding process for new employees. I worked with HR and managers from different departments to develop a new system that reduced the onboarding time by 30%. I'm proud of this accomplishment because it shows my ability to identify inefficiencies and create solutions that improve organizational efficiency."
Related: 11 Things You Should Never Say During a Job Interview
Key points to remember
When asked what achievement are you most proud of, take a few moments to think about your response before you answer. You'll want to make sure your response is relevant to the job you're interviewing for and highlights qualities or skills that would be valuable in the role. You should also be honest in your response and prepared to discuss the details of your achievement if the interviewer asks follow-up questions.
1. Don't be shy about your achievements
You've achieved something great, so don't be afraid to talk about it! Be proud of what you've accomplished and share it with the interviewer.
2. Keep your answer relevant
When choosing an achievement to discuss, make sure it's relevant to the job you're interviewing for. Consider what qualities or skills would be most valuable in the role and choose an achievement that highlights those qualities.
Related: Got a Job Interview? Here Are Some Questions You Can Ask
3. Be honest
The interviewer is likely to ask follow-up questions about your achievement, so be prepared to discuss the details of what you did and what role you played in achieving it. honesty is always the best policy when interviewing.
4. Choose a recent achievement
You want your answer to be relevant to your current skills and abilities, so choose an achievement that is relatively recent. This will show the interviewer that you have experience with relevant technologies or processes and that your skills are up-to-date.
5. Practice your answer
Once you've decided on an achievement to discuss, take some time to practice your response. This will help you feel more confident in your answer and make sure you don't forget any important details.
By following these tips, you can be sure to craft a strong answer to the question, "What achievement are you most proud of?" that will impress your interviewer and demonstrate your value as a potential employee. Good luck!
Do you have any other tips for answering difficult interview questions? Share them with us in the comments below!
More relevant articles:
Ultimate Guide To Job Interview Answers
Work at Home Online Jobs - Work From Home
How To Answer The Interview Question: Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
Top 10 Mistakes People Make in Their Job Search
The Best Remote Working Job Search Sites
6 Red Flags to Look Out for When Accepting a Job Offer
The Best Company Benefits to Consider When Accepting a Job Offer
17 Best Jobs for Stay at Home Parents
Â
Follow me on LinkedIn. Check out my blog for more career-related content. Grab your career journal.