What Is The Professional Achievement You’re Most Proud Of?

‘What is the professional achievement you’re most proud of?’ is one of the most challenging and common questions you can expect during a job interview. Your answer says A LOT about you as a candidate. And oftentimes, the question can distinguish the ‘perfect’ candidate from an ‘OK’ one.

Let’s dive in.

Why Interviewers Ask “What Is the Professional Achievement you’re Most Proud of?”

When asking this question, the interviewer wants to learn 3 things:

1. If you’re down to earth. If you brag endlessly about your accomplishment (especially if the achievements aren’t that impressive), the interviewer will think that you’re not the most pleasant person to work with.
2. What YOU think is success, and how you associate it with your job and career. 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.
3. If you’re success-oriented and if you’ve gone above and beyond in your work. E.g. If your greatest accomplishment is that you were always on time and left work on the dot at 5 pm, you’re not it. That’s not an achievement – that’s a minimum job requirement.

Here’s how to frame your answer to this interview question;

1. Consider an accomplishment relevant to your field

One way to highlight that you’re a good fit for the role and industry is to discuss an accomplishment relevant to your prospective field. This can demonstrate that you understand the responsibilities and job duties associated with the position and that you’re prepared to handle them. For example, if you’re a software engineer, you can discuss creating a new program for your organization and mention how you increased profits by 7% because of your innovative creation.

2. Think about what achievement excites you

If you feel genuine excitement when discussing your accomplishment, you may be more likely to convey the importance of this achievement and its impact when speaking with a hiring manager. This can also help you ensure you deliver your response with energy and enthusiasm.

It may also motivate you to share specific details related to your success and growth, giving the interviewer additional information about who you are as a professional.

3. Highlight your strategies and skills

When you discuss the accomplishment you’re most proud of, consider including information about the skills and strategies that contributed to your achievement. This can help articulate that you understand what led to your success and that you’re able to repeat the methods or use the competencies again when working for your prospective employer. You can also discuss the steps you took to meet an objective and exceed an employer’s expectations.

4. Select a professional achievement rather than a personal one

If the interviewer doesn’t specify whether to share a personal or professional accomplishment, you may benefit from choosing one related to your career. While personal accomplishments may be impressive, highlighting one that applies to your professional growth may show the interviewer that you’re dedicated to your career and interested in work-related advancement.

Finally…..

Practice your response. In order to prepare for this interview question, consider practicing a response ahead of time. You may even benefit from selecting two or three different answers to rehearse and decide which to use based on the interviewer’s previous questions. Practicing prior to meeting with an employer can also allow you to know what experiences, strategies and skills to highlight.

Nervous about your upcoming interview? Let a professional interview coach help you prepare to answer every question with confidence. Book a session today!