How to answer ‘tell me about your greatest achievement’

If like me you’ve never climbed Kilimanjaro, sky dived or run a marathon, this may feel like a really difficult question. What if you don’t feel that you’ve done anything that sounds inspiring or will impress an employer if asked this question in an interview? The good news is that what the interviewer is really interested in is not the achievement per se, but what it says about you and how that might relate to the job role and their requirements.

Why do employers ask this question?

The employer really wants to see what makes you tick, what motivates you and what does the achievement you describe say about your personal qualities. An employer in a highly competitive industry for example, might be looking for someone who highlights how they achieved something in a demanding, pressurised situation. In a business that requires a lot of innovation the interviewer might like to hear an answer to this question that explains how the applicant used their initiative and creativity to solve a problem. A recruiter in the health and care sector would be impressed by somebody who refers to their empathy and listening skills for example, in the achievement they outline.          

Should you use a personal or professional example?

The interviewer may specify the setting but if not, choose an example that you genuinely do feel proud of. How do you feel when you talk about this achievement? Does it energise you, is this reflected in your voice and body language? If it does, it will come across very naturally and authentically. The achievement you describe will be more engaging if you ‘tell a story’.  Story telling is such an effective strategy in an interview as it helps us to relate to each-other and make connections. If you can build rapport with your interviewer, you are more likely to feel comfortable, confident and ultimately be successful.

“When you’re telling a story, you aren’t just describing what happened…you’re telling us how that moment felt emotionally, how you were affected, how you reacted and how you’re a different person after having endured that moment.”  (1) 

How do you tell the story? Use the STAR technique.

A lot of employers ask competency and motivational questions in interviews and in their guidance to applicants often recommend using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)  technique to answer questions. It’s a concise and structured way of highlighting what you did in a given situation and reflecting on the impact you made. In this way you are demonstrating that you meet the requirements for the job, you are proving you can do it.

In a mock interview an undergraduate I worked with said that being the first member of his family to go to university was his greatest achievement. He was implying that his personal qualities enabled him to do this, but he really needed to say what these attributes were for this to really resonate with the employer in his actual interview.   

So what did this example look like using the STAR format?

Situation: I was always interested in going to university when I was at school as I enjoyed learning. I never thought it was an option for me though, none of my friends or my family went to university so why would I be any different?

Task I would have to achieve A grades in my A levels. But I also I thought I wouldn’t belong at uni, that I wasn’t even capable and nobody in my family ever suggested I should try. But there was a teacher that kept pushing me at school, she told me I had the ability and potential and I started to believe I could do it.

Action:  Believing I could do it and having someone who could help me really made a difference. The prospect of university and the career I could achieve started to excite and motivate me. But I knew I had a lot to do. I was drifting through school but this goal increased my confidence and my determination to make it happen. I started to study more effectively, I carefully planned my time and asked for extra reading that would increase my knowledge and understanding in the subjects I studied.

Result: I made it to a top university and this has been the achievement I am most proud of to date. It was hard work and took a lot of perseverance. There were setbacks but I proved to my friends, my family and myself that I had the ability and belief to do it.  

Why was this example a good one?

The employer had listed resilience and determination as requirements in the person specification for the job role. By telling his story in this engaging way the student was able to convince the employer he had those qualities. Using genuine examples of your experience will help to prove to the employer you can do the job. Be proud when you tell others of your achievements. Your enthusiasm will be infectious and if you are genuine, this will be reflected in the way you tell this story and relate to your interviewer.       

(1) How to Tell a Story. The essential guide to memorable storytelling Sarah Austin Jenness, Meg Bowles et al 2023