How to Answer 'What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?' in a Job Interview

When an interviewer asks, *“What is your greatest accomplishment?”* they’re not just looking for a proud moment in your career; they’re seeking insight into your values, problem-solving skills, and how you measure success. This is a prime opportunity to highlight your strengths and show how they align with the job you’re applying for. To craft a compelling answer, it’s important to choose a relevant achievement, structure your response clearly, and show the impact of your success.

First, choose an accomplishment that’s professionally relevant. While personal milestones can be impressive, interviewers are more interested in work-related achievements that demonstrate skills applicable to the role. Think of an accomplishment that showcases a key skill, such as leadership, problem-solving, or creativity, and make sure it aligns with the job description. For example, if you’re interviewing for a management position, you might highlight a time when you successfully led a team through a challenging project.

Once you’ve selected the right achievement, structure your answer using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Begin by briefly describing the *Situation* or context of your accomplishment, then explain the *Task* you were responsible for. Next, focus on the *Action* you took—this is where you can highlight your initiative, problem-solving abilities, or leadership. Finally, describe the *Result*, emphasizing the positive impact your actions had, whether it was increasing sales, improving efficiency, or achieving a significant goal. Quantifying the result with numbers or percentages can make your story even more powerful.

For example, you might say:

*"My greatest accomplishment was leading a project to revamp our company’s website. Our online traffic had been declining, and I was tasked with spearheading a redesign. I collaborated with the marketing and IT teams to create a more user-friendly interface, improve SEO, and streamline the checkout process. Within three months of launching the new site, we saw a 30% increase in traffic and a 15% boost in sales. This project not only helped the company, but it also developed my leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills, which I’m eager to bring to this role."*

This response is clear, focused, and demonstrates how your skills produced tangible results.

Ultimately, the key to answering this question well is selecting an accomplishment that not only highlights your strengths but also shows how those strengths will benefit the company.