INTERVIEW TIP: “TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT?”

Keep it real

It is important that you pick an achievement that you are genuinely proud of, something that is true to you. When we tell stories we naturally relive the emotions we felt during that time and you want to be passionate and engaging when talking to your interviewer.

Sell the benefits

You need to identify the key attributes that the job requires and sell those benefits as part of your answer.

If you tell me your biggest achievement was winning a management award at your previous company, then the benefit to me is pretty obvious. However, if you choose to tell me that your biggest achievement is losing eight stone and running a marathon (that is very cool by the way) then you will need to sell me the benefit. You should tell me that this shows how dedicated you are at hitting your targets. Tell me that you always achieve what you set your mind on. Tell me that you are self-motivated and determined and don’t like failing.

Keep it recent

Try to pick an achievement that is still quite recent. I once asked someone this question and she told me that moving to university was her biggest achievement as she missed her family terribly. I get this, I really do, but she had graduated 15 years earlier and I was hoping for something more recent and relevant than that.

Keep it professional and positive

Don’t let yourself become a victim during this answer. I have often seen people focus on the negatives of the situation they have overcome, rather than the achievement of overcoming it. Sometimes I don’t think they even realize they are doing it! Keep it upbeat and professional.

The best answer I was given

One interviewee gave Interviewer his achievement and then he sold me the benefit. Then he said something that Interviewer wasn’t expecting.

He told  that he actually felt that his biggest achievement was yet to come. Now, I loved that because it told me so much more about his character and his personality. He was always looking to achieve more tomorrow than he did today and was striving to improve himself all the time. This is a very attractive quality to find.

Over time, people generally remember the way you made them feel rather than the words you spoke, so it is essential you keep it real. Raise your energy levels, get excited, sit up proudly in your chair and make that impact!

Success is the best revenge

Walter Elias Disney was born on December 5, 1901. His interests in art and drawing were immediately apparent. He began drawing and then selling some of his small sketches to nearby neighbors, at the age of 7, thus starting the beginning of an empire.
While attending McKinley High School in Chicago, he turned his attention to drawing and photography, while contributing to the school paper. At night, he expanded on his drawing abilities by attending the Academy of Fine Arts. It was also apparent that he thoroughly enjoyed nature and wildlife. Encouraged by his mother and brother Roy, he began to develop and nurture even further, his talent for drawing. At one point, Walt was hired to work at the Kansas City Star newspaper. He was later fired from the paper for his “lack of creativity”. 
                Later, he pursued a career in commercial art, specifically, animation. He started producing short films for local businesses in Kansas City, but by the time he created what was known as the “Alice Comedies”, about a live girl in an animated world, his money began to run out and the company he started went bankrupt. But Walt was not deterred. He packed up his works and headed West for Hollywood, determined to start fresh. He was only 21 years old.
               After trials and tribulations, and very little money, Walt’s persistence paid off when his animation skills were picked up by the motion pictureindustry in 1928. Thus, Mickey Mouse was born. Steamboat Willie was the first synchronized sound cartoon. His drive to succeed then propelled him into Technicolor. He held the patent for 2 years while exclusively making and improving color cartoons. 
              Years later, The Walt Disney Company (founded by Walt and Roy) bought ABC which owned The Kansas City Star (company that had fired Walt).
               Now, Here he is. Walt Disney (1901–66) won a total of twenty-sixAcademy Awards (Oscars), and holds the record for most Academy Awards  won by an individual in the history.

Epilogue : Lack of creativity was his failure once. Now, millions of people from around the world are able to enjoy a day or two, act like a kid, whether you are one or not, and realize that there is something to be said for dreaming big and laughing out loud. Not only that, he bought the whole company that had fired him. - which is also an example of 'success as the best revenge'.