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What is your greatest accomplishment in life?

07/01/25 5:11pm

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Michael McCutcheon, PhD
Career Coach & Psychologist

07/01/25 5:15pm

When you're asked about your greatest accomplishment, give specific examples of what you achieved in previous positions or internships that prepared you the job. Interviewers like to hear details about how you did your work and what was accomplished as a result.

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Madeline Mann
Author of "Reverse the Search" & Career Coach

09/04/25 9:36pm

The thing that throws people off when they are asked, "What is your greatest accomplishment," is that they often will default to their personal perspective or their personal view. So, I would clarify by saying, "I have a professional accomplishment that sticks out to me, or did you want something personal instead?"

If the person is really looking for something personal, then they'll tell you. But I would default to professional, because too many people will say, the birth of my son, or being the first person in my family to graduate from college. Those things are amazing, but those are far from unique in the applicant pool and also not what the company is looking for as far as matching you to the job.

So, I would pick an accomplishment that is a big accomplishment for you, but is also highly relevant to the role you're going for. Make sure that there are clear lines you can draw from that accomplishment to things you accomplish in the job you're going for.

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wikiHow Editorial Team

07/01/25 5:12pm

When you're asked "What is your greatest accomplishment?" during an interview, it's best to answer the question with work experience that relates to the job you're applying for. When you answer the question, use the STAR structure to explain your achievement.

S - Situation: Give brief background information that's needed for context.
T - Task: Explain what you had to accomplish and any challenges you faced along the way.
A - Action: Talk about how you approached the situation and what actions you took.
R - Result: Reflect on what you achieved and why you're happy with the way you approached it.

Prepare for your interview by brainstorming a few experiences you had at previous jobs or in a professional setting. If you have examples that helped you ace your interview, share them down below!

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