Have you ever been asked what your favorite movie or song is and found yourself unable to come up with a decisive answer? How could you narrow it down to just one? You might feel the same about interview questions like “What is your greatest accomplishment?”
Your single greatest accomplishment? Seriously? How do you pick just one thing out of everything you’ve done? Or what if you feel like nothing you’ve achieved is impressive enough to call your “greatest”?
Luckily, when answering this in a job interview, it’s easier than you think to narrow it down—and explain it clearly.
(The more interviews you land, the more options you’ll have—check open jobs on The Muse to find your next opportunity.)
Why interviewers ask this question
When hiring, employers look for specific skills and traits that fit both the role and their company culture. Your choice of “greatest accomplishment” shows them what you value, and how you achieved it reveals your goal-setting and problem-solving approach. It also gives them insight into how you define success.
How to choose your greatest accomplishment
Pick something relevant to the company and the job you’re applying for. Do your homework: review the job description, company website, and social media. Check recent news or employee reviews too. If a recruiter gave you notes or someone referred you, use that to understand the company better.
Then, think about which of your past wins fits best. For example, if the company values “ownership,” highlight a time you took charge of a project or stepped up when your team needed help. Bonus if it relates to the job you’re interviewing for.
Stick to professional accomplishments unless a personal one is directly relevant. As awesome as binge-watching Game of Thrones in a weekend or scoring Taylor Swift tickets was, they don’t belong here.
Struggling to think of achievements? Ask yourself:
- How did you contribute to company goals? Maybe you boosted revenue or led a new product feature.
- What impact did you have on a team? Maybe you mentored an intern, helping the whole team succeed.
- How did you improve efficiency? Maybe you streamlined communication or workflows.
- How did you enhance customer experience? Maybe you designed a user-friendly solution.
- If you’re new to work: Did you lead a student group or volunteer project? Organized an event, won a competition, or raised funds?
- If asked for a non-work example: Did you run a marathon, hit a hobby milestone, or overcome a personal challenge?
If nothing feels like your single greatest achievement, revisit your research and pick the one most relevant to the job.
How to answer “What is your greatest accomplishment?”
Structure your response like a story. “The best interview stories have a clear start, high point, low point, and ending,” says Timothy Thomas, an executive coach at Coaching Technology Group. “The contrast adds stakes—something was at risk.”
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result):
- Situation: Briefly set the scene.
- Task: What goal were you tackling?
- Action: What steps did you take? (This is the meat of your answer.)
- Result: What happened? Quantify the impact if possible.
Practice your answer so it sounds natural—not scripted, but confident.
Example Answers
#1: For a sales role
Situation: My biggest win was convincing Bend, Oregon, to replace outdated streetlights with energy-efficient LEDs.
Task: My job was to sell these bulbs despite their higher upfront cost.
Action: I created info packets and hosted community events to educate officials and residents.
Result: I hit my $100K sales goal, landed another contract, got media attention, and was promoted within a year.
#2: Teamwork example (design/tech role)
Situation: I led a small team redesigning our agency’s website to compete with bigger firms.
Task: As project manager, I had to keep us on track creatively and logistically.
Action: I set milestones, held feedback sessions, and even jumped into design files to help.
Result: We launched on time, traffic spiked in two weeks, and we landed two long-term clients.
#3: For new grads
Situation: My parents couldn’t help with expenses my senior year, so I worked nights as a server.
Task: I had to balance work, a 3.8 GPA, and my capstone project.
Action: I mapped deadlines, adjusted my schedule, and delegated my club treasurer duties.
Result: I aced my classes, paid my rent, and even sent money home.
#4: Customer service role
Situation: Our team was overwhelmed handling calls, emails, and chats simultaneously.
Task: I needed to reduce response times and boost satisfaction.
Action: I split the team based on strengths—phone for extroverts, email/chat for writers.
Result: Wait times dropped by half, and satisfaction rose 15% in three months.
#5: Receptionist role
Situation: Patients waited too long at our doctor’s office due to a clunky check-in system.
Task: I wanted to streamline the process.
Action: I introduced a digital sign-in for names, appointment times, and doctors.
Result: Wait times fell by 40%, and the office ran smoother.
Bonus: More accomplishment examples
- HR: Improved retention, launched DEI programs, overhauled hiring.
- Teacher: Raised test scores, started anti-bullying programs, mentored students.
- Accountant: Automated processes, cut costs, improved reporting accuracy.
Bottom line
Even if you’re never asked this exact question, reflecting on your achievements helps you and prepares you for interviews. It’s a win-win.
