Greatest achievemment question help

myright

Hi guys

I have an interview and Ive been tipped off they will ask everybody in the group , what is their greatest achievement?

I was thinking of making something up in the lines of starting my own little business whilst i was studying. It started as a hobby selling cosmetics, but now I have even business clients. (all blagging ofcourse) seen as its a sales role.

Or is it better to talk about a charity i got involved in, which my role was instrumental and we raised £1000s.

I'm not sure what to do.

If you have any better ideas, i would be grately intrsted to hear, or atleast if you can point me to the right direction in which of the above ideas are best.

thankkkks

jobbingmusician

If I were interviewing you and you talked about your own business, I might be impressed but I'd be asking myself

- is this person going to have time to do this job?
- is this person actually in competition with our company?

If you talked about a charity, I'd be far more impressed.

And I don't like the idea of 'blagging' - is there nothing in your own real life you are proud of? Sincerity is likely to shine through in this question........

ohreally

myright wrote: »

I was thinking of making something up

Why not simply inform them what your greatest achievement has been rather than making something up?

Catherine_Johnson_2

And you don't think they might just see through you telling lies like that?

Do you actually want the job? If so, stick with the truth, or a close enough version of it that you wont get caught out by an awkward question. You'll look pretty silly sitting there in a group interview when you get caught out lying.

myright

its more of an assesment centre style interview. Where people are in groups and they assessing every skill. They want something interesting, nothing academic, i.e 2.1 in degree. I think to shine above others sometimes blaggins is the way especiall in sales. Also its a graduate job (after uni), so it wont be in competition with them.

Permanently_confused

My previous boss, who is MD of an organisation and incredibly successful asks this question in every interview. He also starts by saying he's not interested in things like "getting a degee", "getting married", "having children", "passing your driving test". He wants to know about what it is that makes YOU tick as an indiviual - everyone is proud of the stuff above, but what makes you different?

He uses the example of being in a re-enactment/ characteristion weekend and being the one who led everyone into "battle". But dressed as an elf. Because it was a fantasy re-enactment weekend. Still, he was voted into this position by his peers at the event as a result of how he had been with everyone the previous day.

It's entertaining, it shows his personality and also that given the choice, other people elected him to lead them - what better endorsement for what makes someone proud?!

So maybe think a little differently and think of things that make you who you are - it's you that they will want to hire, not drone #121.

Good Luck with the interview

myright

thank you very much for the input^

So do you think it's a bad idea to talk about a hobby that turned into a business? ( p.s i do have the certifications for beauty treatments in addition to my degree) so effectivey i wnat to say i started a business from there.

Permanently_confused

I don't think it's a bad idea to talk about a hobby that turned into a business at all - everyone wants to do what they love for a living. But as Jobbingmuscian mentioned, it might make the interviewer wonder if you will have time for their role if you are still doing it.

It shows ambition and determination, which is good and tells a little about your hobbies.

As Catherine_Johnson said, sticking to the truth is the best way and if it is something you class as your greatest achievement (and no reason why it shouldn't be) then you should do it.

Mybe ask friends and family what they think? They might surprise you!

Let us know how the interview goes

RexBanner

If its a generic graduate trawl by someone like Pareto Law they'll be much more interested in how you perform over the day than the specific answer to this question. I went through their assessment day several years ago and was put on the spot with this question so made it up, saying that I saved my best friend's life. I passed and got a job, but you're obviously better telling the truth and I certainly wouldn't go in with a plan to lie.

(True) things that I've used at interviews subsequently include mentoring young people into making something of their life and overcoming a fear of public speaking to deliver speeches and presentations to 100-odd people.

There must be something in your life that you're proud of.

gibson123

your greatest achievement doesn't have to be that GREAT, it just has to be something your personally proud of, so it could be - getting voted class rep, catching the biggest fish in a competition, rescuing a dog from a shelter, getting an award, it's not all mountain climbing and bungy jumping.

ktothema

Please don't be truthful if your greatest achievement is like mine - I managed to not smash my ex boss round the face with a keyboard!!!! if you ever had the pleasure of dealing with them, you'd understand.

The few times recently I've been asked this I've gone for an answer that I am very proud of that also shows of my skills and other abilities (such as team work, dealing with fractious relationships, being able to ask for help when needed, etc. etc.). It may not show the "real" me, but does show what I can do for a company.

Hopefully you have something similar somewhere for you.