Interview Questions: Achievement
Definition: A consistent drive to set and attain challenging goals, a strong desire to improve performance, and a commitment to excellence. Individuals with high achievement orientation are often self-motivated, disciplined, and persistent. They seek out feedback, are adaptable, and have a strong work ethic; always striving to do better.
The statements below may be used in your job interview as measures of your "achievement". There are steps you can take to measure or improve achievement.
Past
- What were your most memorable accomplishments with your last employer?
- What was your most significant accomplishment in your last position?
- What are some of your recent accomplishments in your current job?
- What is your greatest accomplishment?
- What was your greatest disappointment?
- What is the most stimulating thing you are looking for in a job?
- What are some examples of important recommendations or decisions you've made recently?
- Have you ever accomplished something you did not think you could?
- What was the most/least challenging part of the job?
- Tell me about a time when you went beyond the call of duty.
- Do you enjoy working on difficult projects?
- Have you ever accomplished something difficult?
- What is the most important accomplishment in your life?
- What have been the most memorable accomplishments of your career?
- What was the job's biggest challenge?
- What is the most challenging thing you have ever done?
- What difficult challenges have you solved?
- What initiatives have you undertake recently?
- What challenging experiences have you had?
- What is the most difficult task you have undertaken?
- Do you have initiative?
- What have been your biggest accomplishments?
- How have you shown initiative?
- What do you consider to be your most important accomplishment and why?
- Tell me about accomplishments of which you are the most proud.
- What is your proudest accomplishment?
- What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?
- What was your greatest accomplishment?
- What have been your greatest accomplishments?
- What are your major accomplishments? Your failures? Your disappointments?
- What are the five biggest accomplishments of your life?
- Tell me what initiatives have you undertaken recently?
- What difficult problems have you worked through?
- What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
- How have you shown willingness to work?
- What has been your greatest accomplishment? Your greatest disappointment?
- Do you have accomplishments you are proud of?
- What challenging accomplishments have you had?
- What have been your greatest disappointments?
- What is your most significant accomplishment?
Future
- What risks did you take at your previous job?
- Describe how you can take risks to accomplish tasks.
- What kinds of risks do you face when implementing a new initiative?
- What risks have you undertaken recently?
- Describe a significant risk you took to accomplish a task.
- Are you willing to take risks?
Motivations
- What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
- What makes you put forth your greatest effort?
- What has your last employer done that motivated you to work harder?
- Describe two things that motivate you at work?
- What motivates you in a job and in your personal life?
- What do you get out of completing difficult tasks?
- How important is challenge to you?
- What kinds of responsibilities are important to you in your work?
- Would you describe yourself as motivated more by your goals or by money?
- What challenges are you looking for in a job?
- When do you put forth your greatest effort?
- What motivates you to put forth your best effort?
- Have you received any recognition for significant accomplishments at work?
- Is recognition important to you?
- Do you work to achieve your objectives? If so, describe how hard.
- What motivates you to be successful in your job?
- Do you feel motivated in your current job?
- How important is recognition to you?
- What have you done which shows initiative and willingness to work?
- What are your motivations?
- Were there any special difficulties you overcame in achieving these accomplishments?
- Do you enjoy challenges at work? If so, what kinds of challenges have you recently faced.
- Are you a self starter?
- How important are promotions and advancement to you?
- Describe when you felt motivated to do your very best work and did.
- Does competition increase your desire to succeed?
- What motivates you?
- Are you a competitive person?
- Do you feel motivated to work harder?
- What motivates you in accomplishing difficult tasks?
- How important is responsibility to you?
- What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?
Sense of Self
- To what do you attribute your success?
- What do you think has contributed most to your success so far?
- What projects have you recently completed successfully?
- Would you rate yourself as an overachiever?
- What does 'success' mean to you?
- Describe situations in which you are most successful.
- How would you evaluate success?
- Tell me about your recent successes.
- Are you successful in completing projects at work?
- Describe what success means to you.
- How have your successes benefited your previous employer?
- Would you define yourself as a self-starter?
- Do you generally think of yourself as a risk-taker or someone who plays it safe?
- Why are you better than your co-workers?
- How do you determine if you are successful?
- What does 'failure' mean to you?
- Do you feel you have been successful in your job?
- How would you describe your standards of performance?
- What are some of the reasons for your success?
- How do you define 'success?'
- Why are you successful?
- What is your definition of success.
Weaknesses
- What weaknesses have you overcome when accomplishing difficult tasks?
- How could you have improved your progress?
- Do you achieve all of the goals you set? If not, why not?