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How to Respond to Interview Questions About Success
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The best approach to answering this question is to prepare specific examples of your successes and to reference how you assessed the factors contributing to your achievements. Then share how you applied this knowledge to continue your professional development and to generate positive results.
You could reference a time when you led a team that was able to deliver a product ahead of schedule, along with the steps the individuals took to ensure that high quality was maintained despite the accelerated schedule.
You could then share how you recognized each effort, and how you and your staff were able to implement the technique on future deliverables.
For example, you might say "I like to maintain a consistent level of productivity and take both my successes and failures in stride. I try to learn from both and apply that knowledge to future situations.
For example, last August my sales team landed P&Z as a client. We were all elated, and I took my staff out for a celebratory dinner. I thought up a series of awards to recognize the role that individual staff had played in the process, and saluted members of the team. I called a meeting for the next Tuesday to break down the process and identified several strategies that contributed to our success. We discussed new targets, and six months later landed another top consumer products client using some of the same tactics."
Make it Relevant
When you think of an example to share with hiring managers, be sure that it’s relevant to the job and the company. Take a look at the job posting and pick one of the job requirements. Then share a response that includes something similar, if possible, to what you would be doing in the new job. The more focused your success story, the more it will have a positive impact on the interviewer. Here's how to match your qualifications to a job.
What Not to Say
Try not to make your response all about you. Especially if you're being hired for a job where you are part of a team or in a management role, it's a good idea to give credit to the people who were instrumental in helping you succeed.
Sharing the credit for your successes will show the interviewer how you will be able to fit in when you are in a job that involves working well with others.
Do You Consider Yourself Successful?
How to Answer Interview Questions About Being Successful
The easy part of your response is to assert confidently that you do consider yourself a success. Make sure you look the recruiter in the eye and sell the statement with a confident tone. The more challenging task, however, is to back up your assertion.
Provide one or two examples of times when you have set and met a professional goal. Briefly explain how you achieved each success – perhaps you overcame an obstacle, effectively managed a team, or budgeted your time effectively. The goal is to demonstrate your determination and willingness to take on challenges and achieve results.
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You might also mention successes you hope to achieve in the future, or are currently working to achieve. For example, if you mention your successful sales record, you may also want to explain how you hope to improve upon that success in the future. This will demonstrate that you are hungry for new challenges in the new position.
Once you have established a basis for professional success, you can add a personal achievement, like being a dedicated dad or marathon runner, in order to round out your answer.
How to Prepare
This is a common interview question, so be prepared with an answer ahead of time. Before the interview, look through your resume and jot down one or two of your accomplishments in each role, no matter how small.
Think about the situation or challenge you faced when working towards each accomplishment, and the skills or knowledge you leveraged to bring about positive results.
Analyze the requirements for your target job and focus on your assets that correspond to the preferred qualifications of the ideal candidate, which you will most likely be able to find in the job listing or on the company's website.
Sample Answers
- I do consider myself successful. Because I always go above and beyond for my clients, I have achieved the highest sales record of anyone in my previous office. However, I am not content with that one success. I look forward to working hard to communicate effectively with future clients to improve on my sales record.
- Yes, I do consider myself successful. I think my willingness to take on new challenges and work hard sets me up for success. For example, I volunteered to manage a project for my company, which involved managing 20 staff members. I had never managed such a large staff before. However, due to my hard work, effective communication, and clear goals, I effectively managed the team and we completed our task ahead of schedule. I don’t shy away from a challenge, and I know this would set me up for success at your company.
- I consider myself successful because of my ability to get along well with others, including employers, staff, and clients. My friendly personality, coupled with my ability to effectively communicate, helps me establish relationships and achieve results, particularly on team projects. Of course, I consider myself to be successful in other areas of my life; seeing three children through high school and college is probably one of my greatest successes!
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