Right up there with ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses?’ is the dreaded interview question ‘What is your greatest achievement?’ Employers like to ask this one because it gives you a chance to tell them why you’re great, but forces you to pinpoint just one moment that illustrates said greatness.
This tricky question is best answered by tailoring your response to the job you’re applying for. You may have a few greatest achievements that you’re previously pinpointed, but only one is going to get you to the next stage of the process. So if the job you’re going for emphasizes people skills, your greatest achievement could be the fact that you’ve done extensive volunteer work. If the job values professional esteem, you could mention an award you picked up at your last position.
There’s no reason that your answer has to be grounded in professionalism either. If you feel your greatest achievement was running a marathon, this doesn’t mean you’ll be sneered at and shown the door. But it does mean you might have to add a little more to your answer, such as, ‘My greatest achievement was running a marathon because it taught me how dedication and determination can help me achieve my goals.’
