Discuss Your Accomplishments During the Interview

 by: Michelle Roebuck

When preparing for your interview, you need to be ready to discuss your accomplishments. Surprisingly, many people are reluctant to talk about their accomplishments. But this is exactly what the interviewer wants to hear from you.

Discussing your accomplishments separates you from the rest of the people applying for the job. It helps you stand out and show that you are more qualified than the others. Remember, the whole point of an interview is to sell yourself to the interviewer. He or she needs to know that you are the right person for the position.

Below are some of the subjects you need to be ready to discuss during the interview. Think of what accomplishments you made in each of these subjects. For the last subject, which is about the company you want to work for, make sure you do your research on the company before the interview. If the interviewer asks you what do you know about their company, and you don‘t know what industry their in, their mission statement, who their customers are, then the interviewer will probably determine that you aren’t the right person to represent their company. Here are the subjects:

Work History

• Where did you work?

• How long did you work there?

• How much did you make at your current or previous job?

• What position(s) did you hold there?

Skills

• What skills do you have?

• What skills do you plan on learning?

• How have those skills helped you in your previous positions?

Personal Characteristics

• What are your career short term and long term goals?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• What are you looking for in a company if employed there?

The Company Where You Want To Be Hired

• What is the company‘s mission statement?

• What is their product or service?

• What are the requirements for the job?

• Does the company offer opportunities for advancement?

If you want the job, you have to sell yourself. The interviewer wants to hear about your accomplishments because it helps them determine whether you are the perfect person for the job or not.