You’re in a job interview and the interviewer asks, “What is your greatest accomplishment?

1 Choose a relevant example

The first step is to choose an example of a sales accomplishment that is relevant to the role and the company you’re applying for. Ideally, you want to pick something that demonstrates your ability to meet or exceed sales targets, solve customer problems, or create value for your previous or current employer. You also want to choose something that is recent, specific, and measurable. Avoid general statements like “I increased sales by 20%” or “I improved customer satisfaction” without providing any details or evidence.

2 Use the STAR method

The second step is to structure your answer using the STAR method. This is a simple and effective way to tell a story that highlights your Situation, Task, Action, and Result. The Situation describes the context and the challenge you faced. The Task explains what you had to do or what your goal was. The Action describes what you did, how you did it, and why you did it. The Result shows what you achieved, how you measured it, and what impact it had. Using the STAR method helps you to be clear, concise, and convincing.

3 Emphasize your skills and value

The third step is to emphasize your skills and value throughout your answer. You want to show the interviewer that you have the sales skills and competencies that they are looking for, such as communication, negotiation, persuasion, problem-solving, or relationship-building. You also want to show how your accomplishment added value to your employer, your customers, or your team. You can do this by quantifying your results, highlighting your benefits, or mentioning any feedback or recognition you received.

4 Be confident and humble

The fourth step is to be confident and humble when delivering your answer. You want to express your enthusiasm and pride in your accomplishment, but not sound arrogant or boastful. You can do this by using a positive and assertive tone, but also acknowledging the contributions of others, the challenges you faced, or the areas you can improve. You also want to be honest and realistic, and not exaggerate or lie about your accomplishment.

6 Practice and prepare

The final step is to practice and prepare your answer before the interview. You want to rehearse your answer out loud, using a clear and confident voice, and timing yourself to keep it within two or three minutes. You also want to prepare some backup examples in case the interviewer asks for more details or follows up with another question. You can use the STAR method to structure your backup examples as well. Practicing and preparing your answer will help you to avoid rambling, stuttering, or forgetting important points.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?