How to Answer "How Do You Define Success?" (With Sample Answers)

by Fang Mei

Published at: December 7, 2023

Answering how you define success is a common question in job interviews, offering a window into your personal values and professional goals. While there is no one-size-fits-all definition, success in a professional context often aligns with achieving specific career milestones, contributing to team objectives, and realizing personal work satisfaction.

Articulating your concept of success demonstrates to potential employers your career aspirations, work ethic, and alignment with their company culture. During an interview, tailoring your response to reflect both your individual achievements and your commitment to collective success can underscore your candidacy as both a motivated individual and a collaborative teammate.

Why Employers Ask This?

Employers ask "How do you define success?" for several key reasons during a job interview. Firstly, your response reveals your values and work ethic. It shows what you prioritize and whether your perspective aligns with the company's culture and objectives.

• Alignment with Company Culture: Your definition of success can indicate whether you'll thrive within the organization's work environment.
• Motivation and Goals: Discussing your view on success gives employers insight into what drives you and what your professional goals might entail.
• Work Ethic Understanding: Highlighting your achievements as successes shows your determination and commitment to overcoming challenges.
• Success Measurement: How you measure success can demonstrate your analytical abilities and how you quantify accomplishments.

Effectively Communicating Your Definition of Success in Interviews

When facing the question "How do you define success?" during an interview, articulating a clear and reflective answer is crucial. The following guidance will help you convey your personal and professional standards of success to the hiring manager.

Preparing Your Answer

Before the interview, identify the achievements you view as successes. Relate these to the job description and consider how your past experiences align with the goals of the prospective employer. Research the company to tailor your definition, showing that you understand and share their values.

Structuring Your Answer

Begin with a concise statement of what success means to you. Follow this by connecting your definition to the role for which you are interviewing. Ensure your response is well-organized and that each point logically leads to the next, demonstrating clear thought process.

Using Examples to Illustrate Success

Specific examples of past successes provide credibility to your answer. Discuss projects where you had a positive impact or met significant goals. Mention any recognition you received for your achievements, whether from a client, team, or through a promotion.

For instance:"Success to me is when a project meets all its objectives, like when I led a team to increase client satisfaction ratings by 20%."

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Remain honest and don't exaggerate your achievements. Maintain positive body language as it reflects your confidence and honesty. Listen carefully to follow-up questions and give consistent responses. Attitude matters; show enthusiasm for continuous learning rather than resting on past laurels. Avoid negativity about past experiences, as this reflects poorly on your character.

Sample Answers

When asked in an interview how you define success, you'll want to formulate an answer that reflects your personal values and professional goals while resonating with your prospective employer. Here are three sample answers to guide you:

Sample Answer 1: Professional Growth and Achievement I see success as consistently reaching and surpassing professional goals. For example, in my last role, achieving or exceeding my sales targets monthly was a clear indicator of success. It showed my ability to meet the company's expectations and contribute to our collective objectives.

• Targets met or surpassed regularly
• Contribution to company goals

Sample Answer 2: Teamwork and Contribution To me, success means playing an integral role within a team and contributing to our shared goals. Success is when the combined efforts of my colleagues and I lead to great outcomes, like when we collaborated on a project that enhanced the company's services.

• Integral role in a team
• Collaboration leading to shared achievements

Sample Answer 3: Personal Development and Helping Others I define success on a personal level as ongoing self-improvement and the extent to which I help others succeed. This is evident when I can mentor a team member, and they go on to thrive in their role, reflecting both personal and professional success for me.

• Ongoing self-improvement
• Mentoring peers to help them thrive

Conclusion

Employers are looking for a mutual fit; your definition of success can be a deciding factor in assessing whether you'll be satisfied with your role and stay committed to the company. Your answer is also a reflection of your personal and professional growth mindset.

• Growth Mindset: Whether you see success as a continuous journey or a destination can give a clue about your adaptability and willingness to learn.
• Future Contributions: Your definition also suggests how you might contribute to the company's future successes.

Remember, there isn't a universally right way to define success. It's your unique perspective that employers are interested in, so they can evaluate how well you'd integrate with their team and contribute to shared goals.

If you are searching for a remote job and need help finding where to look? DailyRemote is a remote job board with the latest jobs in various categories to help you. Join like-minded people in our LinkedIn and Facebook community.