3M Mock Interview

Practice 33 3M interview questions covering innovation, technical problem-solving, and collaboration.

Question 23 of 33

How do you define success?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Experienced
Community Answers

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.

How you answer this question should inform your interviewer of what accomplishment means to you. This should reveal what kinds of results they can expect of you, as well as how to motivate you to perform at your best. When answering this question, share what provides you with job satisfaction, and what you hope to accomplish in your daily activities, and on a larger scale. Or, as 3M's recruiters advise, "Tell the story of why you are applying and how you have shown development and career progression. The responsibilities that you have had in each position are key, so show how they have increased as you have become more successful in your career."

Kevin Downey

"I define success not only by what I accomplish, but what we achieve as a team, taking pride in my part by helping drive the team's goals to the finish line. Any project, as a whole, needs to deliver on expectations. So, I define success by exceeding expectations, setting new records, and reaching the goals that are set out for us. On a personal level, these are the things I wish to achieve in my life. On a work level, they're the targets which are set out for me, as well as the professional development that I seek."

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Anonymous Answer

My definition of success is to hit all goals for my position and to show that my team can perform well. Also, customer satisfaction should rise.

Amanda's Feedback

You've provided a solid definition of success. Now, make your answer even stronger by pivoting to relate an achievement such as exceeding performance goals or improving customer service KPIs that showcases what you mean. This makes your answer more unique to you and more memorable.

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333M Interview Questions & Answers

Communication

1.Tell me about your communication style.

Diversity

2.Do you have experience working with diverse clients and co-workers across multiple time zones?

Adaptability

3.At 3M we have business partners and interests all over the world. Are you open to international travel? Is there anything that would restrict you from traveling for work?

Adaptability

4.Tell me about a time when you experienced a disruption, major change, or restructure at work.

Compatibility

5.What do you know about our company values and how do they align with your personal values?

Compatibility

6.In your opinion, what does 3M do to stand out from the rest?

Career Goals

7.Being a multi-national organization, there are many opportunities for career growth here. If hired, where would you like to take your career with 3M?

Career Goals

8.Tell me about your ideal workplace culture.

Experience

9.How do you plan to make an impact on our business in the first 90 days?

Accomplishment

10.Tell me about your greatest work-related accomplishment.

Communication

11.Tell me about a time when you made a suggestion for changes in an organization where you were employed.

Accomplishment

12.Tell me about the last time you undertook a project that demanded a lot of initiative.

Career Goals

13.Have you ever taken a role in a company that hasn't fit into your long-term career plans?

Experience

14.What are your strengths?

Communication

15.What value do you place on communication and dealing with others at your current place of employment?

Compatibility

16.Considering your background is in an industry different from ours, what skills and characteristics do you have that qualify you for this position in this industry?

Career Goals

17.What type of work environment allows you to be the most productive?

Leadership

18.How do you like to encourage ideas in others?

Diligence

19.How would your co-workers describe your attention to detail?

Education

20.Tell me about your education.

Experience

21.I see you stayed with your previous companies less than five years. Talk to me about that.

22.What does integrity mean to you?

Performance Based

23.How do you define success?

Leadership

24.When have you had to lead by example?

Leadership

25.Who has been your greatest influence? A person that has defined what type of leader you wish to be.

26.How do you balance your personal life with your work life?

Problem Solving

27.What was the most challenging aspect of your previous job? How did you overcome it?

Problem Solving

28.What sources do you look to when solving complicated problems?

Salary

29.How do you feel about performance incentives?

Salary

30.What are your salary expectations?

Adaptability

31.If you had a co-worker call in sick and you were asked to take over their project requiring overtime from you, how would you approach the situation?

32.How would you rate your performance in this interview so far?

Ask The Interviewer

3M Mock Interview

How do you define success?

333M Interview Questions & Answers

1.Tell me about your communication style.

2.Do you have experience working with diverse clients and co-workers across multiple time zones?

3.At 3M we have business partners and interests all over the world. Are you open to international travel? Is there anything that would restrict you from traveling for work?

4.Tell me about a time when you experienced a disruption, major change, or restructure at work.

5.What do you know about our company values and how do they align with your personal values?

6.In your opinion, what does 3M do to stand out from the rest?

7.Being a multi-national organization, there are many opportunities for career growth here. If hired, where would you like to take your career with 3M?

8.Tell me about your ideal workplace culture.

9.How do you plan to make an impact on our business in the first 90 days?

10.Tell me about your greatest work-related accomplishment.

11.Tell me about a time when you made a suggestion for changes in an organization where you were employed.

12.Tell me about the last time you undertook a project that demanded a lot of initiative.

13.Have you ever taken a role in a company that hasn't fit into your long-term career plans?

14.What are your strengths?

15.What value do you place on communication and dealing with others at your current place of employment?

16.Considering your background is in an industry different from ours, what skills and characteristics do you have that qualify you for this position in this industry?

17.What type of work environment allows you to be the most productive?

18.How do you like to encourage ideas in others?

19.How would your co-workers describe your attention to detail?

20.Tell me about your education.

21.I see you stayed with your previous companies less than five years. Talk to me about that.

22.What does integrity mean to you?

23.How do you define success?

24.When have you had to lead by example?

25.Who has been your greatest influence? A person that has defined what type of leader you wish to be.

26.How do you balance your personal life with your work life?

27.What was the most challenging aspect of your previous job? How did you overcome it?

28.What sources do you look to when solving complicated problems?

29.How do you feel about performance incentives?

30.What are your salary expectations?

31.If you had a co-worker call in sick and you were asked to take over their project requiring overtime from you, how would you approach the situation?

32.How would you rate your performance in this interview so far?

33.Do you have any questions that I can answer?