"Since I do not have any formal work experience, I'll give you an example relating to my education. In my senior year of college, I set a goal to graduate with a grade point average of 4.0 on a scale of 4.0. I knew this would be a tough goal to achieve, and I also knew I would need a plan to achieve this goal. At the start of the year, I mapped out what classes I would take, and as I received the syllabus, I built a road map and used a planner to color code assignment deadlines and milestones. I planned "distraction-free" periods where I could study in quiet and get my work done without receiving texts or being distracted by my roommate. I set short and long-term goals and celebrated the milestones and achievements along the way. I think my planning and dedication to sticking to the plan helped me succeed in graduating with a 4.0 and honors!"

Demonstrate that you are willing to put in the hours and the effort to achieve your goal. Discuss with the interviewer two to three steps you took to help you get closer to that challenging goal. Be sure to highlight the results to show you made it!

"I took it upon myself to pursue my master's part-time while working full-time at my previous position. Working towards my master's had been a goal of mine for a long time, and it was also something that my boss had encouraged me to do for my own professional growth. While it was challenging to balance different responsibilities, I learned so much through this experience and was proud of myself for accomplishing this goal. The scope of my responsibilities increased vastly after this as I was able to tackle more challenging work."

"I set a goal to be promoted to manager of the tech team at my current company. I knew it would take time since I was only working in a fill-in lead position. I studied outside of work to learn more about the systems we worked with. I also let my manager know that I wanted to take on more responsibility. Within two years I was promoted to Systems Manager."