Describe a time when you exceeded expectations.
"They needed volunteers for a project that was lacking in direction and information. So I volunteered and expressed to our leadership that I want to have a sit down before I embarked on the project to determine not just what they wanted, but what they needed, and what the trajectory for this project was. I worked them for all the big-picture 'need to know basis' intel on what we were shooting for with this project and why. It took some work to get all the details from them, but once I had all of that, I knew what to shoot for. So that helped me establish a guideline for what I was shooting to achieve. Any time something raised the question of what direction I should take with the project, I padded the job. As long as I wasn't exhausting company resources, I explored every avenue. Once my tasks were complete, I handed over my work, and it turned out I was so thorough that in the following stages of the project, the work my leadership planned to handle, I'd already completed. They were extremely pleased with my work. But that's my standard, and I'm proud of it, to be as consistent as possible in being an above and beyond performer."
This question aims to evaluate your work ethic. Those who are determined to develop their skills, learn, and grow professionally are the candidates which recruiters are usually on the hunt for. Meeting deadlines, over performing, learning, and innovating is the aim of the messaging in your example. Demonstrate that you aren't easily discouraged. Where there is a will, there is a way, is the attitude you want to convey.
Consider again Amazon's Leadership Principles, "Learn and Be Curious: Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them. Insist on the Highest Standards: Leaders have relentlessly high standards -- many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. Leaders are continually raising the bar and drive their teams to deliver high quality products, services, and processes. Leaders ensure that defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed so they stay fixed. Deliver Results: Leaders focus on the key inputs for their business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion. Despite setbacks, they rise to the occasion and never settle."
There are those who feel they've done a good job meeting the status quo, and there are those who are so thorough in their work they feel dissatisfied or uncomfortable unless they've padded the job and gone above and beyond. Think of those occasions where you went to extra mile. You want your answer to exhibit determination and a "can-do" attitude. Often, this requires making a habit of stepping outside of your comfort zone. Outline your comfort zone as consistently stepping outside of your comfort zone. An eagerness to step outside of one's comfort zone exhibits adaptability and flexibility.
