How to Answer: Tell me about an achievement you are proud of. What did you find challenging about it?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Lockheed Martin job interview.
2. Tell me about an achievement you are proud of. What did you find challenging about it?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Employees at Lockheed Martin solve some of the world's most difficult and mission-critical challenges. They seek difference-makers with a proven track record of hard work that leads to achievement. Your interviewer wants to hear about a time when the work you put in led to an achievement.
Written by Karrie Day on June 16th, 2023
How to Answer
You have a couple of options for how to approach this: Discuss an example of when you overcame obstacles to achieve something great, or share a significant accomplishment or award you received and talk about what was challenging about it.
Either way, you are showing your determination and focus on reaching your goal. Think of a situation that highlights your strengths and qualities that will be helpful for the job for which you are interviewing. Try to keep it as career-relevant as possible.
Written by Karrie Day on June 16th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"One achievement that I am proud of is graduating University as an honors student while still working full time. This accomplishment showed me that I could dedicate myself to my career, and reach the goals that I set for myself. It felt great to accomplish so much and earn recognition for my dedication."
2nd Answer Example
"The operations team I currently manage was short-staffed last year due to a round of layoffs that affected our group. Our production targets did not change despite the loss of several key team members. I pulled everyone together and dedicated an afternoon to brainstorming creative ways to be more efficient. We restructured responsibilities and adjusted the order of operations for some of our tasks.
Not only did we meet our goals, but we exceeded them. The challenging part was finding creative ways to keep my team motivated while they were adjusting to all of the changes. I learned a lot about leadership and I am proud of that achievement. I know I will be able to show the same level of leadership in the face of adversity if hired here at Lockheed Martin."
Written by Karrie Day on June 16th, 2023
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About the Author
Researching companies is a regular adventure for a career coach. I often work with clients who are currently employed, have personal commitments, and are seeking a new role all at once. Their time is limited, so they hire me to help them get up to speed as quickly as possible in advance of an upcoming interview.
As someone with a background in data analysis, I cannot help but notice patterns within the company cultures, values, and methodologies. While some things are standard, I tend to focus more on the standout or unexpected details I uncover. Those details tend to excite my clients about the possibility of working for their target company, and they help set the stage for a rich interview discussion.
Here are three things I enjoyed learning about Lockheed Martin during my research:
Lockheed Martin invests heavily in helping those who have followed alternative paths find a professional home in an enterprise setting. They have exceptional They also have a program dedicated to assisting talented individuals with gaps in their work history return to work. This is a sign that Lockheed Martin has the vision necessary to support those who have invested in their communities and families.
Lockheed Martin has advanced early career programs that identify talent and retain it. They know how to spot future leaders and innovators and they offer engaging programs for students and entry-level candidates. To me, this is similar to professional sports teams who can develop talent and grow their teams through drafts as opposed to spending the majority of their budget on one or two superstars.
Lockheed Martin has a relatively high eNPS (employee net promoter score). This means that their own employees are generally loyal and willing to promote the company. Achieving and maintaining a high eNPS score is no small feat, and it is a good sign that new hires will ultimately feel the same.
In summary, there are a lot of avenues you can pursue when researching and preparing for an upcoming Lockheed Martin interview. You may uncover an occasional negative comment or product failure story, but I am confident you will be able to find several standout data points as I did that can serve as reasons to be excited about the possibility of working at Lockheed Martin.
Learn more about Karrie Day