This article focuses on the common interview question, “Tell me about a project you are proud of” and its answers.
Introduction
When applying for a job, an interview might be the most intimidating part, as we meet the employer either in person or via a phone call. Though our resume had made the first impression and got us to this point, it is now time to prove ourselves and our fitness for the role. Most people believe our interview is the part when we get to make the first impression. However, slight hesitations, changes in tone, body language, facial expressions are all conspicuous during an interview and might affect your evaluation.
It is important to practice well before an interview to avoid any mistakes. Most interview questions test your personality, approach to tasks, thinking patterns, problem-solving abilities, astuteness, job-relevant knowledge. There are two types of interviews, and your interview may be conducted in either of the two ways:
Online interviews
An online interview is usually conducted through a video call on any cloud-based video communicating applications your employer uses. Most of the commonly used apps for online discussions are
- Google hangouts
- Skype
- Twitch
- Telegram
- Zoom
In-person interviews
In these interviews, you are required to come face to face with an interviewer and are asked a series of questions. Some critical jobs with complex and sensitive responsibilities also perform polygraphs (lie detector tests). The in-person interviews have more spots for evaluation than online discussions; for example, showing up 5 minutes early for the interview (you can’t do that in online interviews) shows how severe and punctual you are about the job.
The length of an interview varies according to the position you apply for. Interviews for when hiring someone for an entry-level position, for example, an associate in some department, your discussion would last anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. Interviews for higher and more technical jobs such as a Senior Manager or Director are relatively longer and may take several hours. Online discussions are somewhat shorter than in-person interviews. Most online and in-person interviewers ask 5-6 questions; however, it may be more in some cases.
Purpose / Importance
Interviews are a part of the assessment process. They test various aspects of your personality and your fitness for the position. When applying for sensitive jobs, for example, as a CIA agent, you must take aptitude tests, polygraphs; some interviews also have a spectator who records non-verbal symbols such as changes in tone, body language, or facial expressions. However, if you are applying for a more precise entry-level position, you don’t have to worry about intimidating assessments.
An interview is important because compared to other candidates who applied for the position and made it thus far after your discussion. Therefore, the candidate who stands out the most is the ones who get selected. Note standing out here means one who seems like the perfect fit for the position. Though you may think you are the ideal fit for the job, your employer may think otherwise.
How to prepare for interviews
The average time needed to prepare for an interview is anywhere from 10 to 12 hours. Here are a few things you should consider looking at
The company
It is most likely that the interviewer would ask you about the company; for example, they might ask to tell us what you know about our company or why you want to join our company? So you must do your research on the company make notes on their values, mission, objectives to craft an optimistic and erudite reply.
Job description
Study the job description thoroughly. Try to understand all the roles you might have to take on, what is expected of you, and the different job-relevant skills required for the position but aren’t mentioned in the vacancy post. You must study the description because your employer may ask you to tell them about the job you applied for or the position’s duties. Your employer might also ask questions such as how to XXXX, which would be part of your work.
Resume
Take a look at your resume and review anything you might have forgotten but have mentioned as your skill. For example, you said that you published a research paper about three years ago, you should review the paper as it might be bought up during the interview, or your interviewer might ask you to tell them about the report and its findings.
Yourself
You must write down your qualities and skills that make you better or different than others. Most interviewers ask questions like what are your strengths or what are your weaknesses. They want a person who is self-aware and has good judgment. Do not lie about yourself. For example, do not say you are an extrovert when you avoid any possible encounter with other humans. Be honest with yourself and the interviewer. Make a list of five strengths and try to keep weaknesses low 2-To 3 weaknesses are fine. Your muscles and deficiencies should be relevant to the job. For example, do not say you deadlift 200llbs when you are applying for the position of an accountant; however, your weaknesses should be irrelevant to the job; for example, if you are applying for the role of an accountant, you could say I am a terrible cook.
Common interview question
Try preparing good answers to the most commonly asked because it is most likely that your interviewer would ask you those. Have a friend ask you the questions and then evaluate your answers. In the case of online interviews, record yourself and assess yourself and make any required changes. Let us look at how you should answer one of the most commonly asked interview questions, “Tell me about a project you are proud of”
How to answer “Tell me about a project you are proud of.”
Firstly you must understand the type of projects you have worked on and the kind of project your interviewer is asking about. If they ask about some project you have mentioned in your resume, do not talk about other projects you have worked on. Based on the nature of projects, they can be categorized as
- Personal projects
- Professional projects
- Non-profit projects
Let’s look at how you could reply to a personal, professional, or non-profit project that you worked on and are very proud of
Personal projects
These are the projects that you work on just by yourself and are related to you somehow. These projects reveal the mentality, approaches you to take to complete a task, consistency, discipline, and performance when there is no one to judge or evaluate your work. Some examples of personal projects are
Healthy lifestyle:
Creating a project to improve your life just shows how dedicated you are to improving yourself. Most people develop plans and set goals that they want to achieve in a specific period. Your health project could be focused on improving.
Physical health:
Where you have wanted to be physically stronger, lose or gain weight or participating in a fitness competition—helping others achieve their physical health goals. For example, you could talk about how you had created a project to follow specific approaches, evaluate them, and proceed with the most effective ones to achieve your physical health goal.
You should also include how it has improved and positively influenced your life and how they make you proud. For example, you could say I had been underweight for XXXX years, had low confidence, lack of focus, strength, and how your plan has made your life better, and that you feel proud of all the hard work you have put into his project.
Mental health:
Since most people today struggle with mental health, you could talk about your plan to either improve your own or help someone else improve their mental health and adapt healthier thinking habits and how it has impacted you or that person.
Productivity and discipline
You could talk about how you had made significant changes to your lifestyle to be more productive throughout the day, Tips on being more disciplined, where you took motivation or inspiration from, and tips to be consistent. You could also talk about how you had helped someone else become more productive and disciplined.
Add how this change has made your life better, and you feel proud because it was either hard or you didn’t believe you could do it, but you did.
Education:
You can talk about how you wanted to write a research paper on certain aspects, reading a certain number of books in a month, getting specific grades, how you had created a project to follow specific approaches and evaluate them and proceed with the most effective one to achieve your goal.
Add how you feel proud because it was either very hard or you didn’t believe you could do it, but you did.
Professional
You could talk about work-related projects that were either very difficult, had strict deadlines, you were new to the subject, but you made a plan and successfully delivered the project. You may add how this project has made you feel proud because completing it made you believe in yourself and feel very accomplished because you met it.
Non-profit
If you have worked on a non-profit project, it is very likely that your interviewer would be impressed but make sure you don’t sound arrogant as that might ruin the whole impression.
Charity project
You can talk about how you raised a charity fund for XXXX’s purpose and how much it meant to you or your dream to contribute to the specific field. After accomplished, you feel pleased and proud and how you wish to continue working on it.
Free website or application
Another example of a non-profit project is that you created a free educating website or an application that helps you achieve your fitness goals. And you can talk about how you feel at peace by helping others and feel proud to put your time and energy into such projects.
Your tone
- This question is test your devotion, consistency, discipline, and work ethic, so you should
- Sound motivated and optimistic but not overconfident or arrogant
- Sound humble for you doing charity work because it makes you happy to help others
- Sound considerate and having strong negotiation skills
- Sound discipline and versatile
Avoid saying
There are a few things that you should avoid saying as they would create a negative impression.
- Saying how you did better than someone
- Saying how you proved someone wrong
- Saying how awful it was to work with the person, Then, after, but you still managed to pull it off.
- Bragging about how much you give to charity
- Saying that you did something unbelievable unless you have evidence to prove it
Conclusion
Interviews are carried out to assess your personality and how to fit you are for the job. They may be conducted online or in person. Most discussions are 30 to 90 minutes long but may be longer for higher positions. When preparing for an interview, study the company, describe the job you applied for, your resume, and practice answering common interview questions about yourself. When talking about a project that is proud of, you may speak of any personal project, professional or non-profit project, how it has impacted your life, and why you feel proud of it. When answering the question, try to be optimistic, confident, and professional. Do not use slang, talk about proving someone wrong, or brag about anything.
