what is the best school assignment you've ever had

Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

Students Share Their Best School Experiences and What We Can Learn From Them

what is the best school assignment you've ever had

Today, five students from my classes contribute short pieces about their favorite moments, and what others might be able to learn from them.

You might also be interested in these two other posts:

Students Describe Their Favorite Teachers
‘He Was a Very Good Listener’ - Students Write About Their Most Memorable Teachers

Response From Leslie Servin

During my time in high school I had it really good moments, but my best moments that I’ve experienced are in a particular class during my senior year, in Sacramento, Calif. So I was basically a new student in these kind of classes and also I’m English learner. I remember my first presentation in this class. I didn’t want to do it, but finally I did it and that one was my best moment. When I went to present I felt afraid, and then when I presented I felt so good for the effort I applied on. Now I feel so much better than my first day of presentations because I now know that I can do whatever I want to do. The learnings that I acquire made it so good this moment because I know that I have to trust on me. Something teachers or students can learn from my experience is that we have to overcome our fears and not let them control ourselves because we can’t know our capabilities if we are afraid.

Response From Jesneel Singh

The best moment in class was when I was in 9th grade in sixth period. That was when I got into poetry and spoken word. Having that “character and scene” class made my life even greater. Not knowing anything about poetry, hating on poems about reading and writing it in the past. That class was fun in many ways. For example; there was this one time where we had to write our own plays and poems and perform them in front of the class. I felt alive, and the creative side of me came out. When I wrote my first poem in freshman year. I realized that it was fun and unique. I felt like I wanted to write more and more. When I performed my first poem to that class I found my passion. Since that day and today I have written over 400 poems and made two books. I have performed on many stages in small audience and in school. That was a good day for me because I can write my thoughts down and write the truth about the world. Teachers and students can learn from this experience that, you can find what best fits you.

Response From Nancy Ramirez

I would say my best class moment would be from my sophomore year in high school. For my Spanish class, our teacher decided we would do a class circle (Editor’s note: see “How To Practice Restorative Justice in Schools” for more information on class circles) for the day. She asked us a sequence of questions which required us to give a more in depth and heartfelt answer each time, starting with something along the lines of “How are you feeling?” and ending with “Why do you think that is?” A class circle which only should have lasted one day extended to three, with each and every single one of us having to share our deepest and darkest fears and insecurities. By then it felt more than just a class and opened my eyes to very different ways of teaching styles. I believe there is much to learn from this experience, both then and now. I have come to deeply appreciate not only the class but the teacher as well. This experience showed me the extent a relationship with your classmates and your teacher can go....

Response From Oscar Salazar

The best moment I’ve ever experienced in school was last year when I was a sophomore. I took biology last year and towards the end of the year we got to dissect a fetal pig. I know that it sounds gross but it’s really not. That’s what I thought at first too. I did lots of fun experiments in that class that were new to me, such as making a small ecosystem in a bottle and dissecting owl pellets to find mouse skeletons. I think that these experiences were really fun and interesting. I’ve never done anything like that in a class before.

I think that when teachers introduce students to hands-on activities and projects the students enjoy it more. Since we have more energy it’s a good use of it. We learn better when we’re allowed to move around and be creative. Our lives aren’t going to be pen on paper or books forever. It’s best to get us students to explore the world using our skills that we learn and strengthen our understanding of daily life that is sometimes hidden from us and exposed to us abruptly once we turn into adults.

Response From Kayla Guzman

What has been my best moment in a class? I’ve had many great moments but perhaps the most best moment took place in my English class about a month ago. I had a 10-15 minute presentation and I felt pretty confident. 30 minutes before my presentation I decided to incorporate an actor for visual appeal, to correspond with my presentation. I felt even more confident, assure that I would captivate the audience’s attention and keep them engaged. When my presentation started, I gave a signal to my actor which led me to drop my 8 notecards all over the floor. I was aware that the time was ticking, so I quickly grabbed all the notecards off the floor. I became overwhelmed with embarrassment, listening to the echoing laughter of the audience as I tried to rearrange the cards. The cards in my hand then became extremely restraining. My anxiety levels rose, and the disorganized cards just added stress to my emotions. I placed the cards down, and felt a great sense of relieve. My words, my explanations, my connections all flowed out my mouth with harmony, and I felt more natural and free as I presented my topic.

My presentation was a diagnosis of a character with schizophrenia, explaining the symptoms and the reasoning behind my diagnosis. The movement of my hands and my exaggeration presented by a drive of passion, along with my visual representative, kept the audience captive. I felt like a completely different person. By the end of the presentation I was sweaty, not by nervousness but because I left it all on the floor. I realized that the key to presenting with people is not getting their attention just by visual appeal. You need to let your heart pour out so that you can captivate their hearts, reach their souls. You can’t just be the center of attention, you need to give the audience attention, you need to talk to them. First and foremost, you can’t present without emotions. Anything you present should be built off of passion. As long as you can find a connection between yourself and the topic and exude your passion, you will keep the audience engaged.

Thanks to Nancy, Jesneel, Kayla, Leslie, and Oscar for their contributions!

(This is the last post in a three-part series. You can see Part One here and Part Two here .)

The new “question-of-the-week” is:

What was the best moment you ever had in the classroom?

In Part One , Jen Schwanke, Amy Sandvold, Anne Jenks, and Sarah Thomas shared their top moments. You can listen to a 10-minute conversation I had with them on my BAM! Radio Show . You can also find a list of, and links to, previous shows here. In Part Two , Meghan Everette, Jeryl-Ann Asaro, Jeffery Galle, and Kara Vandas shared their memories. I also included comments from readers.

Please feel free to leave a comment with your reactions to the topic or directly to anything that has been said in this post.

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Anyone whose question is selected for this weekly column can choose one free book from a number of education publishers.

Education Week has published a collection of posts from this blog, along with new material, in an e-book form. It’s titled Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching .

If you missed any of the highlights from the first six years of this blog, you can see a categorized list below. They don’t include ones from this current year, but you can find those by clicking on the “answers” category found in the sidebar.

This Year’s Most Popular Q&A Posts

Classroom Management Advice

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Best Ways To Begin The School Year

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Author Interviews

Entering The Teaching Profession

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I am also creating a Twitter list including all contributors to this column .

Look for the next “question-of-the-week” in a few days.

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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How to Answer: What Was Your Favorite Class in College?

Here are some tips to help you nail this answer.

Pick a class that was meaningful.

Before your interview, think about all the classes you’ve taken and focus on the ones that had the biggest impact on you. What do they have in common? Did they teach you a new skill or make you think about your life in a different way? Once you’ve narrowed down the list to a few classes, focus on the one that was most meaningful to you. For example, if you took a class that helped you overcome a huge personal or professional hurdle, be sure to mention that.

Say something like: “My favorite class was my sophomore year French class. I’ve always loved French and was able to read and write it well, but I struggled to carry on a conversation.”

Explain what you learned and what skills you picked up.

Once you’ve identified your favorite class, go into detail about why it was important to you. Did you learn something you’d been wanting to learn for a long time? Did it challenge you in a specific way? Talk about the skills you picked up and show the quantifiable impact of those skills.

Say something like: “Because this class focused a lot on developing conversation skills, I was able to get past that hurdle and now I can easily hold a conversation in French.”

Talk about whether you liked the professor and why.

The key to coming up with a thoughtful answer is to make it a detailed one. So in addition to quantifying the impact of the class itself, you can talk about the professor’s teaching style and whether they did anything specific to making learning easier and more fun.

Say something like: “I liked that the professor made the class fun and came up with activities that challenged us to expand our vocabularies and learn the language quickly.”

Show how this experience has shaped you.

Once you’ve outlined your reasons for picking this class, wrap up your answer by explaining how the experience has shaped you. If possible, be sure to also quantify its impact by showing how it led to an even bigger learning.

Say something like: “As a whole, the experience made me realize that things seem a lot less overwhelming once you actually dive in and that’s something that I plan to keep in mind as I start my professional life.”

Here’s how to bring it all together:

“My favorite class was my sophomore year French class. I’ve always loved French and was able to read and write it well, but I struggled to carry on a conversation. Because this class focused a lot on developing conversation skills, I was able to get past that hurdle and now I can easily hold a conversation in French. I liked that the professor made the class fun and came up with activities that challenged us to expand our vocabularies and learn the language quickly. As a whole, the experience made me realize that things seem a lot less overwhelming once you actually dive in and that’s something that I plan to keep in mind as I start my professional life.”

By giving a thoughtful and detailed answer, you’ll be sure to impress the interviewer and get one step closer to landing your dream job.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Get a Mentor at Work and find answers to other common interview questions such as Tell Me About Yourself .

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How to Answer "Describe a Challenge And How You Overcame It"

What the Interviewer Wants to Know

How to Answer 'What Was Your Biggest Challenge?'

Examples of the Best Answers

Tips for giving the best response, what not to say, possible follow-up questions, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Marc Romanelli / Getty Images

When someone applies for an entry-level position, a typical job interview question they might be asked is how they’ve handled significant obstacles in the past. If you are currently in high school or college and lack work experience, interviewers may phrase this question as, “Tell me about the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a student.”

These challenges might be academic or personal—there is a wide gamut of situations you might choose to share. Perhaps you were tasked with completing an important team project, but your teammates bailed at the last minute. Maybe you were an officer in an extracurricular or service organization tasked with organizing a major fundraising project. Or, like many students today, you might have struggled to balance your classwork with the demands of a necessary part-time or full-time job.

More important than the challenge is how you handled it: Use this as an opportunity to highlight strengths that would be helpful on the job, such as persistence, communication skills, and time management abilities.

Learn how to answer interview questions about challenges, what to say when you respond, and review examples of the best responses.

Key Takeaways

List the interpersonal or people skills that empowered you to overcome challenges as a student, and highlight these in your response.
Ideally, use your answer to persuade your interviewer that you would readily accept challenges to grow your skills and contribute productively to their workplace.
Use the STAR interview response technique to create a unique, illustrative example that the interviewer will remember when it comes time to make a hiring decision.

This question is a way for interviewers to get a sense of how you tackle problems and adversity. They are also interested in your level of self-motivation. Are you an individual who actively seeks new challenges in order to develop your skills and gain knowledge and experience? Or are you someone who passively avoids difficult situations until they arise?

If possible, share examples that demonstrate to your interviewer how you are a person who embraces challenges.

How to Answer 'What Was Your Biggest Challenge?'

Be honest. It’s tempting to toss back a humble brag as a response, e.g., “My biggest challenge was that I’m such a perfectionist!” Don’t do this. Everyone has flaws and areas for improvement. By pretending you don’t, you force the hiring manager to assume you’re either lying or not self-aware. Neither makes a good impression.

Focus on challenges you’ve conquered. By the same token, now is not the time to present yourself in an unflattering light. There’s no need to share challenges you’re still actively trying to resolve. For instance, if you currently have trouble keeping your cool in stressful situations, don’t tell the hiring manager you tend to freak out when the pressure is high. Instead, look for examples that show how you faced a challenge and overcame it. So, for instance, if you used to feel stressed before presentations, talk about how you solved the problem by taking a public speaking course and creating a schedule that allowed you to prepare ahead of time.

Look for opportunities to show you’re the best person for the job. When answering this or any job interview questions, your goal is to show the hiring manager you’re the best candidate for the position. That means matching your qualifications to the job and using your answers to show you’d be a good fit. For example, if the job listing specifies that the employer is seeking someone with good time management skills, you might talk about how you developed a system to help you juggle a challenging course load and a part-time job.

Here are sample interview answers you can edit to fit your personal experiences and background. Notice how these responses all demonstrate desirable soft skills that employers hope to find in their new hires.

Example Answer #1

My biggest challenge as a student was being as focused as possible. Sitting through the conventional lectures was sometimes difficult. My mind and body were always going, and I couldn't wait to get out of my seat, move around, share my thoughts, and interact with my peers. I handled it by focusing all my energy on listening and note-taking. It helped keep my mind busy and my body moving, and I also left with some great notes.

Why It Works: This candidate demonstrates a good degree of self-knowledge in admitting that they struggled with listening in class. Nevertheless, they demonstrated they could successfully recognize their struggles and adapt to the classroom environment.

Relevant soft skills : Interpersonal communications, teamwork, adaptability, flexibility, and active problem-solving.

Example Answer #2

My first year in school was when I faced my biggest challenge. I had never lived away from home before, and I experienced severe homesickness. I was almost defeated by it, and I had the opportunity to go home and attend a local college instead. However, I decided to try to overcome my homesickness, which I did by making a real effort to connect socially with new friends in my classes, my dorm, and a campus church group.

Why It Works: This is a smart answer because the speaker shares what is a fairly common challenge for many students and then outlines the steps they took to overcome it.

Relevant soft skills : Self-motivation, problem-solving, personal initiative, and tenaciousness.

Example Answer #3

Acquiring successful time management skills was the biggest challenge I faced as a student. It was an aspect of college life that I underestimated the significance of. Now that I am in the workforce, I continue to use the skills I gained, and I am always trying to improve on them as well.

Why It Works: Here, the candidate chooses to focus on a single job skill that enables them to be a valuable and productive employee: time management. They also express their belief in continuous improvement.

Relevant soft skills: Time management, self-initiative, self-knowledge, problem-solving, and willingness to learn.

Example Answer #4

One of the biggest challenges during my first year of college was the volume of work. It was a big change from high school, and standards were also much higher. I tackled this in a few different ways: I looked for opportunities to start or join study groups, met with my professors for advice on where to focus my attention, and set up a structured schedule to make sure I was putting in the required time studying. This resulted in my maintaining a 3.8 GPA even though I was also working a part-time job to help pay for tuition.

Why It Works: This answer effectively uses the STAR interview response technique to describe a past S ituation, explain the T ask or challenge involved, describe the A ction(s) taken, and present the positive R esult of the action.

Relevant soft skills: Strategic planning, problem-solving, personal initiative, communications, organization, and project management.

Practice your answers . It’s a good idea to have a couple of answers in mind in case the interviewer nixes your first reply, or the interview goes in a direction you don’t anticipate. Regardless, you should devote some time to practice interviews before you meet with the hiring manager. Ask your school's career services office or a supportive friend to conduct mock interviews with you to get a feel for how to answer questions effectively and organically—and change tracks when necessary.

Emphasize relevant soft skills. Even if you don’t have much professional work experience, as a student you’ve probably developed many of the interpersonal or people skills that employers are thrilled to find in entry-level job candidates. Highlight the soft skills mentioned in the employer’s job posting, then allude to these in your answer.

Be enthusiastic. Use your tone of voice and body language to express your confidence and willingness to accept the sort of challenges the job would present. Humor, judiciously used, can also work in your favor.

Don’t mention a significant challenge you failed. Don’t mention an important failure (like flunking a class) or use any sort of example that would raise a red flag with your employer about your reliability, coachability, or work ethic (like, “I had to miss a lot of classes”).

Don’t make excuses. When explaining a challenge, don’t make excuses for yourself or cast blame on an instructor or your classmates. Avoid negative statements like, “The professor expected too much.”

Why should we hire you? - Best Answers
What is your greatest strength? - Best Answers
What are your goals for the future? - Best Answers

How can I prepare for an interview when I don't have a lot of work experience?

Make a list of your top qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge or experience that match the requirements in the job description. Then think of examples of how you have demonstrated those attributes in jobs, internships, volunteer roles, extracurricular activities, academic projects, or school activities. You'll have examples of how you can succeed on the job ready to share with prospective employers.

What are behavioral interview questions?

Behavioral-based interview questions focus on how you handled work-related situations in the past. Your responses will help the interviewer learn about your behavior, personality, and character. When you don't have formal work experience, you can share examples from your classes, academic projects, extracurricular activities, and volunteering.

CareerOneStop. " Types of Interviews ."

Campus Voices: Best and Worst Writing Assignments #2

What are the best and worst writing assignments you've ever been given by a teacher, john fuentes (political science / business).

I have never been a true fan of William Shakespeare, so my worst writing assignment had to have been in English 1B where we had to write about King Lear. This assignment wasn’t very long or difficult, but I simply could not enjoy Shakespeare because I had a hard time understanding the language and style. In fact, the core of the assignment was merely to summarize the events and to explain their larger implications in the play.

My best writing assignment had to have been for a Political Science class on Constitutional Law, even though it was probably the most rigorous and intense writing assignment I have had in college so far. For three weeks our class had to read six hundred pages of Supreme Court decisions defining the limits of the Interstate Commerce clause and the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Then we were assigned roles. Less than a fourth of the class were “attorneys” who had to argue the case law, and the rest of the class were “justices” who had to interpret the case law and write a fifteen- to twenty-page opinion. I was a “justice” who wrote an opinion, and I think I ruled in favor of the plantiffs. This intense assignment required understanding extremely arcane legal language as well as thoughtful analysis, but I found out how much fun I could have with a challenging writing assigment.

Sarah Wiliarty (Political Science)

The worst writing assignment I’ve ever had is: Write a thirty-page research paper on a topic relating to the class. This assignment has two main problems. First, it teaches the students nothing about how to define and answer an interesting question. Second, this assignment appears vague, but often it conceals a different, much more concrete assignment: Write a thirty-page research paper showing that you have understood (and agree with) the professor’s theory. The problem is the secrecy of the assignment, not the focus on the professor’s own work. After all, we have chosen Berkeley for graduate studies because of the quality of the faculty. It is perfectly reasonable to test us on whether we have understood their research. Many of us, however, will not recognize the hidden assignment and will write on some other topic entirely, thereby missing our best chance at finding out whether we have understood a particular approach.

The best writing assignment I’ve ever had was to compose a supposedly impromptu speech analyzing the work of John Maynard Keynes from three different analytical perspectives. The analytical perspectives were the topic of the seminar; a list of possible questions to consider was provided. The combination of strict constraints and the speech format made this a good assignment. By requiring an examination of different perspectives, but allowing for more creativity through the speech format, the assignment helps the writer to generate ideas and connections that might not otherwise occur.

Paige Daniel (School of Education)

“Ekutonyoniya ebyafaiyo.” With words such as these, Onesimus Semalulu, a Ugandan graduate student who had landed at a Kentucky research university, gave our graduate linguistics/anthropology seminar pieces of one of the most elusive puzzles any of us had yet encountered: what concepts in language are universal? After an entire semester of eliciting, transcribing, and analyzing Lugandan morphemes, lexemes, and sentence parts, we were asked to write a twenty-page paper that pieced together our cross-linguistic comparisons.

Just an undergraduate at the time, I was a bit overwhelmed by both the task and its terminology. I had written countless papers, none produced from particularly “bad” writing assignments, but most crafted for a poor purpose: to perform a one-woman show aimed at a singular audience—the instructor. In contrast, this data-driven class research project guided me for the first time to the backstage of academic life. Pandora’s box of seemingly unsolvable questions had long been opened by my professors, and I was finally allowed to participate in the attempt to search for answers.

John Leibee (Rhetoric)

My worst writing assignment ever was a two-page brief of a business article. I had to answer a long list of questions, and answering each in detail was extremely difficult with the two-page maximum. However, it was my lack of freedom as a writer that bothered me the most; there was no room for creativity, only summary. The grade was based on how well the facts were regurgitated.

My best assignment was also from a business class, but this assignment was not as structured. I was asked to compare and contrast a business issue from the past with one from the present. This topic offered basic guidelines but also gave the writer choice; it forced the writer to think. The maximum length was anywhere from fifteen to twenty pages, and this flexibility empowered the writer as well. Every person’s paper was different for this assignment because every person could express their unique perspective; every person’s paper looked similar for the worst assignment because the regurgitation of facts constrained individuality. A good assignment, therefore, must not only make the writer think; it must grant the writer freedom to express those thoughts!

Originally Published: Volume 1 – Number 2 (Fall 2000)

Rethinking Schools

Non-Restricted Content

“The Best Teacher I’ve Ever Had”

by Patrick Esty

Ms. Johnson was the name, or at least that’s what I think it was. It was such a long time ago—fourth grade, I think—but I still remember her because she had such a powerful influence on my life. When I started school, I was an average person with just enough enthusiasm as everyone else on the block, but after the fourth grade, I was full of energy. Ms. Johnson want you to succeed and supported you as an individual person to be the best you would be. I remember the very first week of the school year. It is so vivid in my mind.

“You better GET in that chair right away!” she yelled, and I sat down as if I were mounting a horse. She went on and pointed me out with her pencil while taking attendance. “Do you know how to sit BOY! You better GET UP and TRY again!”

After taking attendance, she gave one of the most important speeches I have ever listened to in my life. “Hello, my name is Ms. Johnson – not ‘Miss,’ not ‘Johnson,’ ‘John,’ ‘teacher,’ or ‘son,’ — Ms. Johnson. You raise your hand when you want to talk and ask me if you want to move, and when i say ‘Jump,’ you better ask me, ‘How high?’” She sure knew how to discipline her pupils, but she had another side to her that was more civilized and controlled. THis side was much stronger than her first.

“… But there’s one thing you all have to learn before the year starts. It’s a thing you were born with, ‘common sense.’ Everybody has it, because if you don’t have it, you weren’t born!”

Then someone in the class asked her why she walked on a crutch. She answered in a low voice. “I broke my left leg trying to stop a fight. That’s what happens when people don’t use their common sense. They injure others as well as themselves.”

I think Ms. Johnson was the most powerful force in Engleberg Elementary School. Everyone who went through the school could tell you bout her. She taught everyone self-control. It is rare if you ever see someone from Engleberg start a fight or be involved in a crime. In fact, if it weren’t for her, many people I know wouldn’t be in school any more. She was not only a good teacher who taught discipline, but she was a great teacher who knew math, reading and writing skills. Being taught by Ms. Johnson is an experience no one forgets.

One day, she got all of the students to enter a writing contest. I, being a lazy person since kindergarten, didn’t do it until the very last day it was due. You should have seen it! I scribbled together some really interesting stuff in those 24-hours, and knowing Ms. Johnson, I thought she wouldn’t like it at all. Boy, was I surprised.

“Patrick,” she said to me in private as I came to school one morning, “that was a very good essay you wrote.” My mouth hung wide open. “Really!” I said with a excited voice. “I thought it was terrible.” “No. 1 think you have some talent and I’m going to enter it in the city-level for competition.”

She did. Three months later, a gold medal came into my hands and she congratulated me. “You never know how good you are until you try. You are more than you think you are, Patrick. I want to see you do more…”

When I brought that gold medal home with me that night, my parents were “proud, proud, PROUD!” I could almost cry. I could almost laugh. I could hug Ms. Johnson, the one-legged lady, and only thank her for her tremendous support to raise my ego.

Today, I have received two good citizenship awards, hundreds of class achievements and perfect attendance certificates, and will graduate as class valedictorian in high school. Just think. Without her, I would be just an average guy. She helped me in my life tremendously.

by Renate Gray

Wanda Raven, Ms. Raven to those of us who are her students, is who I call the “Best Teacher” I’ve ever had. Her teaching style, personality and her desire to help me to succeed are the three qualities that l admire most about her.

Teaching styles vary greatly among teachers of different subjects as well as teachers of different grade levels. I was first introduced to Ms. Raven my sophomore year of high school when I became a student in her biology class. In the beginning she was like any other teacher, same grading scale, same class objectives. Yet after the first couple of days I could tell that she was different. When teaching she did her best to make us understand, not help us understand. If she felt you needed help she would allow time in her schedule to fit you in. being in a school where there is a lot of competition among the students made me seek her out even for the smallest problems. She was always there to help me and make me learn.

When you picture how many people you come in contact with and how many teachers you’ve had, still have and will have in the future you realize how impersonal the relationships are. Ms. Raven’s intent seemed to be that she wanted to get to know each student so she could help with school or personal problems. I happened to stop to talk to her one day and that’s when I discovered what a nice personality she had. She greets me every time I see her and shares a few words. It was that sophomore year that I began having problems that I needed to talk about. I decided to seek some advice and help. Ms. Raven was always around to talk to listen. Her ability to listen is one part of her personality that stands out the most. She always found time to listen and no matter what was said she took it all to heart’, even the smallest, silliest problem. She never repeated what was said. Giving good, sound advice and helping to make me talk things out are two more qualities that I admire. Though most teachers would stop there, she didn’t. When she needed to talk she sought me out and confided a lot in me. Some might take that as a burden, I didn’t. I felt that if she could listen to me then I could do the same. Never have I had a teacher like that.

When the school year ends, I usually have no further contact with my teachers. Ms. Raven came to me again my year of high school and asked if I needed help. I shared a few of my career goals with her and found out that she had a lot of knowledge from past experience about one of my future goals. Whenever I had a question or a doubt about something relating to school or college I could always find her and discuss it with her. Whenever she’d come across an article or literature pertaining to a career she would make sure I received a copy of it. These types of things express a desire to help me succeed and I’m grateful for that.

I’d like to finish by saying that I’ve never before come across a person like Ms. Raven. Her personality outshines those of most teachers. Her desire for my success in life seems only surpassed by my parents, family and the staff of Upward Bound. Her ability to teach and her process of teaching is a great help to me and to others. To me Ms. Raven is the Best Teacher” I’ve ever had.

by Dwight Thomas

During all the years of my education to date, there have been many teachers that have got me to the level of education I’ve reached today. I’m going to tell you about the best teacher I think I will ever have. Mr. Birmingham was the greatest influence on me because the way he taught the class was at a level where everybody could catch the topic of discussion. He would help you out with problems in and out of school. He also would tell you his feelings straight from the heart. Mr. Birmingham’s teachings were in a “class” all by themselves.

When you entered seventh hour history, you knew everything that was going on. “Mr. Birm,” as we would call him, refused to let a person get behind the rest of the class.

He went by the motto, “If the ship is hit, everyone on board goes down.” Mr. Birm would go back to items to help that unfortunate student catch on. If that didn’t work, we would read the chapter over until everyone caught on. Mr. Birm not only cared about studies, but he would be there for you when it was a problem out of school.

If a student ever had a problem and had no one to turn to, you could always turn to room 337. Mr. Birm would be there to discuss even the most delicate problem in a mature and understanding manner. If you needed to borrow money, he would give it to you with absolutely no complaints. I know he’s helped me out a number of times. You may think because he was nice he was a push-over, I doubt it highly.

If there is one thing I remember very well about Mr. Birm, it was that he was never afraid to express his feelings. If he saw something done he didn’t like, he’d tell you. He couldn’t stand for horsing around. I don’t think he ever felt sorry for a student he told off either. This shows me he not only has the utmost respect for the students, but he respected himself. These are the characteristics of a great teacher.

I will remember Mr. Birmingham for the rest of my life, for he has taught me many things. Respect for not only others but myself. To help others as I would want them to help me. He also did a good job of teaching history, too. Mr. Birmingham is definitely my all-time best teacher.

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The learning network | what’s the most challenging assignment you’ve ever had.

What’s the Most Challenging Assignment You’ve Ever Had?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

See all Student Opinion »

An essay on the Op-Ed page tells the story of a program at Bell in the 1950s in which young executives were plunged into “what amounted to a complete liberal arts education” in 10 months. Many of the students – most of whom had backgrounds in technical fields like engineering – found some of the advanced material quite challenging. yet in the end they got a lot out of it. What are the hardest tasks you have had to tackle in school? How did the experience affect you?

As Wes Davis writes in an Op-Ed , managers at Bell believed that, as a 1955 Harper’s magazine article put it, “A well-trained man knows how to answer questions […]; an educated man knows what questions are worth asking.” So the University of Pennsylvania devised an intensive liberal arts program of study for the executives, who found reading demanding literary works difficult but quite rewarding:

When the students read “The Lonely Crowd,” the landmark 1950 study of their own social milieu, they didn’t just discuss the book, they discussed it with its author, David Riesman. They tangled with a Harvard expert over the elusive poetry in Ezra Pound’s “Pisan Cantos,” which had sent one of the Bell students to bed with a headache and two aspirin. The capstone of the program, and its most controversial element, came in eight three-hour seminars devoted to “Ulysses.” The novel, published in 1922, had been banned as obscene in the United States until 1933 and its reputation for difficulty outlived the ban. The Bell students “found it a challenging, and often exasperating, experience,” Baltzell wrote. But, prepared by months of reading that had ranged from the Bhagavad Gita to “Babbitt,” the men rose to the challenge, surprising themselves with the emotional and intellectual resources they brought to bear on Joyce’s novel. It was clear as the students cheered one another through their final reports that reading a book as challenging as “Ulysses” was both a liberating intellectual experience and a measure of how much they had been enriched by their time at the institute. At the end of the 10-month course, an anonymous questionnaire was circulated among the Bell students; their answers revealed that they were reading more widely than they had before — if they had read at all — and they were more curious about the world around them. At a time when the country was divided by McCarthyism, they tended to see more than one side to any given argument.

Students: What’s the most challenging assignment you have ever been given? Why was it so difficult for you? How did you fare? What did you get out of it? Did the experience change you at all?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

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my most challenging task in 7th grade was poetry!!! Difficult to read, difficult to understand, terribly difficult to write. Not that I don’t know how to write the essays, short stories…but poetry, yuck. When I finally did submit my poems on “growing up,” I was relieved!! I am still no Robert Frost but I “Howl” with joy that this year’s English poetry class is over.

No surprise at the provenance of this program. I’m a Penn grad who got a wonderful liberal education…at the Engineering School.

“If they had read at all” was a bit too rich if you ask me. If you have the intellectual curiosity and wherewithal to make it through engineering school, my experience tells me that you will probably find your way to a fair share of the great books.

I hope this concept is followed up conversely with an offering of calculus and physics for mid-career humanities graduates who described themselves as “well-rounnded” in college but somehow missed out on the math and science that form an equally critical part of the ideal education.

There really wasn’t any challenging tasks for me. It’s just that i struggled a lot when all the tests and exams came right after each other. When this happen, i kinda get off track and study wrong things and sometimes get 86’s.

Most difficult? Getting myself at least moderately interested in Spanish class. Still not doing to well . . .

*Still not doing TOO well. Sorry!

My most challenging work ever was an Anglo-Saxon piece of writing in my English class. We had to describe what it stood for, which was easy, but it was the biography behind it that made it difficult. Some of the history was missing. And to get a grade “A” paper i watned to explore further, eventually I got all the details, and ended up getting a “D”. So much hard work, not even worth looking at, as my teacher told me.

The most challenging assignment that i have ever had was when I had to build a replioca of a fort out of nothing but popcicle sticks. It was not an easy thing to do. the glue kept falling off of the sticks, and the glue was so runny, that it sort of slid down the sticks. We had three weeks to finish this assignment, but I was able to get it done

My Most difficult Assignment? was a essay that was about my live.

What’s the most challenging assignment you have ever been given? The most challenging assignment I have ever been given was English poetry. The teacher gave students an assignment on 8 lines or more poetry. The assignment was due next day, which I had only one night to finish it. I had spent more than 3 hours over night on the assignment. Poetry is just too hard for me. You have to find the other with same rhyme and other poetry rules. How did you fare? I try to borrow my friends’ poetries and observe how they write poetry. But, it took me awhile to figure it out. My brother and some other friends help me out for poetry. What did you get out of it? First, I spent my time on it and learn how to write a simple poetry. Then, slowly build up rhythm and rhyme. I spend lots of time on rhyme because it hard for me to think of something sounds the same. Did the experience change you at all? The assignment makes me feel poetry is not easy to write. And, I know more about poetry. How it works and how it is done. The experience changes me because I know how to write a simple poetry.

The most challenging assignment I ever have is probably the Historical Investigation I had to do in US history class last year. I’ve never been exposed to US history before I took this class since I used to study in Chinese local schools. Therefore, my knowledge on US history was rather tenuous. I had to do this project by my own about Hitler’s propaganda. Even though, I chose the topic by myself, I had no idea where I should begin. Luckily, our teacher taught us step by step. I did every assignment he asked prudently and followed his directions. I asked him questions before and after class. I requested him to check my work before handing and being graded. After this investigation task was completed, I learned a lot about Hitler’s policies, historians views on propaganda and Germany’s background at that period of time. I also learned how to skim through a bunch of information and know what is important. I increased my reading speed and my ability to understand piece of information that I am not used to. This experience did changed me a lot. And, even though, it was tough work, I appreciated it because I got lots of things out of it. The things are all essential for my future academic.

Two very challenging things in school last year were the Biology tests and quizes and the English vocab tests. But now I have Bio skills and some really hard english words memorized to make next year’s challenges more bearable.

math class assiments because i was gone for 2 monts when i came back to school i had no clue waht we were supposed to do in class but now i cathing up

my most difficult assignment that I’ve ever completed was essay in music class about compering a composer’s life and achievements with other composers in the same era . I, myself, didn’t have any ideas about any composers in the whole entire wold.Also that was the first essay I have written in my life . However, I decided to search about J.S Bach and the composers who lived in his era. That was difficult to compere because there were too many composers in Bach’s era , and all of them had great achievements.In addition, the most difficult part was the period of time .I had to finished it in fifty minutes and after that I had to read it in frond of the class. These were the reasons that made my first essay the most difficult assignment that I’ve ever completed.

In 7th grade my Pre-Algebra gave us a High school project and I procrastinated until the due date was in two days I got a good grade on it but I was tired form constant working from the moment I got home to the moment I went to bed with small breaks in between

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Has a School Assignment or Activity Ever Made You Uncomfortable?

Have you encountered lesson plans, class activities or school traditions that should be recognized as outdated, sexist or racist?

By Shannon Doyne

Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021.

For years a high school in northwest Texas had a tradition of seniors role-playing life in the Middle Ages as part of an English class assignment that followed the reading of “Beowulf” and the works of Chaucer. The activity awarded points to students for complying with 11 “rules for chivalry.”

What were the rules? Boys were supposed to wear suits and ties, refrain from using vulgar language, hold doors for girls and call them “milady.” Girls were supposed to wear frocks and heels, clean up after the boys, bring them soft drinks and baked goods, and curtsy and lower their heads while addressing the boys by their “titles.”

The Times reported that the school canceled this year’s activity after parents complained. While some students were excited to participate in the role play, other students were upset.

What are your initial thoughts about this role play and the reaction from the community?

Has a school assignment or activity ever made you uncomfortable? Have you encountered lesson plans, class activities or school traditions that should be recognized as outdated, sexist or racist?

In “ Texas School’s Lesson on Chivalry Asked Girls to ‘Walk Daintily’ and Obey Men ,” Maria Cramer writes:

The cancellation comes as many schools are re-examining traditions that are now being recognized as outdated, sexist or racist. It also highlighted, according to students, how even well-meaning lesson plans can backfire . “I really don’t think it was the teacher’s intention to have it be such a sexist lesson,” said Hannah Carreon, 18, a senior at the high school. “There were girls that were excited to get to do this finally and get to dress up.” She added, “But there were also a lot who were obviously upset about it.” School officials declined requests for an interview and the teacher did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement, the school district superintendent, Anita Hebert, said the assignment had been removed and the “matter has been addressed with the teacher.” “This assignment has been reviewed, and despite its historical context, it does not reflect our district and community values,” Dr. Hebert said. The exercise had been scheduled to take place on Wednesday. Female and male students, who had been reading “Beowulf” and the works of Chaucer, were given assignment sheets that described 11 “rules for chivalry.” They would be awarded 10 points for every rule they followed. Boys were asked to rise any time a female student or faculty member entered a room, to avoid profanity or “vulgar words” and to “allow ladies to leave the room before they leave.” Girls had to walk behind men or “walk daintily, as if their feet were bound”; address men with “a lowered head and a curtsy”; “clean up” after their male classmates; and “obey any reasonable request” from a man. According to Colin Tynes Lain, 18, a senior, the teacher had anticipated backlash and said students who were uncomfortable with the assignment could write a one-page essay instead. In the past, Mr. Lain said, the teacher had given parents and teachers a written disclaimer explaining that the goal of the project was to show how the chivalric code was used to obscure chauvinistic principles that harmed women. “That’s what she was trying to pull our attention to,” he said. “That this was not chivalry in any way.” Still, he said, he felt unsettled by the idea of treating students he is used to debating and bantering with in a demeaning way. “It definitely made me uncomfortable and I would say that was her goal,” Mr. Lain said. “At the same time, I understand why certain people would be mad.”

The article concludes:

Role-playing can be an effective pedagogical tool, but teachers have to be very careful that they are not reinforcing negative gender and racial attitudes, said April Peters-Hawkins, a former sixth-grade teacher who is now a professor of school leadership at the University of Houston College of Education. “What we typically see is marginalized groups continuing to be marginalized,” she said. “Black kids being asked to play the roles of slaves, Jewish kids being asked to play the role of victims of the Holocaust and girls being asked to be subservient.” Mr. Landers said he hoped that the teacher, whom he described as caring and well liked, would find another way to have students examine the misogyny of that era beyond studying old texts. “I feel like a lot of people are trying to cover up history; we shouldn’t do that,” he said. “If men, especially teenage boys, see how girls were treated back in the 1300s, they’ll get a better sense of how to treat women today.”

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

What do you think about this activity? In your opinion, did the school make the right decision in canceling the role play? Why?

A student quoted in the article says that the point of the activity was to feel uncomfortable portraying sexist behavior and understand that the chivalric code harmed women. Do you think most students would reach this same understanding? Why do you say that? How likely or unlikely is it that the assignment might backfire, as the article warns can happen?

What are some reasons parents, students and other teachers might object to the activity? How would someone who holds the opposing viewpoint respond to each of those objections?

A school leadership professor is quoted as saying that a common problem with role-playing is in its design: Students from marginalized groups can often be marginalized in the activity as well. Have you experienced or witnessed anything that supports this claim?

Now that the activity has been suspended, what approach should the teacher employ instead to teach about sexism in the Middle Ages? Explain your answer.

Do you think any traditions that are part of your school are outdated? Do any of these traditions seem sexist or racist, or otherwise have the capacity to make people uncomfortable or feel like they don’t really belong? If yes, what are these traditions, and how should they change?

About Student Opinion

• Find all of our Student Opinion questions in this column . • Have an idea for a Student Opinion question? Tell us about it . • Learn more about how to use our free daily writing prompts for remote learning .

Students 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

What Is The Most Challenging Project You Have Worked On?

Updated January 29, 2024
Published July 4, 2019

A commonly asked competency-based interview question is, “ What is the most challenging project you have worked on? “. These types of questions may look like one of the more difficult ones to answer. However, it’s actually a great opportunity to discuss a great challenge that you were able to turn into a big accomplishment.

Interviewers want to get more information on how well you can manage projects and challenging situations. Furthermore, they want to assess your approach to dealing with situations at work and how your skills could be of value in the position that you’re applying for.

Questions about dealing with challenges are asked for all types of jobs and all different levels. It’s, therefore, important that you prepare your answers in advance so that you’re able to demonstrate how you deal with challenges and describe what you learned from them.

The best way to answer the questions: “ Describe a project you have worked on, ” and more specifically, “ Describe your most challenging project ” is by focusing on providing a concise yet comprehensive response. Begin by briefly outlining the project and highlighting its scope and objectives.

Clearly articulate your specific challenges, emphasizing technical and non-technical aspects. Discuss the strategies and problem-solving skills you applied to overcome these challenges, demonstrating your adaptability and resilience. Conclude by highlighting the positive outcomes or lessons learned from the experience. Keep your response structured and relevant, ensuring that you balance the challenges with the successful aspects of the project.

Other ways the interviewer can ask you questions about challenging work situations and your most challenging project:

Tell me about your greatest accomplishment.
Describe a time you had to adapt to a change in the workplace.
Describe a time when you worked on a project where a conventional approach was not suitable.
Tell me about a time you had to perform a task in which you had no experience in doing? How did you approach this situation, and what did you learn?
Tell me about a time you took the lead in a team project. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?

Why Interviewers Ask About The Most Challenging Project You Have Worked On

The interviewer is interested in learning how skilled you are in managing projects and situations. In other words, how do you react to complexities, challenges, and new or unexpected tasks?

As discussed earlier, the interviewer can ask you questions in several ways to find this out. These questions are designed to assess your attitude toward challenges and determine how you deal with them. The interviewer wants answers to questions such as:

What is your approach to dealing with challenges?
How do your skills help you successfully finish projects?
What is your work ethic like?
How do you handle stress?
Describe your most challenging project

All these questions are asked to find out whether or not you have the ability to handle challenges and if you’re resilient when facing complexities. The answers you give to questions regarding complex and your most challenging project will give them insights into the following:

Your ability to manage projects and complex situations and the skills you possess to do this
The approach you use to deal with situations
Your decision-making skills and planning abilities [[PMI.org, https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/planning-identify-challenge-project-management-5625 ]]
How the company could benefit from your skills and abilities
What do you regard as your “ most challenging project ” and why?

How To Answer ‘What Is The Most Challenging Project You Have Worked On?’

Like other behavioral job interview questions, preparing scenarios before the interview is crucial. Doing so makes bringing up concrete examples during the interview easier without hesitating. This shows that you came prepared, are self-aware, and take the interview seriously. You can imagine it’s difficult to bring up a complete example scenario if you did not prepare these before the interview.

When discussing your most challenging project, always start by giving the context of a situation and walk the interviewer through the process of working towards a solution. The best way to structure your answer is according to the STAR interview technique . This is a step-by-step process of structuring your answer that will help you concisely convey your answer.

STAR Interview Technique

The STAR interview technique helps you to provide a logically structured answer. It’s a way to give the interviewer an answer in the form of a story.

STAR is an acronym for a Situation (S), your Task (T) in that situation, the actions (A) you took in that situation, and the Results (R) of your actions.

The STAR technique is perfect for answering behavioral interview questions, such as ‘What is the most challenging project you have worked on?’. These questions require you to provide the interviewer with a real-life work example.

Behavioral interview questions often start with the following:

Tell me about a time when
Describe a time when

Below, the STAR acronym is broken down into steps with more information on what you can include in your answers.

1. Situation

When you give your answer to the interviewer, start by setting the stage. Provide context around the situation or challenge you were facing. Also, make sure to provide relevant details.

When the interviewer asks you questions about challenging situations or projects you have worked on, ensure that you provide all the details necessary for them to understand what you were up against.

After you describe the situation, talk about your specific responsibilities and what your role was. The interviewer must get an understanding of your task during that specific situation.

Then, talk about your actions to resolve the challenges you were facing while under stress. Provide the interviewer with a step-by-step description of what actions you took.

Finally, talk about the outcomes of your actions. Make sure to take credit for your behavior that led to the result.

Here, you answer questions such as What happened? And What results did you get?

Also, provide the interviewer information about what you learned from the situation.

TIP: Make sure to focus on positive results and positive learning experiences.

Choosing the right example situation

When preparing your answers that include example situations about your most challenging project, try to create a list of situations that relate to the job you’re applying for.

Providing examples relevant to the job’s responsibilities is more likely to give the interviewer the impression that you’re suitable for the position.

Also, if possible, select projects that you worked on recently. When you’re providing the interviewer with an example situation from 10 years ago, he or she will not be that impressed and might wonder what happened in all those years after.

You don’t want to give the interviewer the impression that the last challenging project you worked on happened a decade ago.

Furthermore, give the interviewer an example of a successful project unless you’re specifically asked for an unsuccessful one. In regard to your most challenging project, explain your role clearly because the interviewer is not only interested in what you did but also based upon your decisions.

Learn more about work experiences that you can include in your answers .

Be specific and to the point

Interviewers ask questions about your most challenging project to get more information about how you approach and handle situations. Therefore, ensure you provide the interviewer with what he or she is looking for.

Don’t just focus on a few responsibilities, but be specific and walk the interviewer through what you’ve done to deal with the situation, how you led your team, or how you made decisions. You must explain your thought process in a particular situation you choose to discuss. This is especially important when discussing your most challenging project. The interviewer is interested in relevant details.

Include tangible outcomes

If possible, always talk about the tangible outcomes of your actions. If your actions saved the company money or time, improved a process, or gained a competitive advantage, make sure you quantify this in your answers as much as possible.

Tangible outcomes give your answers more weight and are more convincing to interviewers.

Mistakes to avoid

Avoid rambling on about a challenging project you have been involved in. You aim to answer the question and keep your answers short and concise. The only way to do this is by preparing your answers before the interview.

You can avoid these mistakes by writing down a list of situations you have been in and the characteristics of that particular situation.

Detail for each situation and how you contributed to them being successful. In addition, as discussed earlier, do not use example situations that had an unsuccessful outcome.

Sample Answers To Job Interview Question “Describe your Most Challenging Project You Have Worked On?”

Below, you will find a specified STAR example answer that you can use as inspiration to create and structure your answers.

Situation and Task

‘In my previous job at a marketing firm, I worked on several challenging projects. But the most challenging project was when I had just started at the company. I was asked to work with a small team on a marketing pitch deck for a new client.

We got the project because of our reputation and ability to take on the project on short notice. It was a great opportunity for us to show what we were capable of doing in a short amount of time.

Then, two weeks before the pitch deck presentation, the client requested us to change the entire plan. It turned out that they were unhappy with our first concept and stated that it differed too much from the initial idea that they had in mind.

We organized a brainstorming meeting with the team to determine what went wrong and at which point in the development of the pitch deck.

After several hours, we concluded that some parts of the project were developed based on assumptions without clearly asking the client for approval before moving on. I asked if I could take the lead on redeveloping the pitch deck. For me, this was a challenge, as well as a great opportunity.

It was a challenge because I had never created a pitch deck working at this company, and we had a short amount of time, but it was a great opportunity because I had experience with creating these decks in several of my prior jobs, so it was a great chance to demonstrate my skills.

I overcame the challenge by getting the goals clear of what the client exactly wanted, analyzing their feedback, and setting up small milestones to track progress in the two weeks we had left.

We kept in touch with the client throughout the redevelopment process of the pitch deck and finished and submitted it one day before the deadline. Ultimately, the client was very happy with our work, and we are still working with them today.

Include what you’ve learned from the situation

For me, the most important learning from this project is that it’s important to get the goals clear before a project starts. Furthermore, my experience taught me that the best way to work on challenging projects is to create milestones to track progress.

Now, at the start of a new project, I focus on the most difficult parts and challenges of the project so that I know as soon as possible if there are any issues or attention areas. If this is the case, I have more than enough time to work on this before any deadlines. A detailed plan to work on a project is essential to finish it successfully.’

Example Answer 1:

A large-scale website redesign for a client was the most challenging project I’ve ever worked on. This was a complex project involving a lot of coordination with many different stakeholders.

Our goal was to maintain the existing brand identity while maintaining a modern, up-to-date design. The client also had multiple user personas with very different needs and expectations, so we had to ensure we catered to them.

The biggest challenge of this project was the tight deadline. We had to deliver a complete redesign in just two months. This meant that we had to work quickly while still ensuring that every detail was perfect. In order to ensure that all aspects of the project were completed on time, we also had to coordinate our work with other teams and departments.

It was my most challenging project, but one that was incredibly rewarding. We successfully completed the project within the timeline, and the client was extremely pleased with the results.

Example Answer 2:

The most challenging project I have worked on was a web application for a client in the healthcare industry.

The project was complex and had a great deal of technical complexity and large scope. To create an intuitive user experience while maintaining the system’s security, reliability, and scalability, I used a variety of technologies and frameworks, including React.js, Node.js, and MongoDB.

My responsibilities also included developing and integrating third-party services such as Stripe and Twilio into the application and designing and developing custom APIs.

Moreover, I was responsible for ensuring the application met HIPAA compliance requirements. The combination of all of these elements presented a significant challenge, but I was ultimately successful in delivering it within the given timeframe.

Example Answer 3:

The most challenging project I ever worked on was a large-scale website overhaul for a global company. The project involved building a new website from scratch and integrating it with the existing platform.

Due to the large volume of traffic, multiple languages, and integration with numerous third-party applications, the website was a complex endeavor. Furthermore, the website had to be accessible from mobile devices and tablets as well.

From coding issues to design and UX issues, the development team faced many challenges throughout the project. We had to work closely with them to meet the client’s expectations and build the website according to their specifications. Every decision we made had serious repercussions, so we had to consider their implications.

Despite the fact that it was extremely challenging, it took a great deal of effort to complete. For the project to be completed on time and within budget, we had to be focused, organized, and diligent. However, we achieved a successful website that exceeded the client’s expectations despite the challenges.

Key Takeaways

When discussing your most challenging project during an interview, it’s crucial to convey not just the hurdles you faced but also the resilience, creativity, and strategic thinking you applied to overcome them.

Your ability to transform a significant challenge into a notable accomplishment demonstrates your capacity to handle complex situations, which is invaluable in any role. Remember to:

Structure your response to highlight the challenge, your actions, and the positive outcome.
Use the STAR technique to provide a clear and compelling narrative.
Choose examples relevant to the job you’re applying for, emphasizing skills and experiences that align with the role.
Focus on positive results and learning experiences, showcasing your growth and adaptability.

In discussing your most challenging project, you’re not just recounting a past experience; you’re illustrating your problem-solving skills, adaptability, and potential value to the prospective employer.

The Most and Least Challenging Parts of This Job?
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Smart Answers to “What Challenges Have You Overcome?”

By Status.net Editorial Team on July 12, 2023 — 17 minutes to read

You’ve landed an interview for your dream job, and everything is going smoothly until you’re asked, “What challenges have you overcome?”. It’s a common question designed to gauge your resilience and adaptability. How do you craft a smart answer that showcases your strengths without sounding insincere or overconfident?

First, it’s essential to take a moment and reflect on your personal and professional journey. Think about the setbacks you’ve faced, obstacles you’ve navigated, and goals you’ve achieved despite the adversities. By doing this, you’ll be able to zero in on a narrative that showcases your perseverance and problem-solving abilities in a genuine manner.

Once you’ve identified a challenge that is both relevant and meaningful to your experience, you can frame your answer by discussing how you confronted the issue head-on and the steps you took to overcome it. Be sure to detail the lessons you learned and the growth you experienced as a result. This approach will not only demonstrate your resilience but also provide crucial insight into your character for potential employers.

Types of Personal Challenges to Overcome

Life obstacles.

Everyone faces ups and downs in life, and overcoming these challenges can prove your resilience. For example, you may have moved to a new city or country, adapting to the culture and language. Share your story of how you navigated through this situation and gained confidence and skills along the way. This will showcase your ability to adapt and persevere in unfamiliar situations.

Example answer:

“When I moved to a new city for college, I was completely out of my comfort zone. I had to adapt to a new culture, make new friends, and navigate a new environment. It was challenging at first, but I pushed myself to get involved in campus activities and meet new people. Through this experience, I gained confidence in myself and my ability to adapt to unfamiliar situations.”

Health Issues

Health issues can be a significant challenge to overcome. If you’ve experienced physical or mental health struggles, share how you managed these challenges and any adjustments you made to continue living a productive and fulfilling life. This will show your determination and ability to stay focused on your goals despite the difficulties. Make sure to emphasize the lessons learned and the personal growth that resulted from facing these challenges.

“I struggled with anxiety and depression for a few years, which made it difficult to focus on my goals and stay motivated. But I sought help from a therapist and learned coping mechanisms to manage my symptoms. I also made lifestyle changes, such as exercising regularly and practicing mindfulness, to improve my mental health. Through this experience, I learned the importance of self-care and developed a greater appreciation for my own resilience.”

Financial Difficulties

Many people have faced financial challenges at some point in their lives. If you’ve encountered financial difficulties, explain how you tackled them (e.g., by budgeting, cutting expenses, or taking a second job). Highlight the resourcefulness and dedication you demonstrated in this situation, focusing on the positive outcomes and the skills you gained.

“After college, I struggled to find a job in my field and had to take on multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. It was a challenging time, but I learned how to budget effectively and prioritize my expenses. I also developed new skills, such as customer service and time management, through my various jobs. This experience taught me the value of hard work and resourcefulness.”

Career Setbacks

Career setbacks can be a significant challenge for anyone. If you’ve experienced a job loss, been passed over for a promotion, or had to change careers unexpectedly, share how you coped with the situation and what steps you took to get back on track. Emphasize the skills and qualities you developed during this time, such as resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving.

“I was passed over for a promotion at my previous job, which was disappointing at first. But I used the experience as an opportunity to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses and set new career goals. I took on additional responsibilities and sought out professional development opportunities to improve my skills. Through this experience, I learned the importance of perseverance and self-improvement.”

Relationship Struggles

Relationship struggles can be emotionally challenging and can impact other areas of your life. If you’ve gone through a divorce, break-up, or any other significant relationship difficulty, share how you navigated through the situation and what you learned from it. Focus on the personal growth and self-discovery that resulted from the experience.

“When I went through a difficult breakup a few years ago, I struggled to cope with the emotional pain. But I sought support from friends and family and focused on self-care, such as exercise and meditation. I also used the experience as an opportunity to reflect on my own values and priorities in relationships. Through this experience, I learned the importance of self-love and emotional resilience.”

Academic Challenges

Academic challenges can be a significant obstacle for students. If you’ve struggled with a particular subject or faced academic setbacks, share how you overcame these challenges and what strategies you used to improve your performance. Highlight the perseverance and dedication you demonstrated during this time, as well as the skills and knowledge you gained.

“I struggled with math in high school and had to work hard to improve my grades. I sought out extra help from my teachers and peers, and developed study strategies that worked for me. Through this experience, I learned the value of perseverance and the importance of seeking help when needed.”

Personal Loss

Personal loss, such as the death of a loved one, can be a difficult challenge to overcome. If you’ve experienced a significant loss, share how you coped with the situation and what helped you through the grieving process. Focus on the personal growth and resilience you developed as a result of the experience.

“When my grandfather passed away, it was a difficult time for my family. But we came together to support each other and cherish his memory. I also sought out grief counseling to help me process my emotions and cope with the loss. Through this experience, I learned the importance of vulnerability and emotional resilience, and how to support others who are going through difficult times.”

Types of Professional Challenges to Overcome

Dealing with difficult clients.

Handling difficult clients can be emotionally taxing and require creative solutions.

“In my previous role as a project manager, I had to deal with a particularly difficult client who was constantly changing their requirements. This made it challenging to keep the project on track and deliver the expected results. The client was also very demanding and had high expectations, which added to the pressure. To handle this situation, I took a proactive approach and made sure to maintain open communication with the client. I listened closely to their concerns and validated their feelings, which helped me build rapport and establish trust. By reminding them of the initial goals and agreements, I was able to keep the project focused and on track. I also provided regular progress updates to manage expectations and keep everyone informed of the project’s status. When the client changed their requirements, I made sure to communicate the impact of those changes and work with them to find solutions that would still meet their needs. I tried to be flexible and creative in finding ways to accommodate their requests while still delivering quality work. I also made sure to document all changes and agreements to avoid any misunderstandings or miscommunications. Through this approach, I was able to successfully navigate the situation and deliver a positive outcome for all parties involved. The client was satisfied with the final product, and we were able to build a strong working relationship that lasted beyond that project. I learned the importance of communication, empathy, and flexibility in dealing with difficult clients and managing complex projects.”

Leading Teams

As a team leader, it’s your responsibility to create a nurturing environment that fosters collaboration and success.

“As a team leader, I faced the challenge of managing a group of people with different personalities and skill sets. One particular challenge was when we had to work on a project with a tight deadline and a lot of moving parts. Some team members were more experienced than others, and some were more vocal than others. It was difficult to keep everyone on the same page and ensure that we were all working towards the same goal. To overcome this challenge, I made sure to establish clear expectations and goals right from the start. I held a team meeting where we discussed the project requirements and everyone’s roles and responsibilities. I encouraged open communication and actively listened to each team member’s ideas and suggestions, making sure to integrate them into decision-making processes. We also set up a group chat where we could quickly check in with each other and share updates. Regular check-ins allowed me to evaluate progress and address potential issues, while also providing emotional support and constructive criticism to drive personal and professional growth. I made sure to acknowledge everyone’s contributions and provide feedback on areas where they could improve. When conflicts arose, I facilitated resolutions with a neutral and solutions-oriented approach, focusing on finding ways to move forward rather than assigning blame. I believe that this approach helped build a strong team and improve performance. Despite the tight deadline and complex nature of the project, we were able to deliver high-quality work on time and within budget.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How to answer “how did you tackle a difficult project or assignment”.

To answer this question, think about a specific project or assignment you faced that was challenging. Reflect on the approaches and strategies you used to overcome those challenges. For example, you might have broken the task into smaller, manageable steps, sought advice from experts, or used innovative problem-solving techniques. Be sure to highlight your resourcefulness and adaptability in the face of difficulty.

“One difficult project I faced was when I was tasked with developing a marketing campaign for a new product launch. The challenge was that the product was in a highly competitive market, and we had limited resources and a tight deadline. To tackle this project, I first conducted extensive research on the market and our target audience to identify unique selling points and potential marketing channels. Next, I broke down the project into smaller, manageable tasks and created a detailed project plan with clear deadlines and milestones. I also sought input from colleagues with expertise in different areas, such as graphic design and social media marketing, to ensure we were leveraging everyone’s strengths and producing a cohesive campaign. To stay on track and motivated, I implemented daily check-ins with the team to review progress and identify any roadblocks. When we encountered obstacles, I used innovative problem-solving techniques, such as brainstorming sessions and mind mapping, to generate new ideas and solutions. In the end, our hard work and strategic approach paid off, as the campaign was successful in generating buzz and driving sales. This experience taught me the importance of being resourceful and adaptable in the face of challenges, and I’m confident that these skills will serve me well in future projects.”

How to Answer “Describe a time when you overcame a setback in your career or education.”

This question allows you to demonstrate your resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks. Consider a situation where you failed or faced a major obstacle, and discuss how you responded. Emphasize the lessons you learned from the experience, the steps you took to recover, and how you applied those learnings to future situations to ensure success.

“I faced a major setback early on in my career when a project I was leading fell behind schedule due to unforeseen technical issues. Despite my best efforts, the project was delayed by several weeks, which caused a lot of frustration and disappointment among the team and stakeholders. However, rather than dwelling on the setback, I immediately took action to get the project back on track. I held a meeting with the team to identify the root cause of the technical issues and brainstormed potential solutions. I also communicated transparently with stakeholders about the delay and set realistic expectations for when the project would be completed. Through this experience, I learned the importance of being proactive and transparent when facing setbacks. I also realized the value of collaboration and seeking input from others when problem-solving. We were able to complete the project successfully, and the lessons I learned from that experience have helped me navigate similar challenges in my career since then.”

“How did you handle a challenging situation with a colleague or team member?”

To address this question, recall an instance where you faced a difficult interaction or disagreement with a colleague or team member. Explain how you approached the situation, maintained open communication, and used effective listening and problem-solving skills to resolve the issue. Focus on your ability to collaborate and maintain a positive working relationship.

“In my previous job, I had to work on a project with a team member who had a very different approach to problem-solving than I did. We had conflicting ideas on how to approach a particular task, which led to some tension between us. However, I knew it was important to maintain open communication and find a way to work together effectively. To address the situation, I scheduled a one-on-one meeting with my colleague to discuss our differences and find a common ground. During the meeting, I actively listened to their perspective and shared my own thoughts in a respectful manner. We were able to identify our shared goals for the project and brainstormed different solutions that incorporated both of our ideas. We ultimately came up with a plan that satisfied both of us and allowed us to move forward with the project. Throughout the rest of the project, I made sure to check in with my colleague regularly and provide feedback in a constructive manner. By the end of the project, we had developed a positive working relationship and were able to successfully deliver the project on time.”

“Can you share an instance where you had to juggle multiple responsibilities successfully?”

When responding to this question, think about a time in which you managed a high workload or competing priorities. Share your strategies for staying organized, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining focus and productivity. Explain how you maintained balance and kept deadlines, highlighting your excellent time-management skills.

“One instance where I had to juggle multiple responsibilities successfully was during my time as a project manager for a software development team. I was responsible for overseeing the development of three different software products, each with their own unique requirements and timelines. To manage this workload, I first created a detailed project plan that laid out the milestones and deadlines for each product. I then prioritized tasks based on their importance and urgency, and made sure to communicate these priorities to my team members. To maintain focus and productivity, I broke down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones, and set specific deadlines for each. I also made sure to schedule regular check-ins with my team to ensure that everyone was on track and that any issues were addressed in a timely manner. To maintain balance and meet deadlines, I made sure to allocate time each day for each project, and also set aside time for self-care and relaxation. I was able to successfully manage all three software products and meet all of our deadlines.”

“What is an example of a significant obstacle you faced in a leadership role?”

This question is an opportunity to demonstrate your leadership abilities and tenacity. Reflect on a challenge you encountered while leading a team or project, and discuss the steps you took to overcome that obstacle. Describe how you supported your team, fostered collaboration, and inspired others to achieve the desired outcome.

“In my previous role as a team leader at a software development company, I faced a significant obstacle when we were tasked with completing a complex project within a tight deadline. Our team was small and had limited experience with the specific technology required for the project. Additionally, we faced unexpected technical issues that slowed down our progress. To overcome this challenge, I took several steps. Firstly, I held a team meeting to discuss the issues we were facing and to encourage everyone to share their ideas and suggestions. We then worked together to identify the root causes of the problems and brainstormed potential solutions. I also provided additional training and resources to help the team members who were struggling with the technology. To keep everyone motivated, I regularly communicated our progress and recognized the team members who were making significant contributions. I also ensured that everyone had a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and that we were all working towards the same goal. Ultimately, we were able to complete the project on time and within budget. Through this experience, I learned the importance of effective communication, collaboration, and perseverance in leadership.”

“During my previous role as a project manager, I was assigned to lead a team tasked with developing a new product for our company. The project was complex and required extensive research and development. Initially, I felt overwhelmed by the task at hand, but I tackled the challenge by breaking the project down into smaller, more manageable tasks. I created a detailed project plan that outlined each step of the process, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables. I also assigned specific roles and responsibilities to each team member, which helped to ensure that everyone was on the same page and working towards the same goal. Throughout the project, I maintained open communication with my team and provided regular updates to our stakeholders. By taking a systematic approach and keeping everyone informed, we were able to successfully complete the project on time and within budget.”

How to Answer “How have you adapted to a major change in your work or personal life?”

Adaptability is a valuable trait, especially in dynamic work environments. To answer this question, think about a time when you experienced a significant change, such as a new job, a company merger, or a change in personal circumstances. Explain your thought process and strategies for adjusting to the change, emphasizing your ability to remain positive and maintain high performance levels despite uncertainty.

“I’ve had to adapt to several major changes throughout my career, but one instance that stands out was when my previous company underwent a merger. It was a challenging time, as we were all unsure about how the merger would impact our roles and the company culture. To adjust to this change, I first made sure to stay informed about the merger process and what it would mean for the company and our team. I also reached out to colleagues and managers to discuss any concerns or questions we had. In addition, I focused on maintaining a positive attitude and staying flexible. I knew that there would be some uncertainty and changes to our day-to-day work, but I tried to view it as an opportunity to learn and grow. I also made sure to stay organized and prioritize my workload, so that I could continue to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality work despite the upheaval. Overall, I believe that my ability to adapt to change helped me to navigate the merger successfully and continue to thrive in my role. I’m confident that I can apply these same strategies in any future challenges or changes that come my way.”
“A few years ago, I experienced a major change in my personal life when I had to relocate to a new city for my spouse’s job. It was a difficult decision to make, as I had to leave behind a job and a community that I loved. However, I knew that supporting my spouse was important, and I was determined to make the most of the move. To adapt to this change, I first researched the job market in the new city and connected with local professional networks to learn more about potential opportunities. I also took the time to explore the city and get to know the local culture, which helped me to feel more at home. In addition, I made sure to communicate openly with my spouse about my feelings and concerns. We worked together to find ways to support each other through the transition, such as scheduling regular date nights and making time for self-care. While it was a challenging time, I believe that my ability to adapt to this major change helped me to grow both personally and professionally. I learned the importance of staying positive and proactive in the face of uncertainty, and I developed new skills and connections that have benefited me in my current role.”
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The Californian

What is the most ridiculous assignment you’ve ever recieved in high school.

Emma Hall , John Symank , Conan Maron , and Kiley Borba | April 27, 2018

Name: Emma Hall

Position: Managing Editor

Assignment: “Back To The Future 4” & Memetics

My high school experience has not always been prestigious like this district paints itself to be.

Last year, I took a social science class that could be considered not very academically challenging.

I couldn’t pick which of these assignments was the most ridiculous, so I’ll give my top two.

One of the assignments was to write “Back To The Future 4” to emphasize the importance of family, I guess? I wouldn’t know I’ve never seen the movie, but I’m pretty sure that it had nothing at all to do with the prompt.

The other assignment was to analyze a topic through a specific social scientific lens, and I decided to analyze memes.

So my friends and I ended up doing an hour long presentation about memetics (the study of memes), analyzing a Stanford paper on memes, and hosting an in-class competition on who could make the best meme.

Name: John Symak

Position: Staff Writer

Assignment: Memorial project & Build A School

The most ridiculous assignment I’ve ever had is the memorial project in my English class.

You basically have to create a memorial for something of your choice, but we didn’t know why we were doing it, nor what it has to do with English, not to mention no one had any idea what to do.

At the time I’m writing this, I haven’t presented it yet, so pray for past me’s soul and grade. Please.

It’s either that assignment or the time we had to design a school in health class, and pretty much nothing was off limits.

I put together a school that had Friday off every week but had a longer school day, which I didn’t actually think was a terrible idea.

The point was to design it to show how good mental health worked, but very few groups actually took it seriously, so there tended to be a lot of “the classes do absolutely nothing” sort of stuff.

Name: Conan Maron

Position: Staff Writer

Assignment: Noises

So in newspaper, we have this assignment called Noises in the Newsrooms where someone on staff gives us a topic and expects four of us to write some cheesy response for a part of the newspaper that honestly 90 percent of the school doesn’t even read.

But most of the time only half the noises slots get filled because nobody wants to write one and then editors realize they need to fill this blank space the day before the paper goes to print.

Then people get forced to write one even though I would rather be spending newspaper doing all the homework that I neglect to do the night before. Right now, I am writing this noises figuring out how I can type out half a page of nonsense to please my editor overlords. Most of the time the noises topics are boring. Like last issue, I couldn’t care less about which teacher was most qualified to perform in a school play.

What’s even worse is we never have enough space to

Name: Kiley Borba

Assignment: Just say NO

Let me get this straight, you’re expecting me, a socially awkward teenager, who doesn’t have a lot of friends and has a hard time talking to people outside a classroom setting, to be in the situation where I am somehow be invited to a party?

Supposedly because a person or group of people enjoy my presence enough that they would like it outside of school, at this party I may or may not probably having a decent time, talking to people, partaking in whatever is going on at the party, and at the moment one of these people at the party offers me a substance that temporarily tweaks my state of consciousness.

Whether it be a plant, some fungi or a weird chemical that’ll make me think my limbs are snakes, you want me to not be willing to give my control to be decided by the universe, and “just say no”?

You’re asking a bit too much of me, but I’ll try I guess.

‘Play That Goes Wrong’ gets it right

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival actors perform Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” for Cal English and drama students.

Thespians bring Shakespeare to Cal

May issue FiFi comic

“Skater Zombies: The Villan” showcases a post-apocalyptic world ruled by undead skaters.

This spring brings scares

Big three has big beef

FiFi Comics

March Issue FiFi Comic

Seniors Madison Mittone, left, and Sachit Ganotra, acting as Bruno Mars, perform “Billionare” during the competition.

Lip Sync brings people together

Cals Chalkaa team practices their routine to prepare for showcasing a variety of traditional and creative dances to honor their culture.

Chalkaa makes their competition debut

Designs by students for the mural competition. (Bottom) The winning design by Holli Tong that represents equality. (top) A design by Naomi Khoo that was inspired by a festival.

Mural will brighten Cal

The unnamed protagonist of Fallout 4 ventures through the wasteland with his dog, Dogmeat, in tow.

Pop Culture Corner

‘Fallout’ hangs on for dear life

The Official Student-Run Newspaper of California High School

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21 Best ‘Describe a Challenge You Faced and How You Overcame It’ Examples

Answering behavioral interview questions can be tricky if you are unsure of their purpose. For example, when a potential employer asks you to describe a challenge you overcame, they want to see how you deal with pressure, setbacks, failures, and unexpected challenges.

A stellar answer will tell them about your problem-solving skills and critical thinking ability. Let’s review some tips for excellent answers, pitfalls to avoid, and look at 21 fantastic example answers.

5 Tips for Crafting Your Best Answer

Use a professional or work-related story if you can
Try to include a relevant story that can apply to the job position
Emphasize what you learned from the challenging situation
Keep the interview answer simple and concise
Be humble but proud of your accomplishments

5 Mistakes to Avoid

Do not say that you have never had to overcome any challenges
Avoid too much detail
Do not use your answer to blame someone else for a previous issue
Stay away from stories with negative outcomes
Avoid retelling the story as you being superior to others

How to Answer: STAR Format

When answering common interview questions, the hiring manager hopes your answer gives them a deeper look into your work abilities. Using the proven STAR technique will provide a good example that includes all the key elements they are looking for in an easy-to-follow layout.

The STAR method uses four vital elements, which include:

S: Situation – Start with the simple circumstances as the base for the answer. Were you on a team project and facing a short deadline?

T: Task – What was your part or role in the circumstances? Were you the individual responsible for delivering products to a client?

A: Action – What course of action did you take to solve the original problem? Specify your steps and not that of the team.

R: Result – End your answer with a positive outcome. Did you achieve what you set out to do, or what did you learn from the problem that you can use next time?

Take a look at these real example answers and see how you can prepare for any tough interview questions in your next interview.

Example #1: Filling a Role You Never Held Before

At my first job, I worked as the on-site customer service rep for the store. I was right out of school and did not have any customer service experience until this point. I answered phone and email concerns, forwarded complaints to specific departments, and tried to find workable resolutions.

Even though I was new to handling customer problems, especially in a busy, high-stress store, I learned how to think quickly and empathize with the clients so that they were satisfied with the end results.

Example #2: Fixing the Mistakes of a Coworker Who Was Fired

Working on the production floor at my previous job presented a significant challenge one time. A coworker was let go due to a lack of quality work, and there was a pile of incomplete orders and customer invoices with mistakes that needed fixing.

Because we were both assigned to the same production team, I had to fix the mistakes and clean up the unfinished orders. Although it was stressful and many of the orders were under a tight schedule, I successfully completed the task while balancing my production duties with careful time management.

Example #3: Having to Fire a Coworker

I was in a tough situation at my last job as the shift supervisor. I always try to have a good relationship with everyone at work for a more harmonious environment. Unfortunately, HR approached me to fire one of my coworkers because of some disciplinary issues.

This circumstance was a difficult time for me at first since I had never been the bearer of bad news before. Thankfully, after discussing company procedures and policies with Human Resources, I came up with a plan to let my coworker go as empathetically as possible. Although I do not want to deal with that problem again, I believe I am more knowledgeable on what it takes to get that kind of job done tactfully and professionally.

Example #4: Deal with a Cash Till Shortage Problem

Working as a cashier on the night shift at my previous job posed some challenges. My shift was short at cash-out every evening for an entire week. In addition, management was beginning to suspect employee theft, so I investigated the problem.

I did not want to start blaming coworkers, but I had to find the cause of the shortage before our company lost any more money. After sitting down with everyone on the night shift and going through till receipts, I discovered that one woman working with us had terrible eyesight and mistakenly entered in wrong codes and price counts.

Thankfully, I caught the problem early, she started wearing proper prescription glasses while on shift, and there was no further cash till shortage issues.

Example #5: Act as the Liaison Between Two Disgruntled Coworkers

Even though I was not a supervisor in my previous role, the management team asked me to act as a liaison between two coworkers that had personal issues because I had close personal relationships with both of them.

Although I had no previous conflict resolution training, my employer’s HR team helped me prepare to work effectively with both coworkers. As a result, I see now how having a familiar acquaintance was more productive for diffusing a sensitive situation than having the management team intervene alone.

Example #6: Learn a New Skill to Keep Your Job

When I was working as an administrative assistant, we had a change in ownership. The new management team had their own ideas about what each employee’s current role and duties should entail. After going through my job description, they decided that my position was ineffective and outdated.

The new owners gave me a chance to take some evening classes to obtain my license to sell insurance in the office and take a job on the floor rather than getting laid off. Although it was stressful to face a looming job loss, I decided to pursue the certification and completed it successfully to keep employment.

Example #7: Manage a Sales Team During Company-Wide Layoffs

Working as a sales team manager during the recession was a tough time for everyone. Our organization was going through company-wide layoffs, which had a detrimental effect on the remaining employee’s confidence and job satisfaction.

I could see how the anxiety and stress affected our monthly sales, and I had to find a way to turn it around. So, I took the initiative to talk to management about integrating some no-cost morale-boosting things to incorporate at work to help with everyone’s outlook. Thankfully, by including things like a monthly potluck and casual-dress Fridays, the employees started to enjoy working at the office more and spending time with each other, and our sales improved again.

Example #8: Accept a Promotion When Up Against a Coworker Who Was a Close Friend

One tough situation I faced at my last position was when our supervisor retired and his job was up for grabs. The company conducted an in-house job interview first before looking outside the organization, and consequently, both myself and my coworker applied for the position. The complication was that this coworker was also my close friend.

After two rounds of interviews with the hiring manager, they offered me the promotion to shift supervisor, much to my friend’s disappointment. However, this circumstance gave me insight into being professional and empathetic to coworkers. Although my friend was not happy about being passed over, they eventually accepted that I was the better choice for that particular job, and we have a good working relationship to this day.

Example #9: Being in Charge of Finding Cost-Cutting Measures for the Office

As part of my job as the district manager, my boss came to me for help in finding cost-cutting measures for the office. Although I did not have much accounting and budgeting experience, I embraced this new task and began searching our company processes and procedures for any inefficiencies.

In only two weeks, I distinguished three separate areas where our office could save money. From changing suppliers and distribution companies to allowing employees to take unpaid time off, I decreased our district budget by 12%.

Example #10: Make an Ethical Decision at Work Regarding Some Current Work Practices

Working at a public relations firm presented the biggest challenge that I have faced during my career so far. After working there for only one year, I found that some of my coworkers were making unethical decisions regarding our company’s business practices because of pressure from clients.

Once a client approached me to perform the same favors, I had to decide if my job was worth going against my principles. Eventually, I chose to follow my morals, and although the client was not pleased with my decision, it brought unfair company practices to light with our management team, forcing a positive change for all our staff.

Example #11: Being an Ineffective Manager of a Retail Store

Although it is hard for me to discuss now, I was an ineffective retail store manager years ago. It was my first role in management, and I had outdated ideas of my duties. As a result, my subordinates did not respect me, and there was a high turnaround rate for the first six months of me overseeing the team.

Eventually, the district manager came to me with concerns about my actions and how to handle the employees. By seeking further training and remaining open to better management practices, I was thankfully able to adjust my view and how I dealt with the team on the floor. This way, everyone was happier and more productive.

Example #12: Letting Pride Get in the Way of Asking for Help

At my previous position, I had the chance to take on other jobs during our slow season. Unfortunately, the one task they asked me to handle was an action I was unfamiliar with before. Because I was still pretty new to the job, I felt intimidated and nervous about asking for help since I didn’t want to look like I didn’t know what I was doing.

As a result, I did not complete the task according to how the company wanted, and I ended up wasting more time since I had to redo it after my supervisor took me aside to go over the steps. I know now that it is always better to ask for clarification and ensure that I am on the right track to be more productive.

Example #13: Refusing to See How Much More You Could Learn at Your First Sales Position

I worked as part of a profitable sales team at my previous job. My team was terrific, and we achieved top sales status almost every quarter. However, because of this, anytime my supervisor came to me with a good idea on obtaining new clients, I would brush him off and disregard his advice.

After some time, the management group brought me in to discuss how I was not open to new ideas and was combative at work. At the time, my thought process felt like they singled me out, but now I realize that my disregard for learning new strategies limited my potential. So now, I try to take any ideas a coworker has as having the potential to help me improve.

Example #14: Being in Charge of Hiring a Third-Party Event Planner That Overbilled Your Company

My boss assigned me to hire a third-party event planner for our annual district conference. I spent a lot of time researching the available options and comparing quotes, finally deciding on a local small company to run our event.

Once the event was over and my company received the final bill, there was a significant discrepancy in some charges. There was a miscommunication between what they quoted and what services I chose for them to handle. Facing a more significant invoice than our limited budget allowed, I strategized and agreed with the event planner for a lesser amount, and also committed to using their services for our next event.

In the end, my company had a more manageable bill, and we kept a professional relationship open with a local company. I also learned more about communication skills and having contracts in writing ahead of time.

Example #15: An Angry Client Asked for Your Manager Who Was Not Available and Demanded a Solution

I remember the first time I was the only senior staff member on shift while our manager had to leave for a delivery. While he was gone, I took a phone call from an irate client who had a mistake in their order and demanded to talk to the manager.

Although I have some experience with angry customers, the process at our company was to let the manager handle these types of calls. However, since he was unavailable, the client wanted a solution now rather than waiting for a callback. Thankfully, I took a conflict resolution course the year before, and I could calm the client down and minimize their urgency. This way, my manager could talk to them later about a proper solution.

My manager was impressed with how I handled the call. Because of how effective my methods were, he ensured that every team player could take the conflict resolution course so they would also have the tools to handle this situation if he was not around.

Example #16: Completing Your Monthly Reports Incorrectly

I held a work experience position as an intern right out of school. Although it was only a short-term job, I was keen to try my hand at as many tasks as possible. But, unfortunately, I think I was in too much of a hurry to try and learn everything and missed an important part in my monthly reports.

My supervisor noticed the mistakes and brought them to my attention. Of course, I immediately felt ashamed. But with time, I realized that as long as I own up to my mistakes and make sure I do not continue them, I can learn from any negative situations.

Example #17: Repeatedly Clashing with a Team Member During Major Projects

I worked in a small team at my last place of employment. We oversaw all the accounts payable and receivables. Unfortunately, each month, a report was due that required important information from all four team members. I was consistently clashing with one coworker about generating the details for the document.

This conflict would continue each month, causing stress and time delays. Finally, after some consideration, I approached my supervisor to ask for help to diffuse the situation and figure out a resolution. I am glad I took the initiative because, after that, our supervisor was able to work with both of us to find a workable solution when it came to collecting the necessary data for our monthly reports.

Example #18: After Spending Days on an Important Project, All the Data Was Lost

I can remember a difficult work situation where I spent many days working on an important project for a new client. My supervisor wanted me to make sure that I met all the customer’s requests. I worked diligently on this project and was satisfied with my progress as I went through their items.

Unfortunately, we had a power surge at our office that took out our power, and my computer took on some damage from it. Within a second, all my hard work was gone. I immediately started to panic but realized that I had to think logically and formulate a plan. I contacted our IT department, and with some careful retracing to our backup server, I could recover most of my work so I could remain on task and complete the project on time.

Example #19: Being Very Driven During a Team Project, and Taking Over Too Much of the Responsibility

I enjoy working in teams, and with my last project, I was a little too enthusiastic when it came to taking on team tasks. So I started trying to handle as many items for the group as possible, believing that the more I did for the group, the better we would be.

Unfortunately, by doing this, I was not allowing each team member a great opportunity to use their strengths and abilities for the group’s benefit. As a result, I stretched myself too thin, and because I was completing too many things at once, I started making mistakes and missing deadlines. In the end, I realized that I could not do everything, and having a competent team to split tasks is the best solution for large projects.

Example #20: Having a Hard Time Following the Direction of Your Manager

Unfortunately, one difficult situation I encountered at my previous employer was when I was having a hard time following the direction of one of my managers. This individual would come to me with tasks that I didn’t feel were relevant to the project or they were not an efficient use of my time.

Consequently, because I did not always follow the directions given to me, I created a wedge between my manager and me that other coworkers noticed. After talking to the Human Resources department, I realized that ignoring or disregarding my manager’s directions was not the best solution. Thankfully, with the amazing group of people on staff, I learned how to accept guidance and when to ask for more clarification if I had concerns.

Example #21: Reacting When a Client Changed a Project Deadline

Thinking back, the biggest challenge I faced at work was when I was working for a prestigious client on a major project. This client was a long-term contract of our company, and I was new to working on their file. I began their new project last quarter and was well into many details when they came back and changed the deadline, moving it up by two weeks.

Once my manager notified me of the change, I started to panic since I didn’t think I would have enough time to complete the project before the due date. So, I talked to my supervisor and discussed some options to complete the job in a shorter time frame. I am glad I reached out because my supervisor assigned another person to help me with the project, and we had it done in time for the client, after all.

Answering behavioral questions is just the first step in the job interview process. One great way to ace an interview is preparing with sample answers that will wow potential employers.

Using details from specific situations will show an employer the best way you handle workplace challenges and if you will be the best fit for the job. In addition, past experiences can help a potential employer relate to you and show your best qualities, even when in stressful situations.

InterviewPenguin.com – Your best job interview coach since 2011

What’s the best project you’ve ever worked on? Sample interview answers

You’ve experienced your fair share of successes and failures in life . You’ve worked on great projects and belonged to excellent teams, but you have also failed in some of your endeavors –just like any other person in the world, including the billionaires. But what exactly are the hiring managers referring to, when they ask about the best project ?

Are they inquiring about the most successful one ? Or about a project that you enjoyed working on the most , because you had a great team? Do they perhaps want to hear about the project that failed, but you learned a crucial lesson while working on it, and that’s why you consider it the best one, or the most important one for your professional career?

The answer isn’t obvious. Actually it doesn’t matter much whether you talk about a successful project, or about one that ended up a failure. As long as you can demonstrate right attitude to work, and to life in your answer, they will be satisfied with your words. Because employees with the right mindset do not fail. They either succeed, or learn .

Let’s have a look at 7 sample answers to this interesting interview question. The list includes also some answers for people without previous working experience .

Do not forget to check also my notes below the answers, because they will help you to pick the right answer for your interview (or to adjust your own answer accordingly, while describing your best project ), and also offer some advice for the case when you deal with one of the alternative questions to this one, such as “What types of projects would you like to work on?” , or “ Tell us about the most challenging/interesting project that you have worked on “, or simply “Tell me about your project.”

7 sample answers to “What’s the best project you’ve ever worked on?” interview question

I’ve worked on a variety of projects in my career in marketing, and I certainly learned something from each one . If I should pick the best one, however, it would be the advertising campaign we ran fro XYZ client. We faced a lot of uncertainty in this campaign, since it was an innovative product and customers weren’t ready for it yet. We focused on influencer marketing, partnering with strong names on Instagram and Facebook, people who had the right audiences on their social media channels, loyal followers. It worked great, because following their role models, people weren’t afraid to give the innovative product a try , and since it delivered on the promises, the sales sky-rocketed and the entire campaign was a great success. Judging by numbers, this was definitely the best project I’ve ever worked on.
This is my first job application , and I do not have any experience with working on projects at work. However, everything can be considered a project , even your relationship, or your college studies. You can set milestones, goals, and you proceed step by step, until you eventually graduate, ideally with good grades, and earn your degree. In my opinion, it is important to have system in everything we do , and I consider my college studies the best project I’ve worked on up to this point. Now I am looking forward to the next chapter, and hope to be successful in work.
My answer may surprise you, but I consider my failed mobile app development project the best one I’ve ever worked on. The reason is simple–I learned so much while working on this project. I made many mistakes , underestimated the market research, didn’t hire a good designer to the team early enough, and basically we eventually released a game that was deemed to fail. But it was a great experience. You learn the most when you fail, and I believe this project helped me to become a better product manager.
The best one was definitely the improvement of XYZ process in the production in my last employment with ABC company. Why do I consider it the best one? First of all, we had a great team , we all followed the same goal , and feedback flew freely in all directions . It allowed us to explore new opportunities, and to eventually improve the efficiency of the process by 10%, which is a huge improvement in automotive, considering the quality of the existing processes companies have in place. I enjoyed my work on this project a lot, and believe that we also did something great for the company . That’s why I consider it the best one.
To be honest, I cannot recall many projects I’ve worked on. Working in hospitality, mostly as a receptionist, my work hasn’t been project-based . But I still tried to improve things in work , and gave several suggestions to the hotel managers. I was trying to improve the functioning of the reception, to make the check-in and check-out process smoother for the guests. Maybe you can call this a project, at least from the position of a receptionist. The managers weren’t very supportive of my ideas, however. But I kept on trying, and that’s what matters the most in my view.
This is my first job application , but I’ve been working on a few interesting seminary projects at school. I consider the best one a project that deal with predictions of marked trends in tourism after the covid pandemic. We predicted the decrease of revenues quite accurately across the industry, and suggested certain steps companies should take to minimize the impact . It started as a school project, but we actually sent our analysis and suggestions to the restaurants and hotels in the city, and I could see that we made some real impact with our work . Hence I consider it my best project, one that had the greatest impact so far . Having said that, I consider it only a start. I hope to work on many great projects in my new job, ideally with your company….
In my opinion, there’s nothing like best or worst project . Sometimes you succeed to reach your goals, and other times you fail. At the end of the day, the final outcome is never entirely in your hands. Market trends, moves of your competitors, work of other team members–it all has an impact on each project. Instead of considering projects successes or failures, I simply consider each one a learning experience . I try my best in work, but I do not dwell much on either successes or failures . Each project I worked on was great, because it helped me to become better in what I do, to move forward. And I always tried my best . Whether it eventually panned out in the way we wanted is of secondary importance to me…

Your attitude matters, not the particular project or situation you describe

It doesn’t matter much whether you talk about a seminary project , some small improvement you suggested in your last job, or about a big project with a budget in millions .

As long as you clearly demonstrate that you tried your best , that you went above and beyond, or that you learned a crucial lesson while working on the project, hiring managers will be satisfied with your answer.

Because they understand that when you are in your early twenties, or even early thirties, you have likely not had a chance yet to work on something big . Maybe that chance awaits you in their company… As long as you have the right attitude, and proactive approach to work , you’ll grab the chance by the horns, and do your best in every project.

* Special Tip : This isn’t the only difficult question you will face while interviewing for any decent job. You will face questions about prioritization, dealing with pressure, dealing with ambiguity , and other tricky scenarios that happen in the workplace. If you want to make sure that you stand out with your answers and outclass your competitors, have a look at our Interview Success Package . Up to 10 premium answers to 31 tricky scenario based questions (+ more) will make your life much easier in the interviews. Thank you for checking it out!

hiring manager is laughing on an answer of a job applicant during an online interview

Numbers and dates help with credibility when you talk about your project

At the end of the day, you can make something up. You can talk about a project that never really happened, or you can add a few unreal details here and there, just to make your story more compelling .

If you decide to do so, be sure to add some numbers and dates to your narrative . For example, you can specify when exactly this or that happened , and quantify the results of your efforts with some numbers, percentages, or tangible goals.

This will help you to sound more credible , and it will also be easier for the hiring managers to visualize the project, and what exactly you achieved, and why you consider it the best one you’ve ever worked on.

Do not be afraid of failing

If you read the biographies of famous entrepreneurs and business tycoons, you will find out that they have several things in common. Failure is one of them . Nobody was born a genius, and even the most successful people had to fail to learn the important lessons the hard way , and to build their success from there.

You can definitely talk about a project which ended up a failure . Explain what exactly you learned, and how it helped you to become better in your profession, or how it changed you as a person. Picking a project that failed and describing it as the best project you’ve even worked on can be a very powerful answer , something the hiring managers will remember long after the interviews with you…

And that’s exactly what you want to achieve- -you want them to remember you once they are making the final decision about the shortlisted job candidates…

Alternative question: What types of projects would you like to work on?

Sometimes they inquire about the past, and sometimes they ask you to look into the future. Asking about your preferences, the hiring managers wonder whether you will find satisfaction in your new job , working on projects that really interest you. Obviously you should study the job description carefully, as well as the website of the company. Try to understand your new role , and what kinds of projects you may have a chance to work on–in case that you get the job, which I hope you will :).

Then you should mention such projects in your answer. And if you are not sure, you can simply say that you would like to work on any projects that will allow you to put your creativity to the test , to bring some value to the team, to learn something new . Most hiring managers will be satisfied with such an answer.

Ready to answer this one? I hope so! Check also 7 sample answers to other tricky interview questions:

What do you dislike about your job?
How do you manage your time in work?
What have you learned from your biggest mistakes?
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Sample Answers To Job Interview Question “Describe your Most Challenging Project You Have Worked On?”

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