How to Answer “Who Impacted You Most in Your Career?”

Consider the following statement: “Companies value personality just as much as skills.” To what extent do you believe this to be true?

The answer is that personality is, in fact, up there right next to skill set and experience, with the most desirable traits including confidence, honesty and authenticity. While confidence is a trait that interviewers can observe in candidates’ posture and word choice, other attributes may be trickier to gauge.

That’s where interview questions, such as “Who has made the biggest impact on your career?” come into play. They allow interviewers a glimpse into your inner world which they wouldn’t otherwise get!

In this article, we’ll discuss this very question, as well as ways to structure your

Why hiring managers ask this question

This interview question can reveal a lot about a candidate’s work ethic, interpersonal skills, and priorities.

If you choose to speak about someone who’s inspired you to lead with empathy, for example, you might come across as being quite different to a candidate who talks about someone who helped them earn tons of money. The story you choose to share will allow the interviewer to assess whether your values and aspirations align with those of the company.

In addition, as this isn’t one of the most common interview questions out there, your interviewer may want to see how well you think on your feet and respond to unanticipated challenges. Good thing is, in this case, you’ll be prepared!