For neurodivergent job-seekers, interviews can be challenging, especially when you face open-ended questions that ask you to reflect on yourself and put it into words. One of these is “What does success look like to you?” Employers ask it to understand your motivation, your values and how well you would fit with their organisation. Below we cover why employers ask it, how to prepare, and an example answer you can adapt. If you need changes to the interview format itself, our reasonable adjustment request template for interviews can help you ask for them.
Why do employers ask this question?
Employers ask this question to understand what success means to you and how well it matches their company. They want to see whether you have a clear idea of what success looks like for you and whether it aligns with their goals. It helps them assess your fit, your long-term potential, how you set goals and how you would contribute.
How to prepare for the question
Step 1: Think about your values and goals
Take some time to reflect on what’s important to you in your career. Think about times you felt you had done a good day’s work. For some people that means helping someone, for others it is getting better at something or hitting a target. Once you know your own definition of success, the answer is much easier to give, and it will also help with related questions such as “What are your future career goals?”
Step 2: Research the company
Learn as much as you can about the company’s mission, values and goals. Look for anything that overlaps with your own idea of success, and think about how your skills could help them get where they want to go. It shows you have done your homework and that you actually want the job. It’s also a chance to work out whether the employer is right for you: our guide on how to find a neurodiversity-friendly employer suggests questions you can ask.
Step 3: Give a clear and honest answer
When answering the question, be concise and genuine. Focus on specific goals, accomplishments or values that are relevant to the position and company. Skip the jargon and say it plainly.
Step 4: Talk about measurable outcomes
If you’re neurodivergent, it can help to focus on tangible goals you can achieve. When discussing success, highlight measurable outcomes and milestones. For example, you could talk about meeting a sales target, finishing a project on time or creating a successful marketing campaign. The STAR interview method is a useful way to structure these examples so your answer stays clear and focused.
Step 5: Practise with someone you trust
Practise with a friend, family member or mentor. Ask them to help you put your response into words, and role-play the interview so it feels familiar. Ask them whether your answer made sense and what they would change. Practising out loud is also one of the best ways to reduce interview anxiety. The National Careers Service has more general interview tips if you’d like to go further.
Example answer
“For me, success means getting better at what I do and seeing that my work makes a difference. Day to day, that looks like setting clear goals, hitting deadlines and doing work I’m proud of. I also think the best results come from teams that communicate well, so I put effort into that. And I like to keep learning, especially when something hasn’t gone to plan.
That’s part of why I applied to XYZ. You put a lot of emphasis on new ideas and on developing your people, and that suits me. In a team like that, I think I could contribute to good projects and keep building my skills at the same time. That’s what success would look like for me here.”
Keep preparing
Interviewers often follow this question with one about your short-term plans. Our guide to answering “What do you hope to achieve in 30, 60 and 90 days?” will help you get ready for it.
To practise this and other common questions, download our free interview question practice resource.
How Enna can help
If you are job hunting, browse the Enna jobs board for roles with employers who value different ways of thinking, and register for job alerts so new opportunities come straight to you. If you want your application to stand out before you reach the interview stage, get help with your CV.
Employers who want interviews that give every candidate a fair chance to show what they can do will find that our neuroinclusive communication training helps hiring managers ask clearer questions and get better answers. Book a call to find out more.
