Question: Describe a time when you accomplished a goal that, at some point during the process, seemed impossible to reach. What was your motivation?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Tell me about a goal you achieved which at some points seems hopeless? Why did you keep going on?

Follow-up questions:

What were your thoughts? How did you feel?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Monitoring (Making observations of self and environment)

Abilities:

Cognitive – Category Flexibility (Mental Flexibility)

Other Factors:

Motivation/Ambition/Aspiration,Personality-Job Fit,Personality-Organization Fit

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Achievement/Effort (Action/Result Orientation),Adaptability/Flexibility,Analytical Thinking,Risk Tolerance,Stress Tolerance

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

The candidate’s ability to manage a challenging situation.
The candidate’s ability to focus on the goal.

Red Flags to Watch For:

The candidate’s difficulty or inability to manage a challenging situation.
Lack of focus on the goal.

Sample Answer:

In my previous job, we had a monthly quota. I thought it would be impossible to reach the goal but I doubled my efforts and worked overtime just to catch up.
My motivation for situations like this is my passion to achieve excellence.

Question Source: https://www.jobbankusa.com/interview_questions_answers/