what can i say when someone asks me when was the last time i went above and beyond a goal someone set for me?

01. I hope you are not referring to a job interview.

02. Otherwise, I would be 'light' about the whole thing and say, "I'm sorry, but I simply don't toot my own horn on request. How about you?"

03. Unless it's a job interview, or long-time friends socializing, it's no one's business. That question smells bad. It's offensive in the way it is worded.

04. By the way, not all people are on the same time schedule for achievement in life, so questions like that really are irrelevant.

Good Luck & Warm Wishes.

Well, if it is a job interview question, then my advice for job interviews is to always be yourself, but be the best self you can be.

So they want to know that you don't just do the job given to you, but do something more. Failure is not the issue, effort is.

For example, "I was asked to prepare a handout to give to customers. However I didn't know anything about design and the first one looked really ugly. So I wanted to do better. My friend recommended me a book called 'the non-designers' handbook. I went to the shop and bought a copy (note don't mention about how you spent your own money) and spent the weekend reading and playing around with designs. Afterwards I also enroled in a short design course. So after that I was always doing the flyers"

Maybe look at a school project.

hmmm.. im not sure.. it doesnt have to be anything completely drastic.. has anyone given you a task and you did it better then they thought you would so they were impressed? That would be going 'above and beyond'

It could be anything! What about at school? Any amazing grades or feed back on papers? Proably just anything... im only 19 too and I dont think its possible to really have giant goals like that yet but im sure theres lots of little stuff you could use.