What are Your Career Goals Interview Question
Having a clear vision of your career aspirations is key when preparing to answer the “What are your career goals?” interview question. This question can be tricky to answer, but if you prepare in advance it should be easier. Taking the time to again reflect on your goals allows you to align them to the position you are applying for.
Steps for Answering the Question
- Identify Your Career Goals: Take some time to consider where you are in your career and what you want to achieve in the future. Maybe you’d like to get a promotion to a management position in the next five years, or maybe you want to learn all the ins and outs of a certain area of your industry.
- Focus on Goals Aligned to the Job: Once you have identified your career goals, hone in on one or two goals that are most relevant to the job you are interviewing for. This will show the interviewer that your goals are meaningful and you have thoughtfully similar them to the job and company you’re interviewing for.
- Explain Why and How You’ll Achieve Goals: After stating your goals, explain why and how you plan on achieving them. Try to be as specific as possible and use examples from the job you’re interviewing for. The interviewer will be impressed to see that you’ve initiated meaningful thought and have made tangible steps to achieve your goals.
Overall, the “What are your career goals?” question can be a great way to show the interviewer that you have a plan in place to reach success. As with any interview question, be honest when answering and take the time to explain your thinking process. Doing so will show the interviewer that you are an aspirational and dedicated candidate.
