When you’re asked for a “What are your career goals?” answer. The truth is that it’s easy to get tongue-tied.
You’ve hit the career goal jackpot. You’ve done your research, and know exactly what you want from your career. But as you start to look at them, it can be hard to figure out how a “What are your career goals” answer should be.
If you’re like most people, you’re probably wondering how to answer “What are your career goals?” when it’s asked during an interview. But don’t worry, we’ve got some ideas for you.
Why do interviewers ask this question?
Interviewers will ask this question to get a sense of whether you have a grasp on what you want to accomplish in your career, and if you’re able to articulate it. If you’re not sure, it’s best to practice answering this question—and this is a great time to do so.
When asked “What Are Your Career Goals?” If you’re like most people, the answer to this question is probably “I don’t know.” If you’ve been out of school for a while, you may have forgotten what your future career goals were. Or maybe they weren’t that important to you in the first place. But now that you’re thinking about getting a job again, it’s important to have some idea of where you want to be in the years to come. The good news is that there are lots of ways to answer this question—and we’ve got an example to back it up.
The Best Way to Give a “What are your career goals?” Answer
When asked, “What are your career goals?” It’s important to answer with a specific answer that will show you have thought about the question and have future career goals in mind.
Your career goals are probably the most important thing you can think about. They’re the reason why you got into the job interview, and they’re the reason why you keep trying them out. You need to be able to give a “What are your career goals?” answer with confidence, and here’s how to do it:
- First things first: What do you want out of your career? Do you want steady work? Do you want something interesting and challenging? Do you want to make money? Do you just want something stable? Is there anything else at all? It can be hard to narrow down your desires when there are so many options out there. But if there are specific things that interest or appeal to you in particular roles, this will help guide your decision-making process down an easier path.
- Be specific. The trick to answering this question is, to be honest about what’s important to you and what motivates you. If there’s something specific about their company or position that doesn’t match up with those things, then tell them. You’ll probably want to give yourself some wiggle room for moving around within the company after all—and if they’re interested in hearing more from you (or if they already know everything they need), then they may even ask if there’s anything specific that would allow both of you to work together better. The more specific you can make your answer, the better. If there’s a goal you want to accomplish in the future, it’ll be easier for recruiters to evaluate whether or not that’s a good fit for their company. If there’s a role that interests you, you can speak about how you want to get there as the year’s pass.
- Show off your skillset. Tell them about all of your experiences related specifically to this job description, whether it was as an intern at a previous company or as a customer service rep who dealt with customers. You can explain how this role worked hand in hand with the goal you have for the future (ensure that this explanation resonates with the job you are presently being interviewed for).
“What are your career goals?” Example Answer
We know how important it is to get a job. That’s why we’re here to help you with your career goals. While there are no set rules on how to respond, we’ve compiled a career goal example that might help:
“As a recent graduate with a degree in civil engineering, I’m looking to get real work experience in a construction company. I have previously worked as an intern and have some relevant knowledge. However, I am drawn to your company because it has all the necessary structures needed for me to learn and grow in this field. With your different teams, I can work with other like-minded people. I also aim to further my project management skills and hopefully move up to another role in the company.”
Giving a “What are your career goals” answer isn’t tough. But how do you know what your career goals are? Well, it’s simple. Once you’ve chosen a job that matches your skills and interests, then all that matters is whether or not the company has a culture that will let you thrive in it.