Write about something that you would like to achieve in next/coming
year. Give reasons?
Answers
Answer:
Why interviewers are interested in career goals and what you want to achieve
There are several reasons why interviewers are interested in your career goals and what you want to achieve. First of all, they are interested in if you’re going to stay put in the position you’re applying for.
Another reason is that they want to see if they can provide you with the challenges that you look for in your career. It’s therefore important that you align your answers to the company culture and opportunities described in the job description and company website. Employers are very interested to hear if your career goals align with those of the company.
Of course, the interviewer knows that you do not have an exact idea of what you specifically will be doing within a certain amount of years. The goal of questions about your career goals and what you want to achieve is about how you see this position and how it fits into your grand plan. Basically, when the interviewer asks you, ‘what do you want to achieve in the next years?‘ they actually mean ‘what are your career goals within this position?‘
Employers look for candidates who are highly motivated, proactive, ambitious, and likely to stick around in the position that they apply for. They understand that if succeeding in this particular position is important to you and is part of your career goals, you are much more likely to perform well.
Red flags for interviewers when discussing your career goals
There are several things to look out for when discussing your career goals during a job interview. Avoid giving a vague answer about your career goals or what you want to achieve in the next years. Solid preparation can help you do just that. If you have a strong answer prepared, you can use this to your advantage to ace this question and give the interviewer an answer that he or she is looking for.
Relate your answer to the company and job that you’re applying for. Make sure that if you make a certain statement about a career goal, you can explain how it will contribute to your career and why you want to achieve it.
Failing to provide a concise and effective answer is also considered a warning sign for interviewers. To ace job interview questions, you need to be concise and effective. This means that when the interviewer asks you about career goals, you provide a direct but short answer that includes only the necessary details to answer the question.
Tips for answering interview questions about career goals and what you want to achieve
As stated, vague answers are considered red flags. It’s important that you have a solid answer ready. Otherwise, you could give the interviewer the impression that you’re not really interested in the position or that you do not have a clear idea about your career.
The best way to figure out an answer that fits the job and company you’re applying for is to do the right research. Focus on acquiring information about a logical and reasonable career path that could follow from the position for which you’re interviewing. Make sure that you find out how long someone spends on average in that position and what steps logically flow from that position within five to ten years.
Some employers state on their company website what career paths they have within their company. However, this is not always the case. Ensure that you do market research to get an idea of what career paths others have taken. For instance, talk to friends or other people within your network that are active in the same field.
Sample answers to questions about career goals
Some people might find questions about their career goals intimidating. However, it’s actually a great opportunity to demonstrate that you already know what you want and that you have thought about how you’re going to achieve your goals. These types of questions about career goals are commonly asked during job interviews, so prepare well and impress the interviewer!
Below we discuss two sample answers that you can use for inspiration. However, these are just examples. Make sure that you tailor your answers to the position and company that you’re applying for.