When we were kids, the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up,” sparked dreams of becoming an astronaut, ballerina, teacher, or even superhero. Now, as adults, we’re asked a slightly different version of that in interviews: “What are your career goals?”
The stakes are different now, but the essence remains the same—it’s an invitation to share your ambitions and how you envision your future. But while career goals are a common topic in interviews, it's not always easy to articulate where you see yourself in the future, especially when you’re put on the spot.
Crafting a thoughtful answer to this question can set you apart as a candidate that not only has a clear direction but also sees a future with the organization. Explore why hiring managers ask this question, how you can identify your career goals, and how to communicate them effectively in your next interview.
Read more: Blanked in an Interview? Here are 5 Strategies for Handling Unexpected Questions
Why do hiring managers ask about your career goals?
Companies invest considerable time and resources in hiring and training new employees. When you’re interviewing for a role, understanding your career goals helps the hiring manager gauge whether you're looking for a long-term career path within the company or if this role is just a short-term stop on your journey.
If your career goals complement what the company can offer, it suggests you’re more likely to be satisfied and committed to the role for longer. Plus, discussing your goals showcases your ability to plan for the future and set objectives—a valuable skill in the workplace.
In addition to the straight forward “what are your career goals” question, hiring managers might ask about your goals in other ways, including:
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What are your short- and long-term career goals?
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What motivated you to pursue this career path?
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What skills or experiences are you hoping to gain in your next role?
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What aspects of this role align with your career goals?
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How do you see this role fitting into your overall career journey?
Read more: Career Mapping: What It Is & 7 Ways Employers Can Create a Successful Plan
Using self-reflection to figure out what your career goals are
In order to be able to thoughtfully and genuinely answer this interview question, you need to figure out what your career goals are in the first place. By reflecting on these questions, you can gain a clearer understanding of what you truly want from your career and set more meaningful goals that align with both your professional aspirations and personal values as benchmarks for your interview answers.
1. What are my strengths and skills?
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What tasks do I excel at and enjoy doing?
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What skills have I developed that I want to use in the future?
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Are there any talents or abilities that I haven’t fully explored in my current role?
2. What am I passionate about?
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What aspects of my job or industry am I most passionate about?
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What type of work gives me a sense of fulfillment?
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How do I want my work to impact the world or my community?
3. What does success look like to me?
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Do I measure success by job titles, salary, work-life balance, or personal growth?
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What would make me feel accomplished in my career?
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Where do I see myself in five, 10, or 20 years?
4. What challenges or opportunities do I want to pursue?
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Are there specific challenges in my field that I want to tackle?
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Is there a particular role or project I’ve always wanted to be involved in?
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Do I want to specialize in a niche area or diversify my skills?
5. What are my long-term aspirations?
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Do I aspire to reach a leadership position, become an expert in my field, or start my own business?
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What legacy do I want to leave in my career?
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What will make me feel fulfilled when I look back on my career?
4 common mistakes to avoid when answering, “What are your career goals?”
When answering questions about your career goals, it’s important to strike a balance between honesty and professionalism. Avoiding these common mistakes in your answer can help you present yourself as the best candidate in the running.
Mistake #1: Talking about money
Even though securing a good salary is probably one of your biggest career goals, it’s inappropriate to point to money as a motivator in an interview. When asked this question, don’t say, “My primary career goal is to secure a position with a high salary as soon as possible. I’m looking for a role that pays well and offers competitive financial rewards, and I hope this company can meet those expectations.” Instead, mention how the role aligns with your professional growth and how you’ll benefit the company.
Mistake #2: Focusing only on personal goals
Of course you’ll have to talk about your individual goals in the interview, but always try to tie your goals to part of the company’s mission or a tangible metric. Bad answers might sound like:
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“My main career goal is to become a senior manager in the next few years so I can have more authority. I'm looking for a role that allows me to move up quickly, and I’m hoping this company will offer me those opportunities.”
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“I’m hoping to secure a role that offers fast career progression so I can achieve a higher rank and better benefits. I’m interested in this company because it seems to have a structured career development plan.”
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“I want to advance in my career to support my personal passion projects outside of work. I’m excited about this role because it offers stability and growth opportunities, which will help me fund and develop my side-hustle.”
Instead, position yourself as a value-add in the conversation. Strike a balance between explaining your goals and detailing how you plan to contribute to the company’s success.
Mistake #3: Being too vague
Avoid giving unclear, generic answers that lack specifics. You don’t want to say, “My goal is to be successful at this company,” or “I hope to overachieve in this position.” What does that success look like? In which areas will you overachieve? What are the quantifiable steps you’ll take to get there? To be as specific as possible in your answer, you need to prove you have a clear vision for your career. You could say, “In the next three years, my goal is to become a senior marketing strategist by managing larger digital projects. I hope to contribute to the company’s success by developing impactful campaigns that boost brand awareness, directly supporting your goal of expanding market reach.”
Mistake #4: Highlighting unrealistic goals
Ambition can be a positive quality, but when you’re answering this question, don’t highlight a goal that seems too ambitious or disconnected from the role. Unrealistic goals to avoid might include:
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“I want to become the company president within two years.”
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“My goal is to double the company's revenue within three months.”
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“I plan to completely redesign the company’s operations within a few months.”
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“I want to be recognized as an industry leader and published author within a year.”
These answers suggest a lack of understanding of the role and a disconnect between your goals and what’s really possible within the company.
Read more: 20+ Examples of Professional Goals to Work Toward
6 stand-out example answers to “What are your career goals?”
In order to craft a well thought out answer, you need to research the company’s mission and goals. Try to find out what they want to achieve in the next one, five, and 10 years, whether it’s launching a new product line, expanding into international markets, or reducing carbon emissions.
Pair your individual goals with wording that speaks to the company’s achievements and ways you could elevate their mission or work. This implies teamwork, collaboration, and collective success. Be as specific as you can with your goals by quantifying them, and be sure to show enthusiasm for the role and opportunity. Here are six common career goals and example answers that complement them.
1. Goal: Seeking leadership roles
“One of my main career goals is to move into a leadership position where I can lead a team and drive strategic projects. I’m eager to take on more responsibility over the next few years by developing my project management and leadership skills, and this role offers the perfect environment to learn from experienced leaders and contribute to impactful projects.”
2. Goal: Helping your team grow
“My goal is to become a mentor and guide junior team members toward professional growth. I’m inspired by your company's mentorship programs, like the ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ initiative. I want to contribute to programs like these by sharing my experience in digital marketing, helping new team members thrive while I continue to learn from senior leaders here. Your company’s collaborative culture is exactly the type of environment where I can support others while also learning from experienced colleagues.”
3. Goal: Expanding skills and expertise
“I’m aiming to become proficient in advanced data analysis techniques, especially within the realm of customer insights. I know your team prioritizes data-driven decisions from your quarterly reports where you analyze customer behavior trends. I’m eager to dive into similar projects to refine my skills and contribute to strategic decision-making.”
4. Goal: Creating an inclusive work culture
“My career goal is to contribute to building a positive and inclusive workplace culture. I’m inspired by your company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, especially through your ‘Inclusive Excellence’ program. I want to be involved in initiatives like this, using my experience in employee engagement to help create a supportive environment where every team member feels valued and can thrive.”
5. Goal: Driving change and innovation
“One of my goals is to lead innovative projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible in our industry. Your recent award for innovative design solutions, like the ABC campaign, really resonates with my passion for creativity. I hope to bring fresh ideas to similar projects here, pushing boundaries and contributing to your continued success in the market.”
6. Goal: Becoming an expert in the field
“I’m striving to become a leading expert in user experience (UX) design. I’m particularly impressed by your work on the DEF platform, which sets a high standard for user-centric design. My goal is to refine my UX skills by contributing to projects like this, helping enhance user interactions and drive engagement.”
Read more: 50+ Questions to Ask the Interviewer About Company Culture
