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Congrats on getting the interview! As you prepare for the big day, consider practicing common behavioral questions, like: “Could you tell me about a time you had to explain something complex?” Even if phrased differently, employers are looking for specific information. What is it?
The question ‘What are your long term career goals?’ and similar interview questions, such as ‘where do you see yourself in [number] years’ or ‘how do you see yourself progressing in your job’ are commonly asked for a few reasons. With these questions, the interviewer is looking to gauge your mindset and determine if you have realistic goals and ambitions.
The questions may also be used to determine whether or not you are looking to maintain the position in the long run or if you are just seeking a job. If it does not seem that your goals line up with what the company can offer, then you may not be viewed as a proper candidate. Understanding these things can help you to know how to best answer the question.
Prepare to impress
Examples of long term career goals
Examples of goals when it comes to careers could be:
- Learn a new skill or technology
- Achieve a promotion
- Gain management experience
- Improve communication skills
- Improve leadership skills
- Develop a career plan
- Improve efficiency rates with completing projects
- Acquire a new job
Before we get to talking about long term career goals, you might be wondering about short-term goals. An example of a short-term goal would be learning a new skill or technology, achieving a promotion, or gaining management experience within a near-future period of time; that is, sometime sooner than later. A short-term goal should be something you want to achieve sooner than later.
And finally, what are the three types of goals? The three types of goals (when it comes to both life and career) are:
- Lifetime: Goals to achieve over the course of your lifetime
- Short term: Goals to achieve sooner than later; typically, within the course of one year
- Long term: Goals to achieve over a longer period of time — typically, between two years to five years
Strategies for answering: your long term career goals
1. Show progression
Do not just dive into the ‘What are your long term career goals?’ question headfirst by rattling off your ultimate goal in life; rather, take time to paint a full picture. If the question has not already been asked, first share your short-term aims, then talk about your progression to your ultimate goal. This shows strong forethought and gives a positive impression that you are determined in reaching your goal, which will read as favorable with an interviewer. Be sure to give some detail where appropriate, but do not go too in-depth. Aim to keep your answer complete but concise.
2. Make sure it is related
If it does not seem like your long-term goals can be satisfied through the company, the interviewer may believe you are just looking for an “in-between job” and may not view you as a strong candidate for the position. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that you take time to truly think through your goals and find a way to verbalize them so that it is apparent that the job you seek fits your plans. Reviewing the job description before the interview can help you in this endeavor.
3. Highlight your skills
You should try to highlight your skills as much as possible in all interview questions, and especially when speaking about your future plans. The interviewer will be evaluating your goals to determine if they seem realistic, and the skills, characteristics and attributes that you have should help to validate your ability to achieve the ambitions that you have set. It may help to map out your goals and list the skills needed to achieve and maintain them, then use that information to formulate your answer to the question.
4. Be genuine
Do not formulate your answer according to what you feel will impress the interviewer, especially if it is not true. This can prove to be quite problematic if the interviewer asks questions to delve deeper into your goals and you cannot come up with a proper answer. If you are caught in a lie at any point, you will more than likely be automatically eliminated from the candidate pool. The best policy is to be completely honest about your goals. If you do not already have goals in mind, take time to develop some, which can help you during your interview as well as throughout your career.
Ace your next interview
Sample answers
1 ) In the near future my goal is to secure a personnel management position within a company so that I can apply my Human Resource training and further hone my managerial skills. After a few years, I plan to grow into an executive position, overseeing a department, then ultimately advance to a Chief Operations Officer position. With my strong entrepreneurial spirit and management experience, I am looking to obtain my goals in the next 12 to 15 years.
2 ) My current goal is to become a certified counselor so that I may offer excellent service to my clients. I understand the value of training and experience, so I am looking to grow with a company such as this one, applying my analytical skills and customer service experience in an entry-level position and advancing to a counselor position over time. Long-term I would look to either head a department or open up my own practice.
‘What are your long term career goals?’ and related interview questions can prove to be tricky to some individuals. However, if you heed the tips and examples given and take the time to prepare yourself, you can ensure that you nail them during your interview.
Similar questions
- Give an Example of Accomplishing a Personal Goal: Learn how to effectively communicate your goal-setting and achievement process.
Would You Describe Yourself as Goal-Driven?: Strategies for affirming your goal-oriented mindset and providing compelling examples.
What Are Your Career Goals?: Guidance on articulating your professional aspirations and how they align with the potential role.
What Goals Have You Established for Yourself?: Tips for discussing personal and professional objectives to demonstrate ambition and planning skills.
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How to answer “Tell me about a time you created a goal and achieved it” (with examples)
Organizing your answer is as important as finding a good example. You should organize your reply in a way that helps showcase your skills and expertise. For instance, Buj recommends using the STAR method, where you provide a Situation (offer context), Task (the issue), Action (how you explained it) and Result. You can also use the similar PAR method, where you provide a Problem, an Action and the Result.
“When preparing your answer, remember the hiring manager is looking for specifics. Therefore, think of a situation or a problem that was complex that you made simple and easy to understand for people who were not familiar with your company/industry’s technical terms,” says Buj.
Combine the STAR method with these guidelines to create an effective answer.
1. Use the job description
When crafting an interview answer, you should frame it using the job description. Include your best skills and those that align with the job to make an impact.
For example, someone applying for a job as a mechanic could answer with:
2. Prepare specific examples
While you could have different examples that apply to this question, choose one that is clear and concise.
“It’s important that you avoid being too vague; your answer should be as detailed and specific as possible. Especially if it is a role that requires some specialized knowledge since you want to demonstrate your understanding of these concepts to the interviewer,” says Buj,
3. Show off your creativity
If you’ve taken an unconventional approach to explaining the situation, include it in your answer.
“The meeting for the presentation had people from multiple backgrounds, not everybody was versed on the topic. So I decided to do a fun little exercise that might seem unrelated. Once everybody had fun and relaxed, I revised what we just did and connected the dots. Everybody now had an idea of what our company was about.”
Pro tip:
When creating your answer, assume the interviewer has no knowledge of the topic and explain it to them. Your answer should showcase your command of the subject at hand.
FAQ
What’s the best way to explain a complex situation if the recruiter is unfamiliar?
As expert Margaret Buj said, use the STAR method to craft the answer. If the interviewer is unfamiliar with the complexities of the position you’re applying for, use the opportunity to explain it to them. You’ll demonstrate your command on the subject.
How can I prepare for these types of questions before an interview?
When you start your job hunting process, you can create a document or jot down notes on achievements where your skills shined, and difficult situations that became important lessons for your career. Once you’re preparing for an interview, you can revisit your notes and think about how to frame them to fit into the job description. You can also seek feedback from colleagues and previous managers.
How can I explain a complex situation in my cover letter?
Use your cover letter to expand on your resume. While you should include achievements and goals, save longer storytelling for the interview. Think of your application as a sample: you want to garner interest for an interview without retelling your entire career.
How can I answer this question if I’m new to the industry?
When it comes to these types of behavioral questions, employers are more concerned with your skills. Your answer does not need to be tied to the position or even the industry. You could even use a personal example, just pay attention to how the question is asked. You just need to show off your skills, particularly those also in the job description. Remember that you can also ask the interviewer for clarification.
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Give Me an Example of How You Explained a Complex Situation
Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
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