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Example Answers to “What Are Your Career Goals?”

By Biron Clark

Published: December 5, 2023

“What are your career goals?” is a common question you’ll hear in many interviews. And you need to prepare an answer because employers ALWAYS prefer to hire someone who can show they’re goal-oriented and have long-term objectives in their career.

There are also a couple of big mistakes you need to avoid when you describe your career goals in an interview, so we’ll cover how to avoid those mistakes, too.

Let’s get started…

What are Career Goals?

Career goals describe where you’d like to be, what you’d like to experience, and what you’d like to achieve in your professional life over the upcoming one to five years – or more. 

Long-term career goals are made up of a series of short and mid-term goals that act as steps or building blocks toward that greater professional goal. The role you’re applying for should act as a relevant step toward the career goal described in your interview.

Solid (and relevant) career goals are considered a big plus to interviewers and hiring managers, because they keep you organized, active, motivated and focused on the task at hand – all qualities a savvy employer looks for in a new recruit.

Make Sure You Have SMART Goals

Career goals are only useful when they’re SMART . That is Specific , Measurable , Achievable , Relevant and Time-bound . Unless your career goals are SMART , the chances are they’re only dreams. 

Imagine your Specific long-term career goal is to advance to a leadership position in your new product design job. The goal is Time-bound by the company’s yearly promotion cycle and, to Achieve it, you’ll need to plot Measurable short and mid-term goals that are 100% Relevant to the overall goal. 

These sub-goals might include upskilling, leading a small team to gain experience, innovating a new product, and getting noticed as a candidate for promotion.

Watch: How to Answer “What Are Your Career Goals?”

Why employers ask this interview question.

When the company asks an interview question like, “What are your career goals?” they want to know if this job will hold your interest in the short term and potentially long term! (Companies love to hire people who will stay with the company for years and grow/advance).

Companies don’t want to hire you for a role that isn’t bringing you toward your professional aspirations because you’ll be less motivated and more likely to leave the job quickly.

It’s okay if a job doesn’t meet everything you’re looking for in your career. For example, you can say that you eventually aspire to take a leadership position, even if you’re not being considered for a leadership role in this interview.

But then, in your interview answer, you’d want to show how this job is bringing you closer to those future plans/goals. You can do this by ending your answer by saying something like:

…So I was excited to apply for this role because on the job description, I saw a few responsibilities and skills related to leadership, such as training new team members. That’s something I’ve been eager to start doing.

I’ll share some full word-for-word sample answers coming up soon.

How to Answer “What Are Your Career Goals?”

You always want to seem goal oriented, so it’s not a good idea to say, “I’m not sure” or “I haven’t thought about that.” That’s NOT going to impress hiring managers. But you also need to make sure the career goals you mention fit into the job you’ve applied for.

Here’s how this can hurt you if not:

Imagine you’re interviewing for a customer service position. And the hiring manager asks about your long-term career goals. If you say, “My goal is to move out of customer service and find a role that doesn’t involve working with customers as much. I prefer to work behind the scenes,” then the hiring manager is NOT going to hire you for their job. Employers want to hire someone who really wants this specific job, because then you’re more likely to be motivated , have a great attitude, etc.  So prepare a few goals and aspirations you can talk about, but make sure your goals fit with the job you’re interviewing for. Otherwise, adjust the goals you plan on talking about for the interview. Be strategic and think about what’s going to get you hired for the job you want, and don’t say anything that suggests you’ll be bored, frustrated, or want to leave this job quickly.

One more note: Just like with the question “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” you’re not expected to be able to predict the future accurately. Nobody’s going to check on you in two years and see if you’re following what you said in a few years.

Hiring managers just want to see what your interests are and whether you’ve thought about this at all.  And they want to make sure they’re not hiring someone who’s going to be bored in their job. That’s why employers ask questions about your long-term career goals and ambitions in an interview, and how to answer.

“What Are Your Career Goals?” Example Answers

Now that you know how to answer questions about your career goals in the interview, let’s look at some word-for-word example answers.  First is an example of an entry-level job seeker. After that, we’ll go through an example for job seekers with more experience.

Entry-Level Example Answer to “What Are Your Career Goals?”

I just graduated with my degree in Finance , and I’m excited to get my first position in the industry, now. My longer-term goals are to learn a variety of areas within the field of finance and work toward deciding what area of specialization I want to take. I’d love to become an expert in one specific field of finance in the long term, but I know the first step is to build a solid foundation and learn the basics in an entry-level role. I saw this job offers exposure to a variety of areas, which is something I liked.

Notice that the end of this example answer includes a line about why their particular job interests you . This is a great tactic you can use with a variety of your interview answers . Answer their question, but then conclude by putting the focus back on their job and why you want this position! Most job seekers don’t do this. You’ll really stand out with this tactic and put their mind at ease that you’ll love their job. (Employers are REALLY scared of hiring someone who won’t love the job, even if you have the necessary experience. Because it costs a lot of time/money/energy to hire and train someone, and that’s all lost if you leave in the first year).

Mid-Level Example Answer to “What Are Your Career Goals?”

My goal for many years was to become a Manager. I achieved that last year. Now as I look forward in my career, I’d like to build and manage larger teams and continue advancing as a leader. I’ve found I really enjoy mentoring and leading a team, even more than I enjoyed working as an individual contributor earlier in my career. When I saw your job description mentions a chance to hire and lead a team of five, I knew I should apply.

Again, this sample answer for “what are your career goals?” does a lot more than just answering the basic question. You start by mentioning a past achievement, then you answer the question, and then you mention what you saw in their specific job that excited you. This is a great formula to follow when answering this question as a mid-level or senior-level job seeker.

Senior/Executive-Level Answer Example

My career goal right now is to take the leadership and management experience I’ve obtained over the past 12 years and transition into a Fortune-500 company. I feel this would provide a new challenge and bring out the best in my abilities at the same time. I’ve excelled most in roles where I was involved in cross-functional team leadership involving multiple departments, and I feel this is something I’ll gain more exposure to in a Fortune-500 firm. I saw on your job description that this is mentioned as a part of the role here. Can you tell me more about that?

Ending your job interview answer with a question directed back at the hiring manager is a great way to make the interview more conversational. Try to do this at least a few times, instead of just answering a question and then waiting for the next question. This can be a real game-changer in your interviews in terms of the flow and how confident you feel and appear.

Short Term vs. Long Term Career Goals

When you’re asked interview questions about your professional goals, you’ll need to decide how far in the future to discuss. Should you share a career goal that’s ten years in the future? One year? Or something in between. I recommend discussing your career goals in a two to five year timeframe. That shows ambition and shows that you’ve thought about your long-term career, but at the same time, those goals aren’t so far out that you can’t discuss exactly how you’ll achieve them.

You want to be able to talk about how you’ll reach your goals, through personal development and professional improvement. And that becomes hard to do if you’re talking about your goals a decade from now. You don’t want to name a goal like becoming a CEO , when you’ve never held any leadership positions. It’ll just seem like you’re hoping rather than aiming. So as you share your own goals, I recommend picking a career goal that’s a few years out. Not too short-term, but not too far away.

Let’s take a look at some career goals ranging from short – long term:

• Short-term career goals: 
• developing professionally with design, leadership and skills certifications
• gaining experience by leading a small team on quarterly assignments. 
• innovating great new products with your team each quarter
• establishing  more efficient work processes as you go 
• being commended as an effective team leader at the end of every quarter
• becoming the prime candidate for that sought-after leadership role by the end of the year.
• Long-term career goals: 
• getting hired as department leader managing four small teams.

Mistakes to Avoid When Answering

There are a couple of costly mistakes you should avoid when you describe your career goals in a job interview.

• First, I recommend not sharing anything that will seem like a threat to the company or make them worry that you won’t stay for long in their job. For example, if you’re interviewing at a company in the healthcare industry, don’t say your goal involves switching careers and joining the tech industry. That’s just going to leave the hiring manager wondering why you even took the interview for their position. For this same reason, I don’t recommend saying, “my career goal is to have my own business in the near future.”
• Keep personal goals like that private. I think it’s a great goal. I quit the corporate world to do that myself. But if your future career goals involve quitting and leaving this potential employer, don’t say so when answering this interview question.
•  And one more mistake as you answer interview questions about your goals: Don’t use humor or make a joke . For example, don’t tell the hiring manager, “My goal is to have your job.” This is a serious interview question and you’re going to do better in your job search if you respond with a thoughtful, serious answer that shows you’re goal-focused and motivated.

Answering “What Are Your Career Goals?” – Quick Review

• Never say you don’t have any goals or haven’t thought about it
• Always share a goal that’s at least somewhat related to the job you’ve applied for
• Start your answer by explaining your current situation and what you accomplished previously in your career
• Next, explain your future career goals and how you plan to achieve them
• Conclude by telling the interviewer what interested you in their particular job (based on the job description) – make sure they can see how their job fits into your bigger career goals

If you follow the advice above, you’ll give a great answer when interviewers ask about your long term career goals and objectives. You’ll show them that you’re someone who has long-term aspirations and plans and they’ll love to see this.

You’ll also show them why their job interests you, which tells them you’ll be motivated and work hard. This makes them FAR more likely to offer you the position than someone who can’t clearly explain their career goals and how those goals fit into this job they’re discussing.

About the Author

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Thanks for a great article, really learnt a lot.

Quick question though;

1.To what extent should i keep talking about my goal?

2. Should i bring personal issues if the case arises?

Comments are closed.

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What is a career path? Definition, examples, and steps for paving yours

A career path is the sequence of jobs or positions through which an individual progresses in their professional life. It represents the various stages and positions that a person may move through as they advance in their career.

Why does having a career path matter? One of the best ways to prepare for your dream job is to create and follow a career path. A career path is a specific set of jobs that prepare you for upward growth in your industry. 

Imagine this — you’re thinking about your career goals and how fulfilled you’d be in your dream job. Think about what success looks like for you and how you’ll feel on the first day of your ideal role.

Have you ever mapped out the steps you need to take to prepare yourself for that job? What qualifications will you need before applying for that position? What types of companies need that position? Knowing these requirements ahead of time will help you prepare for that job. This may include a college degree, a special certification, or on-the-job experience. Here you’ll find the definition of a career path, along with examples and the skills you need to map out your own career journey.

What is a career path?

A career path is defined as a long-term plan that includes specific steps or tasks that help you advance to a desirable occupation or new role. It typically involves a series of related jobs or roles that provide increasing levels of responsibility, skill development, and possibly higher levels of compensation.

Key stages or elements of a career path may include:

• Entry-level positions : These are the initial roles someone takes on when starting their career in a particular field . They often require less experience and expertise.
• Mid-level positions : As individuals gain experience and skills, they may move into mid-level positions that involve more responsibility and may require specialized knowledge.
• Senior-level or management positions : With further experience, individuals may progress to senior or management roles , where they are responsible for decision-making, leadership, and overseeing teams or departments.
• Executive or leadership roles : At the top of the career path are executive or leadership roles, where individuals have significant responsibility for the overall direction and success of an organization.
• Specialization or expert roles : Some career paths involve becoming a specialist or expert in a specific area , where individuals focus on developing deep expertise in a particular skill or domain.
• Entrepreneurship : Some individuals choose to follow a career path that involves starting and running their own businesses .

Within these areas, there are two common kinds of career paths—an organizational career path and a personal career path.

Organizational career path

An organizational career path (also known as a career ladder or vertical career plan) is a career path that you create with your direct manager. The goal is to climb a career ladder within a company. 

While many career paths lead to management positions, there are several for those who don't aspire to management.

Many organizations have already developed a career path framework for their employees . Here's what the process may look like: You create a career path with your manager. Together, you will establish career goals for you to meet. These goals will prepare you for the next step in your career path, including:

• Helping with special projects
• Taking an online course
• Earning a certification
• Mentoring colleagues
• Shadowing a colleague for a day 

To stay on track with your career path, you should review your milestones and goals often. You also need to review your career path with your direct manager at least quarterly. 

Personal career path

A personal career path is one that you create for yourself. It's based on a self-assessment of your skills , interests, hobbies, values, and passions. A personal career path can lay the foundation of your career without being restricted to one organization. 

If you’re ready to create your career path, start by making a list of the skills you’re good at , followed by your interests and hobbies. Then write down the things that matter most to you. 

Look at everything on your list and think about the industries that could benefit from your talent. For example, if you’re great with children, consider a career path in education. If you prefer healthcare more than teaching, look into a career path for pediatric nurses or doctors.

You can also take a career path quiz or a personality assessment to find out the best careers for you.

With a personal career path, you have complete control of your career development . A personal career path may require more work, but it can be very rewarding. You have to take the initiative with research, planning, and networking. 

Why is a career path so important?

Companies that offer that career clear career paths are much more attractive to employees. This is especially true now that the workforce is shifting to more remote work. 

Employee turnover can be pretty expensive, too . When you factor in the costs of recruiting, hiring, training, and onboarding, replacing an employee can be costly. One study found that career development programs will save companies a significant amount of time and resources . 

• Increased employee engagement and satisfaction : Employees are more likely to stay with a company when a well-defined career path is in place. Employees are also motivated to grow within a company when there's a well-understood career path. 
• Improved retention rates : When employees see opportunities for advancement within their organization, they're less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere. This can significantly reduce turnover rates, saving companies the time and expense of hiring and training new employees.
• Better succession planning : A well-defined career path can help organizations identify and prepare future leaders. This ensures a smooth transition when key employees leave or retire.
• Enhanced employer brand : Companies that offer clear career pathways can attract top talent. These companies are often seen as more employee-centric, which can improve their reputation and make them more appealing to job seekers.
• More effective talent management : With a clear career path, HR and management can more effectively identify gaps in skills and experience, allowing them to strategically invest in employee development . This can lead to a more skilled and capable workforce.
• Reduced employee turnover : A Glassdoor study found that having a lack of career growth leads to employee turnover . Employees who don't receive a pay increase or change in title after a few years are more likely to resign.

The importance of career pathing for individuals

As you can see, establishing different career paths is critical to organizations. But what about individuals? Creating a career plan for yourself is a strategic move that can have numerous benefits. Here are 10 benefits of creating a personal career plan:

• Direction and focus : A career plan helps you set clear goals and objectives, providing you with a sense of direction and focus in your professional life.
• More targeted decision-making : When you have a clear career path, it becomes easier to make decisions that align with your long-term career goals .
• Skill development : Identifying your career goals helps you understand the skills and qualifications you need to achieve them. This guides your professional development and continuous learning.
• Motivation and confidence : Having a career plan boosts your motivation and confidence as you see a clear pathway to your desired career.
• Career satisfaction : A career plan can lead to greater job satisfaction as it allows you to pursue roles that align with your interests and values.
• Financial planning : By planning your career, you can also plan your finances better. You'll know when to expect promotions or job changes that might increase your income.
• Adaptability : Career planning makes you more adaptable to changes in the job market . You'll be prepared to acquire new skills or shift your career focus if needed.
• Work-life balance : Career planning enables you to consider and strive for a balance between your work and personal life .
• Long-term success : Career planning sets you up for long-term success by helping you strategically build your career over time.
• Control over your career : Ultimately, a career plan gives you control over your career rather than leaving it to chance. You become proactive in shaping your professional destiny.

Remember, a career plan is not set in stone. It should be flexible and adaptable, changing as you grow and as the job market evolves.

4 types of career paths

There are four types of career paths—knowledge-based, skill-based, entrepreneur-based, and freelance. Every kind of career path caters to a specific set of qualifications that help you perform your job.

Knowledge-based career paths allow you to use the knowledge you acquired over time to do your job. Employees in human resources, marketing, and accounting all follow a knowledge-based career path. Other examples include IT professionals and engineers.

Skill-based professions need an understanding of how a specific job function operates. These are often physical, hands-on, or service skills. Many of these roles fall in the construction industry, as well as performers, artists, and restaurant chefs.

You may notice that many positions are cross-functional. Your job may need a combination of knowledge-based and skills-based work. This is the case with lawyers, doctors, and administrative personnel.

Entrepreneurs

An entrepreneur solves a problem or a specific need by selling their own product or service. An entrepreneur can work independently or start a company and hire employees. Many startups, including BetterUp, began with an entrepreneur solving a problem for consumers.

Freelance 

People hire independent contractors ( or freelancers ) to perform a specific job or project. Freelancers offer many services, including graphic design, consulting, home repair, and photography.

16 examples of career paths

The key to having a solid career path is identifying the skills and experience needed for the positions in your career path. You won’t be guaranteed a senior manager role just because you’ve been a manager for two years. You have to demonstrate specific skills that show that you’re ready for the next step in your career.

Knowing what lies ahead in your career path can help you focus on the right skills. 

Job responsibilities, qualifications, and a company's needs change so much in today's workforce. You can't set a career path and expect your career to just run on autopilot. Keep an open mind and adapt to changes where necessary. 

The current work climate requires employees to be flexible in their roles. An Executive Assistant may need the skills of a project manager to do their job. Upper management across industries needs to have a basic understanding of Human Resources. 

It's important to stay on top of your industry trends and adapt to these changes. Stay proactive. Talk to others in your field to learn about how your career path is evolving. 

Here are some examples of career paths that you can explore.

Accounting: Staff Accountant > Senior Accountant > Accounting Manager > Senior Accounting Manager > Firm Partner

Administrative: Administrative Assistant > Executive Assistant > Office Manager > Event and Conference Planner > Event Manager > Director of Events

Advertising: Advertising Sales Agent > Advertising Sales Manager > Account Manager  > Account Executive > VP of Advertising

Construction: Constructive Services Associate > Site Manager > Construction Manager > Facilities Manager > Project Manager 

Customer Service: Associate > Team Lead > Manager > Senior Manager > Director > Chief Operating Officer

Writer/Editor: Staff Writer or Journalist > Associate Editor > Editor > Senior Editor > Editor-in-Chief

Education: Para-professional > Classroom Teacher > Curriculum Administrator > Assistant Principal > Principal > District Superintendent

Engineering: Junior Engineer > Senior Engineer > Project Manager > Senior Project Manager > Engineering Consultant

Human Resources: HR Coordinator > HR Manager > HR Director > VP of HR > Chief of HR  

Lawyer: Summer Associate > Junior Associate > Senior Associate > Partner > Managing Partner

Marketing: Marketing Coordinator or Marketing Specialist > Marketing Manager > Director of Marketing > VP of Marketing > Chief Marketing Officer

Nursing: CNA > IPN > ADN-RN > BSN-RN > MSN > DNP

Restaurant: Host/Hostess, Prep Cook, Server > Service Manager > Assistant General Manager > General Manager

Retail: Sales Associate > Team Lead > Assistant Manager > Store Manager > District Manager > Regional Manager 

Salesperson: Sales Rep > Territory Manager > District Manager > Regional Manager 

Alternative path: Sales Rep > Account Manager > Key Account Manager > Director of Business Development > VP of Sales or Client Success

How to create a career path in 12 steps

Creating a successful career path within or outside of an organization involves careful planning, self-assessment, and proactive engagement. Here are steps to develop and advance your career through career planning.

1. Start with self-assessment

Begin by identifying your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. This self-evaluation will help you understand your current skill set. Also, clarify what aspects of your work bring you the most satisfaction and align with your personal values.

2. Research the career paths that interest you

Familiarize yourself with the organizational structure and the various departments. If building a personal career plan, research the growth opportunities and levels that exist in this new realm. Seek insights from colleagues and friends who have advanced in their careers in a similar way to understand potential pathways.

3. Set clear goals

Next, define your short-term and long-term career objectives. It's important to ensure that these goals align with your personal values and aspirations.

4. Identify and develop new skills

Identify the skills required for your desired career path and invest in continuous learning to acquire and enhance these skills.

5. Expand your network

Building relationships with colleagues, mentors, and leaders within and outside your department is crucial. Don't hesitate to seek advice from experienced professionals in your field.

6. Speak with your manager or coach

Have open and honest discussions with your supervisor or coach about your career aspirations. Make your interest in career development known to relevant stakeholders.

7. Leverage existing training and development programs

Utilize resources offered by your organization, such as training programs, workshops, and courses. These opportunities can enhance both your technical and soft skills. Additionally, you can explore online or in-person courses to level up your skills and fill any gaps.

8. Identify opportunities

Regularly check for internal or external job postings and volunteer for projects or tasks that align with your career goals.

9. Seek out mentors

Find mentors within or outside of the organization who can provide guidance and share their experiences. Learning from others who have successfully navigated similar career paths can be invaluable.

10. Remain adaptable and flexible

Embrace changes in the organization and industry, and be willing to take on challenging assignments that broaden your skill set.

11. Evaluate and adjust

Periodically evaluate your progress against your career goals and be willing to adjust your goals based on changing circumstances and personal growth.

12. Advocate for yourself

Lastly, communicate your achievements and contributions to relevant stakeholders. When the time is right, be prepared to negotiate for promotions as well as new and advancement opportunities.

5 skills to cultivate your career path 

As you progress through your career path, you will develop specific skills that prepare you for the next role . Some skills will be industry-specific, while other skills will be more common across all industries.

The following skills will contribute to the success of your professional development.

Adaptability

As mentioned before, every job during your career path may not be a step up on the career ladder. Sometimes a lateral move will be just as impactful as a vertical movement will be. It’s vital to remain adaptive and open to changes in the trajectory of your career.

Communication

Communication is a vital skill for anyone on their career path, no matter the industry. When you grow in your career, you won’t just communicate with your teammates anymore. You may be communicating with C-level executives, external clients, potential employees, partners, etc.

Effective communication will prove that you’re not only ready for the next role in your career, but you’re also able to communicate as a strong leader. 

There may come a time in your career when you evolve into a position that requires you to lead a team. Having strong leadership skills will help you cultivate your career path. Think about the managers and mentors that you’ve had. What qualities did those leaders have that made the most significant impact on you? What leadership styles do you want to adopt for the teams that you’ll lead?

Problem-solving

As you will find in most career paths, the work you do will evolve from task-based work into strategy-based solutions. Problem-solving skills will help you with that transition.

Take the problem of high turnover for example. A Human Resources Coordinator may solve this by recruiting two new Marketing Associates. The Director of Human Resources will suggest strategies that the coordinator will execute. Developing strategies that solve problems will be essential through your career path development. 

Time management

Time management won’t always be about how much work you can get done in a day or a week. Employers also evaluate the results that you produce within a given amount of time. The way you prioritize and delegate tasks will be an example of your time management skills.

There are several online resources that help with time management . You can check out the dozens of books about time management too. 

Start working on your career path today

It’s never too early to start thinking about your career path. It’s never too late either! If you’re excited about growing in your career, creating a career path is the perfect first step. You can also learn more about career paths from career books . 

Start by assessing your current skills, interests, and experience. Then think about your ideal career. The jobs and skills that you need to move from your current position to your ideal role will make up the steps in your career path.

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How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Career Path

How to Answer Interview Questions , Job Interview Questions and Answers

0    comments

“How does this position fit in with the career path you see for yourself?” I think a lot of people shoot themselves in the foot because they don’t know how to answer interview questions about your career path.

To be fair, it is a hard question to answer, like “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” or “What are your long-term goals?” Unless you’re a person who has their life planned out, it’s hard to predict what you’ll want to be doing that far down the road. Especially if you’re just starting out and still learning what jobs you love and what jobs you could do without.

Employers like to see people who don’t just float along with the tide. What’s going to motivate you to do a great job for them (besides the paycheck)? What‘s going to make you want to do more, be better, take on new tasks, achieve? Do you have vision? Can you plan?

And, your answer tells the interviewer whether you want just any job or whether you’re interested in THIS job.

That’s a big part of what they’re asking here: “Why THIS job?”

My general response to this question would concentrate on what I’m going to learn from this job:

“I would say that my career path is such that my career serves me, and I serve my career. I’m looking to grow and become more and contribute more and be more than I am today in my next role. And I know that if I do that I’ll be rewarded professionally, personally, and financially.

This position fits that for me because it’s a growth role that will benefit me professionally because I’m going to be able to learn and develop more skills. As I do well, I’m going to be paid financially and personally in terms of personal satisfaction.

It’s a stepping stone to the next role. It’s an opportunity to hone my skill set (or an opportunity to learn this particular skill).”

If you have a general end destination in mind, that’s great. Talk about how this job is going to help you meet that goal. But only in the most general terms:

“I plan to add value in this position, develop my skills to help grow the company, and eventually move into roles of greater responsibility.”

An answer along these lines tells them you’re ambitious without any negative side effects, like being a threat to the interviewer’s job.

Bottom line: You don’t have to have a written-in-stone life plan done to answer this question. You just have to know what you’re getting out of this job besides the paycheck.

****Make sure you check out our blog series on How to Answer Interview Questions .

Watch a webinar training session on Perfect Interview Answers

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How to Make Better Decisions About Your Career

by Timothy Yen

Summary .   

Making decisions is hard — especially when you’re trying to make big career decisions. This five-step framework can help you focus on what’s important.

• What are your feelings telling you? Think about the kind of work you’re doing now, or the kind of work you’re planning to do. Brainstorm and jot down ideas of different careers you’re considering. What feelings come up?
• What matters to you? Take a psychological assessment or complete an exercise that will help you identify your values.  Understanding your values will allow you to make choices that align directly with the things you care about.
• What matters to other people? Just as it’s important to get clear on what matters to you, it’s also important to consider how your decision will impact your loved ones. Ask them for their own thoughts, input, and feelings.
• What is the reality of the situation? Be objective and consider the realities surrounding your options, not your assumptions. Otherwise, you might end up having false expectations or feeling disappointed by your choices.
• How do I put the pieces together? Once you’ve answered these four questions, review all the information you’ve just discovered. You should come to your final decision. If you don’t revisit the previous steps.

Picking your college major, choosing the perfect career, trying to decide if you should leave your job and move to a new one — decisions like these can feel daunting. We all spend a huge amount of time at work, and we all want (and deserve) to love what we do. But the path to finding that work isn’t always clear.

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How to answer the interview question: “What is your career path?”

Prior preparation is the key to a successful job interview. Part of that preparation should involve thinking about the likely questions you’ll be asked - and while not having a scripted response, certainly you should have at least a reasonable idea of what you will say – and not say.

Chances are, at some stage you’ll be thrown the interview question: “What is your career path?” This is one of those questions that’s easy to take the wrong step with, but it’s a lot harder to get the response wrong when you understand why it’s being asked.

Employers are looking for a return on their investment

First up, the interviewer isn’t interested in hearing about your plans to retire in the next five years; your ambitions to appear on China’s Got Talent; or even your hopes of spending life on a surf beach somewhere in Thailand following a big Lotto win.

The fact is, when you’re asked the interview question: “What is your career path?”, the interviewer is trying to gauge your long term commitment to the company.

While applying for a new job is a big deal for you, it’s also a big commitment for the company that is hiring.

The process of recruiting, onboarding, training and developing the skills of a new employee is costly, hence why high staff retention rates are so important to employers. The longer you remain with a company, the more value you offer. You become more familiar with the role, the company, its culture and clients. When an organisation has invested significant sums in training and development, the last thing they want is for you to pull stumps and take those skills elsewhere – even worse, to a competitor.

In other words, employers want to test the waters to see how long you’re likely to remain with the company.

An opportunity to demonstrate your commitment

This being the case, the interview question: “What is your career path?” can be the ideal opportunity to showcase your plans to be a loyal, productive, long term employee. And if you can back it up with a strong explanation of why you plan to stick around and how you can to contribute to, and grow with the company, so much the better.

For instance, if you’re applying for a role as a junior accountant, a reasonable response may be, “I know your company offers a good career path and I would like to have risen through the ranks to be your accounting manager. By completing additional qualifications - and with the opportunity for training and mentoring, I believe I can get there.”

This sort of response shows ambition, dedication and some thought on behalf of the candidate about how their personal career plans meld with their place in the company. This is the trifecta to aim for because off-the-cuff remarks don’t always go down well.

…and what not to say

As a guide, when you’re asked the interview question: “What is your career path?” it can be tempting to assume a response like “I’ll be doing your job” shows ambition. However, it may have taken ten years or more for the interviewer to reach their current position, and this type of response can come across as cocky, arrogant and ill-informed.

At the other end of the spectrum some responses can raise a red flag to an interviewer who asks “Where is your career path?”

There’s the casual approach – “I don’t know even what I’m doing this weekend, how could I possibly know what I’ll be doing along my career path”, through to the downright disastrous – “Well actually, by then I’d like to be running my own business, or acquiring a role with another company for the next step in my career.”

If you are passionate about playing a long term role with the company, and you want to be sure your five-year plan is married to the organisation’s goals, don’t be afraid to take the lead and ask where the role could take the successful candidate over their career path.

The bottom line is to be sure that your response demonstrates you have a long term career plan. Ideally, this plan will strike a match with the company’s goals. Realistically, none of us know what lies down the track. But the answer you give today could see you land the job tomorrow.

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