Why Does Interviewer Ask This Question?

There are several reasons why an interviewer might ask a job candidate about their goals, Here are a few of the main reasons why an interviewer might ask about a candidate’s goals:

1. To Learn About The Candidate’s Motivation And Ambition: By asking about a candidate’s goals, an interviewer can get a sense of what drives them and what they are hoping to achieve in their career. This can help the interviewer understand the candidate’s motivation and ambition, and determine whether they are likely to be engaged and motivated in their work.
2. To Assess The Candidate’s Fit With The Company And The Role: By discussing a candidate’s goals, an interviewer can evaluate whether the candidate’s aspirations and long-term plans align with the opportunities and resources that the company can offer. This can help the interviewer determine whether the candidate is a good fit for the company and the role.
3. To Understand The Candidate’s Values And Priorities: Talking about goals can give the interviewer insight into a candidate’s values and priorities. This can be useful in evaluating whether the candidate’s values and priorities align with those of the company and the team they will be joining.
4. To See How The Candidate Thinks And Communicates: Asking about goals can give the candidate an opportunity to demonstrate their thinking and communication skills. It can be a good way for the interviewer to see how the candidate structures their thoughts, how they communicate their ideas, and how they articulate their long-term plans.
5. To Evaluate The Candidate’s Understanding Of The Industry And The Company: Discussing goals can give the candidate a chance to show their understanding of the industry and the company, and demonstrate how their goals align with the company’s mission and values. This can help the interviewer see whether the candidate has done their research and is genuinely interested in working for the company.

Overall, asking about a candidate’s goals can be a useful way for an interviewer to get to know the candidate better and assess their fit for the company and the role. It can help the interviewer understand the candidate’s motivation, ambition, values, and priorities, and see how they think and communicate.

5 Tips To Answer This Question

Here are five tips for answering the question “What are your goals?” in detail:

1. Be Specific: When answering this question, it’s important to be specific and to clearly state what your goals are. Vague or general statements like “I want to be successful” or “I want to make a lot of money” aren’t very helpful, and they won’t give the interviewer a clear sense of what you are hoping to achieve. Instead, try to be specific about what success means to you, and what you hope to accomplish in your career.
2. Align Your Goals With The Company’s Mission: If you are interviewing for a specific role or company, try to align your goals with the company’s mission or values. This will show the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in working for the company and that you understand what it stands for.
3. Show A Long-Term Perspective: While it’s important to have specific goals, it’s also a good idea to show that you have a long-term perspective. This can be helpful in demonstrating that you are thinking about your career in the bigger picture and that you are planning for the future.
4. Be Realistic: While it’s important to be ambitious, it’s also important to be realistic. Make sure that your goals are achievable and that you have a plan for how you will work towards them.
5. Don’t Be Afraid To Share Your Personal Goals: While your professional goals are important, it’s also okay to share some of your personal goals as well. This can give the interviewer a sense of who you are as a person and what is important to you outside of work. Just be sure to keep the focus on your professional goals and how they align with the company’s mission.

Things To Avoid While Answering This Question

When answering the question about your goals, it is important to provide specific and detailed responses. Here are a few things to avoid when answering this question:

1. Don’t Be Vague: As mentioned earlier, it’s important to be specific and clear when answering this question. Vague statements like “I want to be successful” or “I want to make a lot of money” won’t give the interviewer a sense of what you are hoping to achieve.
2. Don’t Be Unrealistic: It’s important to be ambitious, but it’s also important to be realistic. Make sure that your goals are achievable and that you have a plan for how you will work towards them.
3. Don’t Make Your Goals All About The Money: While it’s okay to mention that you want to advance in your career and earn a higher salary, it’s important to also focus on other goals that are more related to your professional development or the company’s mission.
4. Don’t Forget To Align Your Goals With The Company’s Values: As mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to align your goals with the company’s mission and values. This will show the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in working for the company and that you understand what it stands for.
5. Don’t Be Too Personal: While it’s okay to share some of your personal goals, it’s important to keep the focus on your professional goals and how they align with the company’s mission. Avoid sharing too much personal information or goals that are unrelated to the job or the company.

How To Answer “What Are Your Goals For This Job” In An Interview

Here are some tips for answering this question in detail:

1. Research The Company: Before the interview, be sure to research the company and the role you are applying for. This will help you understand the company’s mission and values, and it will give you a sense of what the job entails.
2. Identify Your Goals: Consider what you hope to achieve in your career, both in the short term and the long term. Think about how this job fits into your overall career goals, and what you hope to learn and accomplish while working there.
3. Align Your Goals With The Company’s Mission: When answering this question, try to align your goals with the company’s mission and values. This will show the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in working for the company and that you understand what it stands for.
4. Be Specific And Concrete: Avoid vague or general statements like “I want to be successful” or “I want to make a lot of money.” Instead, be specific and concrete about what you hope to achieve in your career. For example, you could say “I hope to advance to a leadership position within the next 5 years, and I am excited about the opportunity to learn and grow with this company.”
5. Show A Long-Term Perspective: While it’s important to have specific goals, it’s also a good idea to show that you have a long-term perspective. This can be helpful in demonstrating that you are thinking about your career in the bigger picture and that you are planning for the future.

Overall, the key is to show the interviewer that you are motivated, ambitious, and interested in working for the company. By aligning your goals with the company’s mission and values, and by being specific and concrete about what you hope to achieve, you can demonstrate that you are a good fit for the role.

Example

1. Answer: “My long-term goal is to progress in my career and take on more responsibility within the company. I am dedicated to continuous learning and improving my skills, and I hope to use my knowledge and expertise to make a positive impact on the team and organization.”
2. Answer: “My goal is to become a valuable asset to the team and make a positive contribution to the company. I am eager to learn and grow, and I hope to use my skills and knowledge to help the company achieve its goals and objectives.”
3. Answer: “My long-term goal is to advance in my career and take on more responsibility within the company. I am committed to continuous learning and improving my skills, and I hope to use my knowledge and expertise to make a positive impact on the team and organization.”
4. Answer: “My goal is to be a valuable member of the team and contribute to the company’s overall success and growth. I am eager to learn and grow, and I hope to use my skills and expertise to help the company achieve its goals and objectives.”
5. Answer: “My long-term goal is to progress in my career and take on more responsibility within the company. I am dedicated to continuous learning and improving my skills, and I hope to use my knowledge and expertise to make a positive contribution to the team and organization.”
6. Answer: “My long-term goal is to progress in my career and take on more responsibility within the company “My long-term goal is to become an expert in my field and to use my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact in the world. I hope to use this role as an opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and develop my skills and expertise. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the company’s mission and to help it achieve its goals.”
7. Answer: “My long-term goal is to progress in my career and take on more responsibility within the company “I am a recent graduate with a degree in finance, and my goal is to use my education and skills to make a positive impact on the world. I hope to use this role as an opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and develop my skills and expertise. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the company’s success and to help it achieve its goals.”
8. Answer: “My long-term goal is to progress in my career and take on more responsibility within the company “I have always been interested in technology, and my goal is to use my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact in the field. I am excited about the opportunity to learn and grow with this company, and I hope to use my skills and expertise to help it excel in the industry.”
9. Answer: “My long-term goal is to progress in my career and take on more responsibility within the company “I am passionate about education, and my goal is to use my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on the lives of students. I hope to use this role as an opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and develop my skills and expertise. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the company’s mission and to help it achieve its goals.”
10. Answer: “My long-term goal is to progress in my career and take on more responsibility within the company “I have always been interested in research, and my goal is to use my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on the world. I am excited about the opportunity to learn and grow with this company, and I hope to use my skills and expertise to help it excel in the industry.”