Why Employers Ask About Career Goals

Asking about your career goals gives an employer the opportunity to gain valuable insights into who you are on a personal and professional level. They want to be sure you share the same ethos, and that the job is a good fit for your future career goals as this gives them confidence that you will stick around.

In short, they want to understand the kind of employee you will be, what you can bring to the organisation, and importantly, they want to be able to picture you with them in the long term and know they will be able to help you reach your career goals.

Below are five common interview questions that require you to discuss your career goals.

1. Why Do You Want to Work for Our Company?

This question might not appear to be about career goals, but it's important to refer to your career progression when answering.  They want to know that you have a genuine interest in the company or role and have done your research. You can relate your desire to work with them back to your longer-term career goals.

By being up to date on news articles about the company and the industry it operates within, as well as following its social media accounts, you’ll be able to talk more easily to the company's current plans and projects and how you see yourself being able to add value.

Start by discussing what drew you to the company (apart from your recruitment consultant). What is it about them that impresses you? What does the company offer you as a potential employee? How does this role fit into your long-term goals or help you achieve them? Give relevant examples of what drew you to the company – perhaps you share a similar ethos, you like its commitment to sustainability, or you were impressed by its future expansion plans.

After this, move on to what you believe you can offer the company, and how you can progress on a professional level during your time there.

Don’t recite information from the company website – demonstrate that you have researched the organisation, its aims and successes, and you are genuinely interested in a career at the company and the sector it’s in. Don’t be overly dramatic – don’t say how much you love the company or how long you have dreamt of working there.

2. Why Do You Want to Work in This Industry?

This question tests your commitment to the industry in general, as opposed to the specific company you are interviewing with. Here you can demonstrate your knowledge of the entire industry, so pre-interview research is critical.

If you are truly passionate about seeking a career in a specific industry, the likelihood is that you are already prepared for this question and will be able to answer it without difficulty. However, if you are feeling uncertain, make sure you know of any recent developments in your chosen field, so that you can confidently bring them into the discussion. One way of keeping up to date on this is to set up a Google alert for relevant keywords.

Ensure that your answer is brief. They don’t need you to recite the complete history of the industry as they are already well informed. Don’t give generalised or insincere answers; instead, discuss a few things that draw you into the industry and what you think you can bring to it.

3. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years Time?

This question refers to career goals in the longer term. Discuss realistic goals – perhaps mentioning a specific position you would like to work towards and the steps you need to take to get there (dedicating time to the company, extra training, online courses, etc.)

You may also reference changes you wish to implement in the market or workplace, though be wary of criticising the company's current practises. Make sure to keep it brief – the interviewer doesn't need a blow-by-blow account of your climb to the top.

While it's OK to be personable in an interview, don't take this as an opportunity to discuss where you see your personal life going – focus solely on your professional achievements.

Don't mention money (unless this is a specific focus for the role, eg a commission-based sales position). You're being evaluated on your suitability for the role, not how excited you are to increase your salary.

4. What Motivates You?

This question's association with career goals is very clear – your motivations will likely tie in with your career progression. Use this as an opportunity to discuss what excites you about the industry you are working within and what your motivations are moving forward.

To demonstrate your dedication, reference previous achievements such as prior employment, education or training. Show how you have motivated yourself throughout your life to reach your long and short-term goals.

As with the prior question, do not answer in a way that could be considered unsavoury (for example, do not list money or fame as one of your motivators, unless this is a fundamental part of the industry). Even if you are attracted to the job for its high salary, discuss instead how you are motivated when you are presented with a challenge, and how you are willing to put the hours in to succeed.

5. Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?

This gives you the chance to highlight how the role you are interviewing for will allow you to progress beyond the limits of your previous position. Demonstrate your ambition. Discuss how the job you are applying for provides you with more opportunities than your previous employer. Regardless as to why you are leaving your previous role, make sure you focus on the benefits of starting afresh somewhere else.

You may say that you are seeking a new challenge or a different working environment, or that you want to specialise in a particular field within the new company for example.

Although you may be leaving behind a job or company you didn’t like, never criticise or blame your previous employer. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of your last job, focus on the positive aspects of the job you are interviewing for, and how these will help you achieve your career goals.

Final Thoughts

Understanding your career goals and the steps required to achieve them are a key aspect of impressing a potential employer and the clearer you are about what you want to achieve the better.

As with many interview questions, the key to success when asked about your career goals or future aspirations is having carefully researched the company and the industry it operates within beforehand.