What Are Your Long Term career Goals - Job Interview demand

This open-ended question, and others like; "Where do you see yourself in five years?" throw most candidates off balance. The object of the question is to check for your self-awareness and communication skills.

Dan Harrison is the staffing owner for Wesco Corporation and is about to interview three candidates for a scheme owner position. He is looking for person with planning and long-range foresight skills.

Phil Holmes describes his goal - "To be a Marketing owner within five years, and have a hand picked team reporting to him."

This is a very definite and narrow goal, which may not be an selection at this company. The "hand picked" team demonstrates a lack of flexibility. Best to stay away from too definite a goal.

Shawna Green answers - "I have been so busy with my responsibilities and achieving company goals, that I have not focused on personal long-term goals.

While a strong work ethic is honestly desirable, this respond does not demonstrate foresight or planning.

Marsha Severson states- "I plan to return to school to earn my Mba, and have my own consulting company one day.

While it pays to be honest, this respond could turn the interview in the wrong direction very quickly. The owner is looking for person to stick colse to for the long run, not to stop over on the way to a new career.

Focus - Exercise

If you are the type of person who prefers an organized way of life, you may find this question a "piece of cake". But, if you are among the majority of persons who let life happen as it comes along, you will probably not have a smooth respond without some forethought.

* What are your goals? - The best answers will come from you mental about what you want. Most successful company citizen will tell you that a key success factor is the capability to set and accomplish goals.

Begin by setting short-term goals. Right now your goal may be "to get a job". But, what kind of job? And, where do you go from there?

* Be employer-centered - The owner is looking for person to come in and solve problems. Since planning is a key factor in this job, think of examples where your planning has made a incompatibility in results.

Scripting

After giving some understanding to where you want to go and how you can help the owner accomplish results, try scripting your respond to focus.

I have learned that long-term goals are best achieved when I break them into shorter goals. My short-term goal is to find a position that will place me in a forward-moving company with solid operation and future projections. As part of a team, I want to add value and continue to grow the company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. My plan is to move into a position of responsibility where I can lead a team.

No one can tell you exactly how to respond this question - it will come from what is foremost to you. However, the more and focused and owner centered you can be about your goal, the best your chances will be of steering the interview in the right direction.