What are your goals and plans? What is your vision, purpose, your dream in life? In many cases, we do not even know the answer to these questions, because such matters aren’t always easy to figure out, especially for young people. But it matters for the employers, and sooner or later in the selection process, you will have to elaborate on your goals and plans. In this post I will analyze in depth the things you should focus on, and explain how to connect your dreams and goals with the goals and plans of your employer. Because that’s exactly the key to success with this area of questions.
– Do you like this image, and the content on our website? Please share it and help us spread the word. Thank you!
The Basics
- Most common interview questions belonging to this area: What are your goals in five (one, three, ten) years time? What is your dream in life?
- Less common questions belonging to the area: What is your vision for the future? How would you define your purpose in life? Can you explain your career plan? If we hire you, what goals will you set for yourself in the first year of the job?
- Out of 10 random jobs, in how many cases will this area be tested during the hiring process: 8/10. You may wonder why your goals and dreams matter to the interviewers. Well, they do matter because hiring new staff is an expensive endeavor, and each employer hopes that the new hire stays with them for a long time, and they do not have to repeat the hiring process again. Your goals tell also a lot about you as a person (more on this later on), and that’s why you will face at least one question from this area in almost all hiring processes.
- Difficulty: 2/5. A relatively easy question. Once you understand the main principle here (connecting your personal goals with the goals of the company and showing positive outlook of the future), and avoid a few mistakes people make while answering such questions, you will be able to come up with a great answer. What’s more, you speak here about your plans, ideas, and ideals only. We cannot really verify such things. As long as you do not say something outright bizarre or completely unrealistic, the interviewers will trust you. And that’s exactly why the question isn’t difficult.
- Main goals of the hiring managers with questions belonging to this area: Understanding whether they can count on you in a long run. Trying to figure out more about your values and your outlook of life, which has an impact on your everyday functioning at work.
- Your main goals with answers to questions belonging to this area: Connecting your personal goals with the goals of the company, or at least with your employment there. Convincing them that as long as they treat you well, you won’t quit the job as soon as a new offer catches your interest. Showing at least slightly positive outlook of life and the future in general.
7 sample answers
* Make sure to read also the “advanced info” below the sample answers, to understand what attitudes you actually show with this or that answer, the most common mistakes you should avoid making, etc.
Sample answer no.1: Young man applying for a study program in social work speaking about his vision of life:
My vision for the future is to have a great job, one in which I can have some impact, ideally in the sphere of social work. That’s why I chose your study program. Ideally I want to work with the elderly population, since I understand this group is getting bigger and more vulnerable each year. Of course, life’s not only work. I also hope to start a family one day, and to live a good and balanced life, getting an opportunity to spend time in the nature, devote myself to music–my hobby, and at the same time be a good employee, husband and father.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: Life-work balance is important for everyone, including your employer. When possible, make sure to mention also some goals and plans you have outside of work (“I also hope to start a family one day, and to live a good and…”).
Sample answer no. 2: Young teacher applying for their very first job, speaking about their goals:
I imagine teaching at an elementary school in five ears time, ideally in this town. Maybe it isn’t a big goal for the future, but it is one that gives me joy, and strength to continue working on my teaching skills. Then one day I hope to become a mother myself, and do a good job as a mother. I also imagine being healthy, and you can be sure I will continue eating healthy and exercising, doing my best to stay in shape. All in all, I am grateful for the opportunities I have in life, and enthusiastic about the next five years.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: Your goals do not have to be big or ambitious. With some jobs it is actually a disadvantage, for example when there is not much room for career growth. Saying that you simply want to teach in this or that place (or do other thing), and adding a few goals from your personal life, is actually a great answer in many job interviews.
Sample answer no. 3: A fresh grad applying for an entry level corporate job:
My goals in five or in ten years time? Well, in all honesty, my goal is to grow both personally and professionally, ideally in an international corporation like this one. Career growth opportunities are almost endless here, and as long as I give my best every day, I am sure many doors will be open for me in the future. Hence I hope to work for you still in ten years time, but certainly on a different position. Maybe as a finance manager? Or leader of the accounting department? Why not, in ten years from now?
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: Notice how the applicant connects their future with the company. They even have a specific position on their mind, one they may have in ten years time (“… as a finance manager? Or leader of the accounting department…”). Such an answer will work perfectly well in any big corp setting.
Sample answer no. 4: An applicant for a study program talks about his vision for the future, in a rather philosophical way:
My vision for the future is to always focus on the present moment. Because that’s the only real thing to be honest. Of course, it is good to have goals and dreams, and I would like to make a career in medicine, but at the same time, the only moment we always really live, and take care off, is the present moment. Thinking too much about the future, being nervous about whether we will succeed or not, or having excessive expectations on ourselves will bring us only to psychiatrists and an early grave. Hence I do not think about it at all. I just know I want to be the doctor, and that’s it. Will give my best in the classes, study hard, and enjoy every moment of this journey. Of course, all of that is possible only if you give me a chance to study here.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: Philosophical answers will always help you stand out. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad one, depending on the person leading the interview with you. They are high-risk high-reward answers and make sense especially when you have not much to lose. Or when you compete for a job, or for a place in a study program, with so many applicants (all of them having similar resume) that standing out with your answers is the only chance of succeeding.
Sample answer no. 5: An applicant for a managerial job answering a question about his goals for the first year in the job:
One year is not a long time. However, I will choose three KPIs, and try to improve each of them by the end of my first year in the company. Which KPIs exactly I will choose, and the exact desired level of improvement, I will know only after spending few weeks in the job, and understanding the main goals, problems, and challenges you face. Of course, I am also open to the possibility that you set the goals for the first year for me, and I will simply try my best to meet or even exceed them.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: It may be tempting going with very specific goals (for example exact numbers you want to improve in the business). However, you never really know unless you work in the company, so in this case it is better being a bit vague in your answer. The key is to show that you are ambitious, and want to actually make the difference in your first year already.
Sample answer no. 6: A family man connects his personal goals with the goals of the business:
To be honest, my goals remain the same over the years. First of all, to be a good father and provide for my family. And secondly, to always learn and grow professionally. I am applying for a job with you because I can see that helping you to reach your goals, I can meet or even exceed my personal goals. Your field of work is very exciting to me, a lot of things to learn and improve on. At the same time the compensation you offer here is generous and will allow my family to maintain the good standard of living, as we have it at the moment–of course as long as I deliver in the job.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: If you mention family first, make sure to explain also the connection it has with the goals of the company (“…helping you to reach your goals, I can meet or even exceed mine…”)
Sample answer no.7: Talking about goals in an interview for a simple job in a restaurant:
To be honest, I do not have any big goals in the next five years. Just live my life well, try my best at work, have good relationship with both my friends and colleagues, and stay healthy. For some people it may be a rather bleak vision for the future, but I personally like it. A lot of things can happen in five years from now, both in my life and in the world. I prefer going day by day, week by week, and simply try my best.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: In many cases (especially with simple and manual jobs), it is perfectly all right having no big goals in the next three, five, or ten years. If you decide to say so, however, make sure to ensure the interviewers that it isn’t a result of having a rather negative outlook of life, but rather your way of functioning and living happily, without putting excessive expectations on yourself.
Advanced information
Mistakes people make while answering questions about their goals and dreams in the interviews
- Dreaming about things you cannot achieve with the job you are trying to get. They say it is good dreaming big. And I agree. But not in the interview :). In the interview, your goals should be realistic, and in correlation with the job you are applying for, and career growth possibilities it offers. When this correlation is missing, they won’t hire you.
- Showing negative outlook of life and the future. It isn’t any secret that we live in difficult times, and that the future is highly uncertain for everyone. If you have anxiety, however, it is something to discuss with a psychologist and not with your interviewers. And while it is fine being realistic and not dreaming of a perfect world, you should always show a positive vision in the interview, at least when it comes to things you can change, and have impact on. Negative people bring negativity to the workplace. If you sound overly negative and without any vision in your life, they simply won’t hire you.
Few points from the perspective of the hiring managers/interviewers
- Tangible goals are always better for us, and more believable. Whether you speak about your personal or professional goals, try to include at least something tangible. It can be some number (I hope to help you improve X by 10%), year (my goal by 2030 is to have a job of a financial analyst), or even a particular skill you want to improve (the target is B2 in French language in two years from now).
- Gen Z wants everything quickly but Rome wasn’t built in a day. It isn’t only because of the social pressure, and the fast-paced world, that each new generation has less patience than the previous one. Many people believe that unless they become millionaires by the age of 30 (or have at least 100K followers on some social network), they are a complete failure. This is a pathological mindset, and we can already observe its impact also in the job interviews. We see many people having either no dreams at all, or having dreams that are simply unachievable. Neither of these extremes will bring you any success in your job search, because we know that hiring people with such a mindset we are only asking for problems.
7 keywords to remember when answering questions belonging to this area
- Positive outlook of the future, big dreams aren’t necessary, correlation of your goals with the possibilities the job offers you, mentioning family and personal goals is perfectly fine, tangible and measurable goals are always better, work-life balance, having at least some vision of life is the key even if it is a simple one.
So that’s it! You’ve just covered area no. 6 out of 25 areas that cover 99% of questions you may ever get in the interviews. Just 19 areas left! Check the next one: Free Time, or go back to homepage for the full list of 25 areas and pick one you want to learn about and practice right now.
