Here's how you can effectively answer questions about your career goals in an interview.

I have an alternative view on this. Sure it's important to be mindful of your values and skills, but skills can be learnt and so instead of labouring too much on past experience, focus on the problem you want to solve; and why you're the right person to solve the problem.

Align Your Goals with the Company’s Vision. Research the company’s mission, values, and long-term objectives. Align your career goals with these elements to show how your growth can benefit the organization. E.g. "I’m passionate about sustainability and innovation, which aligns with your company’s commitment to eco-friendly practices. I see myself growing into a role where I can contribute to your sustainability initiatives."

The most common question I get in my 1300 hours of coaching experience is "It is long overdue, why am I not getting promoted?" If we put lack of emotional and relational skills aside, the other reason is a lack of vision for yourself. Your career goals need to be defined by your broader life ambitions and dreams. "what will you be doing in 3 to 5 years? In 10 years?" "Who do you want to leave behind?" "Who do you want to become?" Those questions need answers before aligning your values or ambitions to the company's goals.

Company values are public and often on their website. Ask an LLM a prompt like: "Act as Richard Barrett, the expert on values. Goal: Analyze the list of **values** and their definitions and come to a conclusion about how it is like working there. Context: This is to get an overview of the quality of a company's values. Instructions 1/ Analyze the given values and how well the definition corresponds to Richard Barretts definitions 1/ Suggest a list of complementary values and their definitions that might balance these values out 2/ Identify any paradoxes with these values 3/ Identify the potential difficulties of people working here. Values: <add values>" and you'll have a good picture of how those values match yours.

Tip: tie those examples to values. Recruiters and executives already have tested your technical competence. Now it is time to test your values, so they will ask questions like "tell me a time where you had a difficulty and how you overcame that." They are testing for grit or perseverance here. So your example needs to demonstrate that value in action.

Consider examples that go beyond job specific progress. For example, if you want to be a team lead, you can :- 1. volunteer to be the coach for a soccer team and learn to deal with team cohesion 2. mentor someone younger 3. travel to places where you can immerse yourself and talk about different perspectives 4. show up in events and demonstrate active listening Focus on the transferrable skills.

It is important to know where your goals are leading you and be clear in your interview, how this company you are interviewing with will enhance your desired outcome. Showcasing, humbly, the investments you have made in your future and explaining to interviewer how you measure your progress highlights one skill of a manager. In the business world, where results drive the focus, express how this company aligns with your goals, your future self, how and you look forward to helping their goals be realized as well. Be simple, be clear, be motivated, be positive.

While ambition is commendable, balancing it with realism is essential. Consider these nuances when setting and discussing career goals: Assess your potential: Honestly evaluate your abilities, experience, and resources when setting challenging yet achievable goals. Understand industry context: Familiarize yourself with industry standards, growth opportunities, and potential limitations when crafting your aspirations. Anticipate obstacles: Identify potential roadblocks and develop proactive plans to overcome or circumvent them. Communicate effectively: Articulate your ambitious goals while simultaneously acknowledging the need for practicality and adaptability.

Balancing ambition with realism is crucial, but you should also reflect on how your goals align with your “Deeper Values” and “Purpose”. I believe that true career fulfillment comes when our professional paths resonate with our “Inner Calling”. This perspective not only grounds you but also inspires you to see challenges as opportunities for growth, both professionally and “Spiritually”. By embracing both ambition and a sense of Higher Purpose, you can navigate your career with a balanced and meaningful approach :)

Instead of telling them your career goals, and demonstrating that it is all about you, I'd balance three things: 1. What is in it for you? 2. What is in it for them (as people)? 3. What is in It for them as a company? Tip: challenge them back and ask the questions no one asks: - "What is needed?" - "How can I help?" - "In one year from now, where do you want to be as a company?" This way you can avoid coming across as arrogant and a know it all, and instead demonstrate that you are a person that is asking the right questions.

You need to be careful when approaching the question of career goals in an interview. It is important to explain how the specific vacancy is aligned with your career objectives, but it must not appear too ambitious objectives that the potential employer may not be able to respond to. Remember that the interviewer is more concerned with the contribution you can make to the company and not the other way around. Find the balance between ambition and humility in your speech to the interviewer.

Be Authentic. Share Your True Aspirations. Speak genuinely about where you see yourself in the future and how the role you’re applying for fits into that vision. Example: "I aim to develop my skills in project management and lead cross-functional teams in the next three years. This role’s emphasis on collaborative projects is a perfect match for my goals." Authenticity will help you establish rapport with your interviewers.