When preparing for a job interview, you have likely done your research on the company. You feel prepared to explain what interested you about the company and how your previous work experience aligns with that.

And then they ask the question that throws you off: “What is it you want out of your career?”

It’s so open-ended that it can leave you unsure which direction to take your answer. For many, this is a common question that they stumble in answering. The Balance Careers explained what employers mean when they ask this question and shared some examples of good ways to respond.

In short, the interviewer is trying to figure out if you would be with their company for the long haul if they hired you. If you are expressing career ambitions that are beyond the scope of what your position would be, they might assume you will be likely to leave quickly to pursue something else.

To demonstrate that this is the right fit, you should focus on aspects of the job’s responsibilities that pertain to the skills you want to develop. That shows that by working in this position you are going to get fulfillment beyond the salary.

And you should be giving attention to details about this specific company and role, rather than more generalized statements. Mentioning something like enjoying the location that the company is in could apply to any position in that area.

The same way you as the candidate want to feel like you were selected for an interview because the company saw something in you personally that was appealing, the interviewer wants to feel that same way.

While explaining what you want out of your career long-term, this is the time to reassure them that they are not one of a dozen companies that you are interviewing for just to have any job that will hire you.

Like many interview questions, the way to get better at answering them is to practice them. Try out your responses on someone you trust and get honest feedback.

To learn more about how to explain to interviewers what you want out of your career, read the post from The Balance Careers here.

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