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Tough Interview Question - What are your mid-range goals?

What are your mid-range goals?

Similar interview questions:
What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
Where do you see yourself in the mid-term range of your career?
Are you interested in moving into management?
Do you want to move into a different career in the future?

Why the interviewer is asking this question:
The interviewer is probing for what you consider to be the logical next step in your career. This is essentially a retention question, since your next planned career step may not align with what the employer has to offer.

The best approach to answering this question:
Do your research in advance and know the potential career paths at the employer. If one (or more) aligns with your career plans, include it in your answer. If not, keep your answer focused more on your near term goal of enhancing yourself within the role.

An example of how to best answer this question for experienced candidates:
"In 5 to 10 years, I would like to get to the point of mastery in my position, which should then in turn position me for either expanded responsibilities or possible future promotion. Let me give you an example of what I did to prepare for my recent promotion into my current role…"

An example of how to best answer this question for entry level candidates:
"In 5 to 10 years, I would like to get to the point of mastery in my position, which should then in turn position me for either expanded responsibilities or possible future promotion. Let me give you an example of how my recent internship prepared me for this role and what I've done to further enhance my skills before graduation…"

An example of how you should not answer this question:
"Well, I'm really just doing this job to pay the rent. I'm taking online classes to become a lawyer, which is what I really want to do. Do you think I might be able to get a job in your legal department after I complete my law degree?"

Remember to answer each interview question behaviorally, whether it is a behavioral question or not. The easiest way to do this is to use an example from your background and experience. Then use the S-T-A-R approach to make the answer a STAR: talk about a Situation or Task (S-T), the Action you took (A) and the Results achieved (R). This is what makes your interview answer uniquely yours and will make your answer a star!

Further review: know the answers to these Common Interview Questions to be fully prepared for your interview!

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