Are you are looking for your first career?
Are you a seasoned professional looking to change career paths?
Regardless of where you are in your career, it is essential to determine what your dream job is.
This question is one of the most important interview questions of all time.
Not only will your answer impact your interview.
Knowing what your dream job is will set you up for success throughout your entire career.
What IS Your Dream Job?
It’s surprising how few people can answer the question, “What is your dream job?”
There is not a right and wrong answer to this question since it is primarily an opinion.
Your dream job may not be the same as someone else’s, but that doesn’t make it wrong.
The first thing you need to do is determine your dream job.
This does not have to be a position that you think you would qualify for right now.
Figure out what your dream job is.
Then you can work backward to find a suitable job that will get you where you want to be.
Once you have done that, you can begin applying for jobs based on the positions that are in line with your dream job.
Set yourself apart from the competition.
Stay Relevant
It’s important when you are applying for jobs that you stay relevant.
If your dream job is to become a doctor, but you are applying for a sales position, that is not the best move to make.
The sales manager interviewing you is going to be skeptical that you won’t be happy at work.
How could you be when your ultimate goal is to be a doctor?
Don’t just apply to jobs to get any old job.
It is going to take you more time, in the long run, to find your dream job if you are settling for less.
Figure out what is your dream job and then research what it takes to get there.
Show Off Your Ambition
Don’t sell yourself short.
Your dream job should be something that might take a few years to achieve.
This depends on your current career level, but for most, you are still looking to climb the corporate ladder.
Is your dream job something that you won’t be qualified to do for another 10 or 20 years?
It is great to have such long-term goals.
Your next employer will love to hear how ambitious you are.
The same goes when answering the question, “Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?”
Don’t confuse ambition with arrogance.
Some things you want to avoid saying in an interview:
- I’ll be running the company in a couple of years.
- Give me a chance and I’ll have that guy’s position in no time!
- I’m so work-driven that soon I’ll be the CEO.
Saying these things is not the best idea.
This is more arrogance than confidence.
Avoid this!
How To Answer This Interview Question
Here are some tips that many people believe to be helpful when being asked what is your dream job in an interview.
- Do not mention a specific job title. Instead, focus your answer on the qualities and tasks that this job would be responsible for.
- If your dream job is many years away, mention that you do not expect to receive your dream job right away and that you understand it can take many years of hard work and dedication to get to where you want to be.
- Do not lie and say that the current job you are applying for is your dream job. If it is, you should set higher goals for yourself.
- Stay relevant! Saying a dream job that is completely unrelated to the job you are applying for might give your employer the impression that you will one day leave this job for another.
- Take your time answering this question. No employer will punish you for taking a couple of minutes to gather your thoughts.
- Relate your dream job to the job you are applying for and express how this job will help you accomplish your dream. If the job is unrelated, you probably shouldn’t be applying. Don’t settle!
Sample Answer
So what’s an example of a good response? Here you go!
From birth, I have always been an animal lover. I like to make animals happy and find valid solutions to any problems that they are having. I thrive in environments that give me the opportunity to work using my problem-solving skills to provide them with the care they need.
My dream job would be in a workplace where I was able to do this and work with animals as much as possible.
Notice how the job applicant never mentioned a job title?
The job applicant kept it open as to not eliminate myself from any great position that is not the exact title I mentioned.
They also gave some points that they love about this type of work.
Why Do Interviewers Ask This Question?
Why do interviewers and employers care about what your dream job is?
We’ve mentioned a few points above in previous sections.
Here are the reasons hiring managers ask this question summed up:
- They want to see if your goals align with the job position.
- They want to see how ambitious you are.
- They also want to see if this ambition is arrogance.
- They want to see if you have a career plan to reach your goal.
- The way you answer this question can tell the interviewer a lot about your character.
They also know that if you’re working towards something, you’ll ultimately be more motivated.
Plus if your dream job is elsewhere, chances are you won’t be around very long.
This is why considering your answers to possible interview questions is so important.
If you want to prepare for other questions, check out 50 Top Job Interview Questions and Answers.
