Have you ever taken a role in a company that hasn't fit into your long-term career plans?

"Yes, you see, from March to May 2007, I held a role as executive business development manager with Company XYZ. This role was not what I was expecting and had little to do with management and more to do with cold calling onto C-suite-level clients. This wasn't nurturing my plan to grow the management side of my career, so I resigned after just two months. I landed a wonderful job after and grew with that company for the following six years."

"Fortunately, no. I have been very conscious of the changes and moves that I have made in my career, so far. I would rather have a period of unemployment than choose the wrong employer."

If you have an example, break down the situation, and what decision-making influenced your detour. Be sure to end your answer on a positive note, discussing how you bounced back from the misstep, the skills you picked up along the way, and what you learned from the experience. If a company you worked for wasn't a great environment for you, and/or lacked in fostering innovation, that's fine as well. But do what you can to avoid defaming them or speaking negatively about that example. Highlight the positives and what you took from the experience that made you a stronger candidate.

Think outside of the box when you plan your answer. Attitude is everything. Maybe a company you worked for offered you a promotion into an alternate career path. Even if you rerouted and got back on course, discuss what you learned from the experience and how it helped your career path in ways you hadn't expected. If you don't have any examples, discuss times when an opportunity presented itself, and you didn't take it because it wasn't aligned with your goals. There is nothing wrong with having the where-with-all to stay the course.

Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.