Would you consider furthering your post-secondary education to include a Ph.D. in your field?
Learning and development are the core values of Johnson &Johnson. Most employers value candidates who appreciate continued learning. This will help the interviewer assess your flexibility as well as your drive to grow on your career path. They want to determine your willingness to invest in your career and if you would be a valued investment for Johnson & Johnson.
"I have considered furthering my education to include a Ph.D. It would need to be in tandem with full-time employment given my family situation, but I would certainly consider achieving this goal through evening and weekend coursework. Can you talk about your needs down the road for the person hired into this role?"
"Oh yes! I am a big believer in higher education and take great pride in the education I've obtained to this point in my career. These days, to be a stand-out candidate or employee, I think that having a Ph.D. is best."
If you are planning on pursuing continued education, say so, detailing your career goals and where your continued education fits into that path. If you don't have a plan for continued education, or you're not sure, say you are open to pursuing one with no current plans at the moment.
Try to do as much research as you can on what your potential future with Johnson & Johnson would look like and what educational path would be required. If possible, assure the interviewer that you would be willing to discuss enhancing your knowledge to grow within the organization.
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.
Anonymous Answer
I'm not opposed to pursuing a Ph.D. in my field. I have definitely thought about it in the past, although I do think it would be more of a long-term goal. Short term I'm thinking more of the CPA route.
Marcie's Feedback
You perfectly answer the Ph.D. question in terms of expressing interest in continuing your education but placing the goal in the future so as not to discourage an interviewer who wants to make sure you'll stick around in the job for some time before leaving to pursue other goals. Does being a CPA have anything to do with the position at J&J that you're interested in? If it's not relevant, consider leaving out that detail.
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