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

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
Pro Tip
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

This offers insight into where your career goals, as well as your perspective on the times things didn't go according to plan. It will also assist the interviewer in properly placing you within their organization.

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.

Discuss any positions that you have held that were not a fit. Sometimes an opportunity presents itself that you hadn't considered. Maybe a company you worked for offered you a promotion into an alternate career path. Even if, in the end, you chose to reroute and get back on course, discuss what you learned from the experience and how it helped your career path in ways you hadn't anticipated. Attitude is everything.

"Yes, you will see that from March to May 2007, I held a role as Executive Business Development Manager with Company XYZ. This particular role was not what I was expecting and had little to do with management and more to do with cold-calling C-suite-level clients. This didn't nurture my plan to grow the management side of my career, so I resigned after just two months. Luckily, I landed a wonderful job immediately after and grew with that company for the following six years."

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

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