INTERVIEW COACH
Rachelle Enns
Rachelle is a job search expert, career coach, and headhunter who helps everyone from students to fortune 500 executives find success in their career.
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How does this position fit your long-term career plans?
TIPS TO PREPARE
TOP ANSWERS
OUR COACH SAYS
Assure the interviewer that this position would not be a temporary fix but a longer-term career move. Employers do not expect you to stay with them forever, but they do like to hear there is at least a 5-year plan where you can see yourself growing. Do not offer a timeframe but offer up information as to why this may be a long-term fit.
Here are some factors that could determine a long-term fit:
- Unbeatable workplace culture and a positive environment
- Continual challenges and opportunities to learn
- Cross-departmental training and opportunities to diversify your role
- A team environment that feels like family
- Competitive compensation packages including health benefits and vacation days
- Strong career trajectory and history of promotion among top performers
- Genuine and integrity-driven leadership, ownership, or c-suite
Here are some factors that could determine a long-term fit:
- Unbeatable workplace culture and a positive environment
- Continual challenges and opportunities to learn
- Cross-departmental training and opportunities to diversify your role
- A team environment that feels like family
- Competitive compensation packages including health benefits and vacation days
- Strong career trajectory and history of promotion among top performers
- Genuine and integrity-driven leadership, ownership, or c-suite
Example #1
"My long-term plan is to find an organization with a workplace culture that encourages personal and professional development opportunities. I know your company has a solid history of providing these things to your team. For that reason, I could see myself happily growing with your business for the long term."
Example #2
"For myself, my interest in continually piqued when given various challenges and opportunities to learn. When I am growing my skills and knowledge base, I am happy. This position offers a great deal of growth and learning which is very exciting to me."
Example #3
"I plan to offer long-term partnership to a company who can offer competitive compensation and opportunities for advancement. I am seeking to grow my career with an organization large enough to support my career growth goals. I applied to your company because you have multiple locations, a second-to-none reputation, and hundreds of incredible clients. I feel there would be numerous opportunities for me here."
Example #4
"This position fits into my long-term plans because you offer the exposure to enterprise clients that I have been seeking for many years. With this level of client base comes incredible opportunities and I would be unwise to let that go."
Example #5
"I would like my first opportunity since graduating University to be a long-term position. It's important that I am on the right track with my experience, business exposure, and tenure - right out of the gates. There is so much to learn about your organization and your customers. For those reasons I see a solid long-term fit."
Example #6
"I plan to offer a long-term commitment to your organization because I know, in turn, you will offer a robust career trajectory. Your organization's history of promoting your top performers is of great interest to me. I am competitive with myself and focused on growth. I know your company can, and will support me in many ways."
Example #7
"My children go to this school, and I plan to live in this neighborhood for many years to come. Being my local school is just one factor that will keep me here long-term; however. Other reasons for a long-term commitment is that your school has the best reputation in the district, the most reasonable classroom sizes, and an active and involved parent community."
Anonymous Answer
"This position works with my long-term career plans because of the positive culture and workplace environment. I know there will be continual challenges and opportunities to learn. Most importantly, I believe that is a team environment that is going to feel like family and meet the expectations of the University."
Alexandra's Reply
Your answer has some good parts by referring to the workplace culture you like. However, I recommend that you elaborate more on what your long-term career plan is and how this role specifically fits into that. Is this exactly the role you want to do, or maybe it will prepare you for the role you aim to have in the future?
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Anonymous Answer
"I applied to your company because you have multiple locations which would have numerous opportunities."
Rachelle's Reply
This response is vague, sounds disengaged, and would not be a hit with the interviewer. I have added an alternate response, below.
Rachelle's Reply
"This position fits in well with my long-term career goals because it provides the luxury sales management piece that I have been missing. I would love to excel in this role and then earn a promotion to a leadership position where I can mentor sales team members on the art of luxury sales."
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More Interview Q&As
Explore expert tips and resources to be more confident in your next interview.
Behavioral
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Leadership
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