How to Answer: What are your career goals?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Nuclear Engineer job interview.
18. What are your career goals?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
It is common for interviewers to ask future-focused questions. For hiring managers, this question reveals if you have any long-term visions or plans. It is expensive to hire and train an employee, so the interviewer wants to make sure that you intend to stay awhile at the company and that you have ambition and goals for your future.
Written by Sue Oberliesen on March 5th, 2022
What You Need to Know
If you haven't thought about the direction you'd like your career to go, it's a good idea to give it some thought before you go on a job interview. Prepare an answer that focuses on your career goals as they relate to the company you're interviewing for. Don't focus on goals related to earnings, raises, bonuses, or perks. Focus on the work you hope to achieve rather than the money you want to make.
Written by Sue Oberliesen on March 5th, 2022
Answer Example
"I just graduated with my degree in nuclear physics, and I'm excited to get my first position in the industry. My long-term goals are to learn a variety of areas within the field of nuclear engineering and work toward deciding what area of specialization I want to focus on. I'd love to become an expert in one specific field of nuclear engineering in the long term, but I know the first step is to build a solid foundation and learn the basics in an entry-level role. I saw this job offers exposure to a variety of areas, which was very interesting to me."
Written by Sue Oberliesen on March 5th, 2022