How to Answer: Tell me about your long term career goals. What is your ideal career path or position?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Shift Leader job interview.
13. Tell me about your long term career goals. What is your ideal career path or position?
How to Answer
Some people take lower-paying positions as a 'foot in the door' to a better-paying position in the company. Some others might see it as a way into a higher position. The pathways to certain positions may not necessarily be there.
Imagine if the company only hires managers externally and there is no path to be promoted into a management role. Now imagine that you said that you're looking to be promoted into a management role. You have now given the interviewer cause to dismiss you as a viable candidate.
Therefore it is best to maintain an ambitious tone without giving a specific path to a position unless you are certain that it is possible in that organization. Instead, focus on aspects of the industry that you enjoy and the skills you're looking to develop.
Answer Example
"The future is unpredictable, and I've learned that the real world has a way of dismantling long term plans. So I don't have a specific path that I'm defining for myself. Throughout my career, I've always looked for opportunities to do a better job, to build my leadership skills, and to provide excellent customer service. I plan to keep doing that and I'll take advantage of any opportunities that present themselves. At the end of the day, I just want to be a customer service rockstar and to influence others to do the same. On the way, I'd like to find a mentor as well."
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