Say the interviewer asks you this in a job interview:
What are your long-term career goals?
What will you say?
The best answer to this really does depend on the company you’re interviewing with—is it a flat company or a structured company? Some companies want you to be planning ahead, and others don’t have anywhere for you to go—so they will be threatened if you aggressively talk about advancement, promotions, etc.
Either way, don’t give the impression that your entire focus is on getting to the CEO’s seat, and don’t give the impression that your long-term goal is completely different from this job. Both imply that you may not give your best work because your focus won’t be here.
Keep your answer general:
“It’s difficult to predict exactly where I’ll want to be long-term, but I know I want to continue to learn and develop my skills and achieve in this field. I am good at what I do, and that is rewarding. I know that as I grow more, I’ll want to move into roles of greater responsibility, whether that’s added responsibility in this position or in a higher-level position down the line.”
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This question and answer is just one of the 101 job interview questions and answers in my ebook How to Answer Interview Questions II, available on Amazon. (Along with the Keys to a Great Interview!)
If you know there’s a job interview in your future, I encourage you to get this book (How to Answer Interview Questions II) as well as the first book, How to Answer Interview Questions. Both books have 101 job interview questions and answers that will have you ready to stand out in any job interview and get the offer.
