How to Answer 'What Is Your Dream Job?'

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Preparing for an interview is essential, raising the chances of success. Think of why are you attending an interview. You more than likely want to obtain the position. In order to do so, you need to represent yourself to the best of your ability.

Show your potential employer that you’re serious about the position. You cannot predict what exactly an interviewer will ask, so you need to cover all the bases. Some answers will come more naturally to you, however, it’s important to have a rough idea of how you’ll respond to a wide variety of questions.

Employers are always looking for the ways in which you will benefit the company and the progress of their vision. What do you bring to the table? What ideas do you have? What do you value? To get a better feel of what your main focus is, they may ask you questions regarding your ’dream job.’

This can be a tricky question to answer, so make sure you answer appropriately. The following tips will allow you to successfully breeze through this portion of the interview:

If your dream job is unrelated, don’t mention it unless you can tie it into the position you’re applying for. Whenever possible, connect to the prospective position.

Example of an answer:

If you were applying for a position at a graphic design company, but your dream job was owning an art gallery, you could say, “since I was little I wanted to own my own art gallery. I have always had an eye for design and appreciated art. As I grew older, technology advanced. I became more and more intrigued by the software that was emerging. During art school, I took an interest in graphic design, as it was something in which I had never really focused on before. After a couple of weeks, I was excelling. I will always be passionate about the possibility of owning a gallery, but graphic design is my new passion.” 

No matter what your dream job is, make sure you’re relating it to the prospective position. Say your dream job is pursing entrepreneurship; however you’re applying for a teaching position. If your dream job is completely unrelated, you could say something clever like, “My dream job will be something that I excel at, making me successful and happy. In terms of this position, I feel as though I have a lot to offer. I am very focused and passionate, which will be reflected in my teaching abilities. I want to inspire the younger generation to achieve their goals, allowing them to pursue there own dream jobs.”

Your potential employer will want to see that you’ll be satisfied with the position, as this will make you more motivated. Show enthusiasm, as this will improve your chances. Whenever possible, reference elements of the job you’re applying for.

Example of an answer:

Say you’re applying for a customer service job. You do not necessarily need to say that it is your dream job, but you could mention elements that relate to that job. You could respond by saying, “I do not have a specific dream job, however, there are certain aspects that I would want my dream job to incorporate. For me, a dream job means interacting with people. Since this job involves high levels of interaction, it is a position in which I would not only be happy in, but would easily excel. I’m also skilled at problem solving, which is something that you encounter regularly within customer service.”

Focus on skills that you used in the past which reflect your dream job. Don’t be afraid to share examples of instances in the past. Relate any skills to the current position in which you’re applying for.

Example of an answer:

“Instead of thinking of a dream job and building my skills around that idea, I have built my dream job around the skills I already possess. I work extremely well under pressure, finding solutions to various problems. I also excel within a leadership role. Therefore, my dream job has always been focused on management positions, which is why I applied to manage your marketing department. With my degree in marketing and my past experience, I feel as though I’m a great fit.”

At the end of the day, we all have different interests, skills, and ideas for our future. The best answer to this question will convey long-term interest in a high-level position, which will increase your chances of being hired.

If you’re applying for an entry level position, then make it appear as though your dream job is a higher position within that industry. Meaning, you have long-term goals, showing motivation and drive. This is especially beneficial if there’s room for growth. An employer will want to see that you will work towards that future goal, benefiting the company throughout your progress.