It sounds like an easy question—what are your goals’—because we all want to achieve something, either in our private or professional life. The question gives one the perfect opportunity to show that their goals and values align with those of the business. However, it may not be as easy to answer as one thinks, which is why you need to be prepared.

Having impressive academic transcripts is obviously great, however, recruiters also want someone who is not just book smart, but one with a vision for practical experience.

Any ambitious person has goals, that’s why it is a popular question during an interview. They use this question to learn more about you and your intentions for applying to their job posting. Unless they specifically ask for personal goals, most times, they are more interested in objectives from a professional point of view, so stay away from personal goals like ‘losing weight’, ‘getting married’, or ‘starting a side business’, to name a few.

Recruiters may ask this question in many ways, for example: What are your future goals? What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in five years? What are your future plans if you get this job? But how well can you answer this question?

Julius Kaberuka, CEO and founder of Kigali Time Service Limited, says that this is a very important question, and anyone applying for a job needs to distinguish between short and long-term goals, and how best they can fulfil them.

He notes that short-term goals can be the pass way to long-term goals, they should be specific, measurable, action-oriented, and realistic.

Kaberuka says to show the interviewer that you are passionate about working in that industry, and give a brief background of past experiences to illustrate your enthusiasm.

He recommends heading for the interview well-informed on the company’s mission and core values, that way, you know where the company is heading or what it is hoping to achieve. This makes it easy to tie your own goals to theirs.

According to Kaberuka, it will put recruiters off if you seem uncertain about your goals, or haven’t figured out any. You will look unserious and it will be the reason you are not hired because every company wants someone with a goal they want to achieve, and how to help the company progress.

Kaberuka adds that it is also important to talk about the value you will add to the company. Although you are expected to learn a lot from the company, it shouldn’t be one-sided, show the hiring manager that the company can learn from you.

He says that the following can guide you on how to answer this question, for example: What are you good at?, What do you want to be good at?, What do you enjoy most about your current job?, What work are you most proud of?, What jobs or projects look appealing to you?, What skills or opportunities will be available in the next few years, or even decades?

He also notes that the question does not require too much time to answer. Keep your answers short, clear and to the point.

Indeed Career Guide gives examples of what not to say when asked about your goals. "Don’t answer with "I’m not sure” or "I don’t know. Don’t talk about money—leave direct talk about salary and benefits off the table. Don’t wander into excess specificity—some details are best left unsaid. Don’t set and express unreachable goals. Don’t offer personal information not relevant to the question. Don’t offer clichés—be yourself with a reliable vision of the future.”

"Employers ask ‘What are your career goals?’ to learn more about your aspirations. Your answer tells them if your expectations for this role align with what they can offer. They want to choose a candidate who is ambitious yet realistic about where the company can take them. By learning more about the company’s values and what their role entails, you can give a more effective answer,” the article "Answering ‘What Are Your Career Goals?’ in an Interview” published by Glass Door states.

"Before your interview, think about what you want out of a career. Determine what skills you hope to develop and what responsibilities you hope to eventually take on. Reflect on both your short-term and long-term career goals and how this position could help you reach them,” the article notes.