What do you do if you struggle to express your career goals during a business services interview?

Navigating a business services interview can be daunting, especially when it comes to articulating your career goals. This is a common challenge, but with a few strategies, you can convey your aspirations effectively, even if they're still taking shape in your mind. The key is to communicate with clarity and confidence, showing that you are both self-aware and forward-thinking. Remember, your career goals are a reflection of your professional identity and ambitions, so it's important to give them the attention they deserve in an interview setting.

1 Reflect Deeply

Before stepping into any interview, take time for introspection. Reflect on what you truly want from your career in business services. Consider the roles that excite you, the skills you wish to develop, and the impact you aim to have. If you find it difficult to pinpoint exact positions or career paths, think about the values and interests that guide your professional choices. Understanding these can help you frame your goals in a way that is both genuine and adaptable to different opportunities.

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Mildred Dillon CPA

Helping You Keep More Money. You Earned It! Pay Less In Taxes. Practical Tools To See Your Numbers Clearly & Gain Confidence. Bonus: 🤩 See Company & Podcast Page for Business & Entrepreneurship!
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Even if you trip up on the words, or don’t say it in exactly the “right way,” if you identify your passions ahead of time, your enthusiasm can make up for it. Knowing and aligning with your “why,” and living out those values will make up for the perfect pitch every time. It’s the authenticity people are looking for. And it’s the biggest part many rush through.

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2 Articulate Clearly

When discussing your career goals, clarity is crucial. If you struggle to express them, try breaking down your aspirations into short-term and long-term goals. For short-term goals, focus on immediate steps such as skills you want to acquire or roles you aim to explore. Long-term goals might be more about the overarching direction of your career, such as leadership aspirations or the desire to innovate within the business services sector. Practice articulating these points out loud to build confidence.

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3 Stay Flexible

It's okay if your career goals aren't set in stone. In the dynamic field of business services, adaptability is a valuable trait. When asked about your goals, express openness to new experiences and a willingness to learn from various roles and projects. Emphasize how your core skills and interests will guide you through evolving career objectives. This approach shows that you're prepared to grow with the company and industry changes.

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Mildred Dillon CPA

Helping You Keep More Money. You Earned It! Pay Less In Taxes. Practical Tools To See Your Numbers Clearly & Gain Confidence. Bonus: 🤩 See Company & Podcast Page for Business & Entrepreneurship!
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This is so true. I once heard it said, that if you don’t know what it is you want to do, find someone who does know, get behind and support them. Most people don’t realize it, but this is literally what a job is. Not only does it provide consistent money, which buys you time to figure it out, the right jobs can also lead to a very lucrative long-term career or business. That’s how it worked out for me anyway, and I’m very blessed and fortunate that I remained flexible, went with the flow vs forced things to work, and above all, was always honest with myself about what I did like and what I didn’t like and what I did well. If I had to do over again, I’d do it the exact same way!

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4 Be Honest

Honesty resonates with interviewers. If you're uncertain about specific career goals, it's better to be truthful than to invent ambitions that don't align with your interests. You can acknowledge that you're exploring different facets of business services and are eager to find where your strengths can have the most impact. This sincerity can often be more compelling than presenting a rigid career roadmap that doesn't reflect your true intentions.

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Veronica Nuñez, LCSW

Resilience and Wellness Specialist @ U.S. Marine Corps | LCSW, Psych-education, Group Therapy, Individual Counseling and Case Management Services
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- In my experience, a thank you letter or email goes a long way. I have been nervous on interviews and forgot what to say or didn’t convey my thoughts in detail so to recover from that I would readdress it in a thank you email. And I have received callbacks based off of my candor in those earnest emails. Most importantly just be yourself and the right job will find you.

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5 Relate to Role

Relate your career goals to the role you're interviewing for by demonstrating how it fits into your broader professional vision. Discuss how the position aligns with your skills and interests, and how it could serve as a stepping stone towards your future aspirations. This shows that you've thought about how this particular opportunity can contribute to your career journey, making you a more invested and motivated candidate.

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6 Seek Feedback

Lastly, don't hesitate to ask for feedback from mentors or peers before the interview. They can provide insights on how to better formulate and express your career goals. Additionally, consider asking the interviewer questions about professional development opportunities within the company. This not only conveys your interest in growth but also gives you information to further refine your career objectives.

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Mildred Dillon CPA

Helping You Keep More Money. You Earned It! Pay Less In Taxes. Practical Tools To See Your Numbers Clearly & Gain Confidence. Bonus: 🤩 See Company & Podcast Page for Business & Entrepreneurship!
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Questions indicate true interest, so when you’re asking them, it shows you’re paying attention, really given the opportunity some thought. So this goes along with my first answer about taking that time to “internally” connect before you go for the job. Doing this pre-work can help you formulate the questions to ask in the process of your research. It doesn’t have to feel like a term paper but even if it does, isn’t it worth it to land the right opportunity that works for you and the interviewer? This is not the time to cut corners! And absolutely, if you’re considering entrepreneurship in any way shape or form, you’ll want to perfect this skill or you’ll soon be out of business!

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if you struggle to express your career goals during a business services interview?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Reflect Deeply

2 Articulate Clearly

3 Stay Flexible

4 Be Honest

5 Relate to Role

6 Seek Feedback

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Services

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What do you do if you struggle to express your career goals during a business services interview?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Reflect Deeply

2 Articulate Clearly

3 Stay Flexible

4 Be Honest

5 Relate to Role

6 Seek Feedback

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Services

Rate this article

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