What is your dream job and why?

The question "Tell me about your ideal job" might be a challenging one to answer during an interview. Even if the job you're applying for could have nothing to do with your ideal work, you shouldn't bring it up if it's not relevant to the position. Instead, you should focus on making a connection between your response and the job for which you are interviewing.

Find out more about the information that interviewers aim to glean from your answers, as well as some dos and don'ts for responding to this question.

What the Interviewer Is Looking to Learn from You

During the interview, your prospective employer's primary emphasis will most likely be on determining whether or not you possess the abilities necessary to perform well in the role.

However, they will also be interested in knowing how driven you are to accomplish the work, as well as whether or not you would be content with the position if you get it. This question gives the interviewers a chance to evaluate your level of motivation. Your answer may also provide a look into your core beliefs, areas of interest, and areas of focus as an employee.

How to Respond When Someone Asks, "What Is Your Dream Job?"

Your answer to the question, ideally, should make reference to certain aspects of the work that is currently being done. For instance, if the work is in customer service, you can claim that your ideal job would include a lot of contact with clients. This would fit the bill for the definition of a dream job.

You may also respond to this question by focusing on the sector in which you are seeking employment. For instance, if you are seeking employment at an environmental NGO, you might talk about how passionate you are about protecting the environment.

You also have the option of framing your response around the business culture and working environment of your dream workplace. For instance, you may indicate that you are excited to work in an atmosphere that encourages collaboration or that you want to be a part of a team that is enthusiastic about their job. Be cautious to check that the atmosphere you describe is compatible with the one that exists at the workplace of the job you are applying for.

In order to prepare your response, you should engage in some brainstorming about the aspects of the profession that appeal to you:

Do you take pleasure in resolving issues or moderating disagreements?

Do you perform better when the stakes are higher?

Do you consider yourself to be a "people person" who enjoys engaging in conversation with customers or members of the community at large?

Make a Job Description for Yourself to Help You Consolidate Your Response

Create a "profile" of your ideal work that incorporates some of the functions that you want in a job by giving some thought to what it is that you are looking for in a career.

Your "dream job" does not need to be a particular role, such as "Account Executive" or "Public Relations Director," but rather, it might consist of a variety of duties that you would take pleasure in having as a part of your position. Your profile might also contain a description of the kind of work environment and culture in which you flourish and the abilities that you love employing.

Check to see if at least some of those aspects correspond to the job description for which you are seeking and submit your application.

Include some examples of how you've put your abilities to use.

Your response will be more persuasive if you think on the reasons why you considered engaging in these kinds of activities satisfying in the past, as well as the ways in which your skill set is compatible with the kind of work you are looking for. Be prepared to provide some instances of how you have used such abilities in the past and enjoyed putting them to good use.

Give equal weight to the now and the future.

Mentioning a specific objective that you would want to accomplish via your "dream job" is another another approach to responding to the question. For instance, if you are looking for a position with a nonprofit environmental organization, you might write in your cover letter that one of the most important aspects of your ideal career would be working in a position that contributes to the advancement of the green agenda.

In the end, the most important thing to keep in mind when responding to the question "Tell me about your ideal job?" is to communicate your long-term interest in a high-level position without letting that desire eclipse your interest in the job for which you are applying.

The Very Best Responses, Exemplified

Here are three different examples of answers you may provide during an interview in response to the question "Tell me about your ideal job," which may be given to you by the interviewer. Make use of these examples as models for your own response.

The First Example of an Answer

The opportunity to apply my communication and customer service abilities is something that I seek for in a profession, and it is something that I really like about working as a customer service representative. I really like collaborating with clients to find solutions to their issues in a timely and efficient manner. In the far future, after I have honed my knowledge of your product line and established solid rapport with your clientele, I would appreciate the opportunity to work in sales for your company.

Why It's Effective: This response is effective for the following reasons: first, the applicant demonstrates the customer service talents he would offer to the role. second, the candidate hints to a relevant career trajectory. why it's effective: He makes it quite evident that he is enthused about the principal tasks of the work and that he intends to remain in the area for an extended period of time.

Example of Response No. 2

My ideal career would include a significant degree of collaboration amongst coworkers on things like frequent staff meetings and group projects. The fact that this position places a strong emphasis on communication among coworkers as well as between management and staff is one of my favorite aspects of it. At my former position, I was responsible for fifty percent of the team tasks, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue working in teams and maintaining open lines of communication here.

Why It's Effective: This applicant does an outstanding job of relating her response to the job that she is looking for, citing strong examples of how she is well-versed in the collaborative cooperation abilities that the role will need from her.

Example of Response No. 3

My ideal career would include creating content for websites owned by a range of different businesses. It's a lot of fun for me to get to know the various clients and tailor the material I provide to their specific requirements. My most recent position, for instance, required me to engage with customers in a range of sectors, ranging from healthcare to education, and I was complimented on the quality of my work with a number of different businesses. I really like the fact that this position would provide me the opportunity to deal with a variety of customers.

Why It Is Effective: This applicant, like the others, has done research on the company and has a good understanding of the responsibilities that his new position would involve, such as customer interactions, multitasking, and flexibility. As a result, he is able to use his prior experience working with clients as a "selling point" to sway people in his favor when it comes to his campaign.

What Should Not Be Said

It's easy to get the impression that anything goes when you're responding to open-ended queries like this one. You are, however, still participating in an interview for the position, and your comments will be carefully evaluated. Answers that are extremely grandiose, such as "My ideal job is CEO," are not very appealing to listen to. And if you've always wanted to be a professional novelist or a sommelier, you should probably keep that knowledge to yourself during the interview for the staff accountant post you're applying for.

The following are some more items that should not be included in your response:

Do not identify particular job titles; instead, keep the emphasis on the competency requirements of the jobs.

Functions that need a lot of ambition: proceed with caution here. If the tasks of the position you're looking for are quite different from those of your ideal job, it may give the impression that you wouldn't be satisfied in the role for very long. However, this is not always the case. Interviewers are more keen to recruit candidates who will remain at the company for a longer period of time than ones who will only stay for a short period of time.

If you are looking for a job and you declare that the position you are applying for is your dream job, it may seem a little bit false. Don't do that.