How to define your career aspirations
Do you have a ‘dream job’? Are you aiming to be at the top of your field? Perhaps you just want a job that you enjoy and that pays enough for you to travel or start a family. Whatever you hope for your future, having career aspirations will help get you there.
How can you narrow down your career aspirations? At this early stage in your life, you might not be sure what you want to — but everyone has future aspirations of some kind. They can be set career goals, like wanting to own your own business or lead a company. Or they can be more general and flexible, like wanting work-life balance and having flexible work hours.
Your aspirations now, as vague as they might be, can help guide your decision-making, which is why it’s important to figure them out. That way, when you hear job-interview questions like What are your career aspirations? or Where do you see yourself in five years? you’ll be able to answer confidently. In this article, we explain the career aspiration meaning and some examples to help you define yours.
What are career aspirations?
What do we mean when we talk about professional aspirations? In simple terms, career aspirations are the things you hope to achieve in your professional life. They’re goals or ideals that you want to reach or get close to in the future. They’re typically long-term objectives that you can work towards gradually as you progress in your career.
There are many different types of career aspirations. Some are fuelled by financial incentives, others are more personal. Some involve reaching a high level of skill and expertise, while others are more focused on job satisfaction and enjoyment. Career aspirations can vary a lot and are likely to change over the course of your lifetime.
Why do interviewers ask about your career aspirations?
What are your career aspirations? is a common job interview question. There are several reasons why a recruiter might be interested in hearing about your job goals, even if you included a career aspiration statement on your resumé.
They might want to see how driven and ambitious you are, and how motivated you are to succeed. They might also be checking that your ambitions align with the job you’re applying for and the objectives of their organisation. The question is sometimes used to get an idea of where you hope to be in the coming years and how long you’re likely to stay at their company.
How to identify your career aspirations
How do you begin to define personal career aspirations? The first step is self-reflection: thinking about where you’d like to be in the future, in terms of wealth, lifestyle, location and family. Introspection about these general goals should give you a good idea about which professions will suit your desired outcomes.
Start by asking yourself questios like, What would my ‘dream’ job be? and Where would I love to be in five years from now? The answers may enlighten you about what your career aspirations could be.
By identifying where you ideally see yourself in the future, you can figure out your career aspirations. While you’re self-reflecting, also take into consideration your best traits, strongest skills, areas where you excel, and the types of work that you tend to enjoy. All of these can be aligned with your professional aspirations.
How to answer “What are your career aspirations?”
At any job interview, you can expect to hear a question along the lines of What are your career aspirations? If you have clear aspirations and they align with the role, your answer will be fairly straightforward. However, if you’re not sure what you want from your career, let the job description guide your answer.
For example, If you’re applying for a trade apprenticeship, your answer should be related to a senior position or expert skill level in that trade. If you’ve applied for an entry-level role at a big company, you can talk about how your career aspirations are to work your way up to a management position in that industry. If you’re just not sure, you can say you’re interested in gaining more experience in the industry or area of the job role, and that you’re keen to learn as much as you can and see where your knowledge and skills take you.
Don’t share aspirations with an interviewer that aren’t relevant to the role you’re applying for, or if it suggests you won’t stay long term. For instance, if the job is an entry-level marketing role and you’re hoping to eventually own your own marketing firm, that’s a career goal you should keep private. Most hiring managers want to hear aspirations that imply you will stay with their organisation for at least a few years.
Career aspiration examples
To give you a head start on how to phrase your answer in a job interview, here are some career aspirations examples. Your aspiration statement should have one overarching goal and a rough explanation of the path you intend to take there (which should align with the job role).
Example 1: Becoming a finance expert
My goal is to be an analyst with a top-tier financial institution. I’m interested in learning as much as I can in the next few years, honing my skills and getting real-world experience. Eventually I see myself in a leadership position in finance, ideally at a global company like this one.
Example 2: Making a difference as a marketing professional
I want to help people and make a positive impact on society as a whole. I want to use my qualifications and skills in digital media to improve the lives of others and I feel like this role would allow me to do that. In the future, I’d love to be working as a senior campaign strategist in the humanitarian or ESG sectors, either here or overseas.
Example 3: Owning your own business in a trade
First I’d like to get a good foundation in carpentry through an apprenticeship like this one. I’m keen to learn a lot in the next five years or so, working on different jobs, doing different things. Down the track I’m interested in being either a master carpenter or foreman, or even learning more trades. Right now I’m just focused on getting the experience with a good team.”
Example 4: Working in education
I’ve always wanted to be a primary school teacher. I love working with children and have worked with children as a babysitter since I was a teenager. I would love to work for a local school and potentially move into special education in a few years’ time. Ultimately I’d love to be a vice principal or principal at a selective school like this one.
Over time, and with more experience, you may find that your career aspirations change. You might not enjoy your job as much as you thought you would or perhaps your career took an unexpected turn. Maybe the priorities you had as a young adult shifted as you got older. Even in career paths that seem straightforward, it’s not uncommon for professional goals to change industries five or 10 years down the line.
What are some good career aspirations?
The best career aspirations are those that are unique to you. Here are some more examples of career aspirations in general that you can use as inspiration for your own.
- To work in a field you feel passionate about
- To be an expert in your field
- To make a positive impact on people’s lives
- To work your way up to a leadership role
- To have good work-life balance
- To become a leader or mentor
- To be creative every day
- To work for a top company in your industry
- To be a team leader
- To develop new products or services
- To develop your skills to your best abilities
- To find a job that allows you to travel the world
- To help the environment
No matter what your career aspirations are, they should match your skill set and be realistic to achieve. They should also keep in mind any trends in your industry, whether that’s in technology, healthcare, media or education. It’s important for goals to be achievable, as setting unrealistic expectations for yourself can lead to disappointment and demotivation. Setting up SMART goals is one way to stay motivated and on track.
Beyond giving you a good job interview answer, your hopes for the future can help you make decisions today. They can guide you in the right direction when you’re applying for jobs or considering further studies. Even if they change later on down the track, having career aspirations gives you something to work towards that’s more than just a paycheque.
