So what do I say?

[holly_evolving]

I have this problem. When interviewers ask me what my ideal job is, I don't know the answer. Seriously. I have no idea what to tell them. Not even what might be a good lie.

What would you say if it were you?

Comments

[tehliam.livejournal.com]

porn star?

[holly-evolving.livejournal.com]

I don't think that will get me hired. Also, not at all what I would want to do.

[anisette-toast.livejournal.com]

I always hate questions like this.

However, there are some good ways to answer that which DON'T sound too cheesy and isn't "lying."

First of all, most of the time you wouldn't even BE there interviewing if you weren't moderately interested in the job. So make sure that some of the things which the job requires of you is included in there. Second, play to your strengths. If you love working with people, make sure that's part of your "ideal job" description. If you're great at being an independent worker, taking initiative, being creative, etc. make sure you list that as "things I want to do when I grow up." LOL

My "ideal" job often really has NOTHING to do with my "practical" job. I'd love to be a writer or a dancer. But... I acknowledge that neither of those are particularly practical as I'm not good enough at either to make a living from them.

So instead I look for adminstrative type jobs which involve communication, writing, editorial, cost control, contracts... detail nit-picky stuff that I'm really pretty good at and don't get easily bored doing.

They "expect" answers like that. A lot of times I think questions like that are really just to 1) make sure you're interested in the job you're interviewing for and 2) give you a chance to "show off" what you consider your strenths and how they relate to the job.

Just my two pennies. :)

[msrp.livejournal.com]

I usually say something like this:

My ideal job is not any particular task so much as a particular enviornment. It would allow me to grow and develop my skills, while utilizing the skills I have already acquired. It would challenge me enough to be interesting, but not so much that it makes me hate it. My passion is not my work, it's my band and my art. But I know that I can't support myself and make a decent living doing those things. So my ideal job is a place that is a good working enviornment, where I can do a good job and feel like I'm being productive, and that respects that I feed my soul outside of that.


That's what I usually say, and I find that the kind of places that don't like that sort of answer are probably not the kind of places I want to work. Which may or may not be an approach you're interested in, I don't know. But it did land me this pretty kick ass techie job where I can show off my cherry red hair and Mom tattoo.

[wolf-nd-shadows.livejournal.com]

instead of answering with the perfect job position (beer taster, amusement park ride tester, professional hug deliverer, etc) answer with the characteristics of the ideal job you would want. "my ideal job is one where I can balance my empathic concern for the welfare of others, with exercising my skills in organization and networking while, at the same time, challenging my me enough to develop my abilities further. also, it has to have pie." may work better.

[alphafemale1.livejournal.com]

Well, I think you want a job that's challenging but not frustrating, a job that gives you room to grow, one that uses skills you already have and also allows you to develop new ones, a job where you can work on your own but still seek assistance when needed.

Perhaps?

[cosmic-hiccup.livejournal.com]

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