Marsha Hebert 
When an interviewer asks you this tricky question, you need a killer answer
You're face-to-face with an interviewer and things have been going well. You'd go as far as to say that you're feeling pretty confident. You might even have this in the bag. And then, they ask you this common interview question: “What is your dream job?”
It's a real curveball. Until this point, the interviewer has stuck to the position at hand. However, with this simple question, they're asking you to speak broadly about your professional future. As if that wasn't intimidating enough, there's a right and wrong way to respond. Mis-step and you might ruin your chances of getting hired.
If you want to know how to give a glowing answer, you've come to the right place. Planning your response in advance will give you the best chance of wowing the interviewer. You first need to consider what they're really asking and how you can win them over in a few sentences. In this guide, we'll take a look at how to answer this question like a pro.
First up, consider what the interviewer wants to know
Asking yourself “what is my dream job?” is something of a misleading question. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that the interviewer wants to know what you wanted to be as a child. While your dream jobs list may have included firefighter, astronaut, or dancer, that's not strictly relevant here. Unless you've done the education and training, it doesn't matter.
Equally, if your actual dream job has nothing to do with the role you're applying for, you probably shouldn't mention it. The interviewer likely isn't interested in the fact that you would love to be a singer-songwriter when you're applying for an admin role. Saying something that has zero to do with the job at hand is likely to work against you here.
To effectively answer this question, you need to get inside the interviewer's mind. Consider what they really want to know when they ask you about your dream job. Hiring managers use this seemingly innocent question to find out about your skills, personality, and goals. Here's a quick breakdown of what they hope to learn about you when you answer:
What motivates you professionally
First up, the interviewer wants to know what motivates you. What is it that drives you forward? Do you have an innate passion for this sector? Or, on the other hand, are you simply treading water until something better comes along? By asking you what your dream job is, the hiring manager is hoping to get an insight into what inspires you to work hard.
What skills you're bringing to the table
The interviewer is only interested in how your answer aligns with the job they're hiring for. With that in mind, one of the other things they're trying to determine is the skills you currently have and will be bringing to the table. This interview question gives you the opportunity to speak freely about your professional talents and how you use them.
What career plans you have for the future
Dream jobs have the unique power of forcing us to look toward the future. It's not about what you're doing right now - it's about where you envision your career going. If you have big plans for your professional future, and they align with this particular role, now is the time to talk about them. The interviewer wants to know whether you have your future career mapped out and how the role for which they are hiring fits into your journey.
How willing you are to climb the career ladder
Are you a real go-getter? Do you want to climb the career ladder? Or are you happy to stay in the same position and keep things ticking over? When an interviewer asks you what your dream job is, they're encouraging you to think big. That means considering where the position that you're applying for will take you in the years to come.
Your eagerness to learn new things and develop
Career development is a massive deal. When you're applying for a single position, it's rarely a straightforward situation. You have to consider what learning opportunities the company will afford you and how you can use them to push yourself forward. When you're answering this question, the interviewer wants to find out how eager you are to learn. Use this knowledge to your advantage and weave your willingness to do so into your answer.
Tips to help you answer this interview question
Now that you have a firm grip on what the hiring manager is asking, let's talk about how you answer the question. The last thing you want to do is to walk into your next interview without knowing what you would say here. While the question may have you scratching your head, there are a few factors that you can focus on. Here are our expert tips:
Focus on your professional values
We each have values that guide us through our careers. So, what are yours? When you're answering this interview question, you may want to start with your values and how they align with this sector. For example, if you're applying to work within a charity that educates deprived children, you can talk about how your dream job would mean making a difference to young people's lives. There's a reason that you've applied for this particular position. When you're responding to the question, include that driving force.
Talk about your long-term goals
As we've already covered, the “dream jobs'' question urges you to consider the future. Where do you see yourself in five years? If you're the type of person who knows where you're heading, there's nothing wrong with letting the interviewer in on that secret. Of course, there's one major caveat. You need to ensure that your future goals work with the job that you're applying for. If there's any disparity there, you should leave it out.
Include the basics of the job at hand
Never lose sight of the fact that you're applying for a specific position. Sure, the question “What is your dream job?” may conjure up hundreds of interesting answers. Your mind may boggle at all of the professions that you could have. However, if none of them have anything to do with the role you're applying for, you shouldn't mention them. Instead, ensure that you talk about the fundamentals of the role that you're applying for. For example, if you are going for a managerial role, talk about your passion for leadership.
Never pinpoint a specific job title
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when answering this interview question is pinpointing a specific job title. By doing that, you pigeon-hole yourself. Focusing on a single position makes you seem small-minded - as though you have tunnel vision. It also misses the point of the question. Don't be fooled. The interviewer is interested in how your skill and goals fit in with the job and company. Stick to a wider, more generic answer rather than providing a list of dream jobs.
Talk about the next step (after this job!)
Hiring managers are always on the hunt for candidates who want a long-term career with the company. Luckily, the “dream job” question gives you the chance to speak about how you wish to develop yourself professionally within the business. Let's say that you do land this job, what does the future hold for you? Will you be looking to take a step up in the years to come? Will you be pushing for a promotion? What plans do you have already?
There's nothing wrong with showing some ambition. While you don't want to turn around and say your “dream job” is CEO of the company, you can be honest and say you'd like to manage a team. You might talk about how you plan to learn and develop your existing skill set in the position at hand, and then take your newfound knowledge to new heights.
Speak about your ideal company culture
The company culture is the shared vision, values, and attitudes that staff members have. When the “dream job” question comes up, it's a smart time to start speaking about your ideal company culture. What do you expect from the business? How do your existing morals align with what you've seen from this company? Wherever possible, you should relate this part of your answer back to the business and the position you're going for.
Dream job examples that will impress interviewers
If you find yourself facing this interview question, you shouldn't be highlighting specific job titles. However, you can give some generic positions that showcase where you see your career going in the future. If you're looking to pique the hiring manager's interest, let them know that you have a career game plan. Here are some dream job examples:
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Supervisor
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Team leader
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Head of department
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Senior executive
You may choose to weave these terms into your answer. Rather than sharing that you want a specific job title, these names signify positions in the company. By sliding these into your response, you let the interviewer know just how ambitious you are. While your goal shouldn't be outlandish, it can pay off to let them know how high you've set your sights.
“What is my dream job?” example answers
Ready to plan out your answer? While the response you use will be unique to your experiences and goals, it's worth looking at the examples below for some inspiration. Each of the answers that we cover focuses on one approach you may choose to use:
Example 1: Talk about your talents
“My dream job would see me working closely with a variety of big name clients. I have a passion for getting to know each client on a personal level and understanding their unique needs. I would love the opportunity to further develop my interpersonal skills and create long-term professional relationships with brands from all around the globe.”
The above answer focuses on one element of the position or field, rather than being too broad. It covers one of the candidate's core skills and further explains how they use that talent when they're on the job. The response also shows that the person is passionate about building a long-term career and expanding on the talents they already possess. Rather than highlighting a position or job title, the answer talks about an aspect of the job.
Example 2: Focus on your values
“I'm looking for a position that aligns with my core value of helping others and spurring positive change. Over the years, I've volunteered with action groups that work with underprivileged communities. I am truly passionate about supporting those who are less fortunate than myself and believe that I have the skill-set to do so. For that reason, my dream job would be within a third-sector business, geared towards supporting others.”
This next example focuses on the person's specific values and delves into why they've chosen this career path. It shows the interviewer that the candidate has a true love for the work that they do and that they are serious about scoping out a career within this sector. Additionally, by mentioning their previous voluntary work, the candidate provides evidence of their interest in the industry. That simple anecdote may be enough to land them the job.
Example 3: Highlight your aspirations
“As a people person, I relish the chance to collaborate with a wider team. In my most recent position, I was in charge of overseeing a small team, allowing me to develop my leadership style. So, in my dream job, I would like to further hone this skill. I'm keen to take on more responsibility and share my knowledge with others. With that in mind, I would be aiming to reach a managerial position in the future.”
With this answer, the candidate reflects on the lessons that they've learned in their existing job and talks about where they see their career heading. Instead of stating the exact position they would be aiming for, they speak about becoming a manager. This approach tells the interviewer that they have career progression plans beyond the role.
Example 4: Express a desire to learn
“My ideal job would be one in which I can develop my skills. One of the things that has attracted me to the role at this company is the training scheme you offer. As someone who is always excited about the prospect of learning and educating myself, I would appreciate the opportunity to grow my skill set within the business. I'd then hope to take those talents into a higher level position within the company.”
If the position will afford you the chance to learn new things or even gain qualifications, it may be a smart move to focus on that. Switching your answer around to include your desire to expand your knowledge is never going to work against you. For one thing, this move shows that you've read the job specification. It also allows you to assure the hiring manager that you're a good investment for the business, as you will stick around.
How not to answer this particular question
Now that we've covered the ways that you should answer this question, there's one final thing you should know. Believe it or not, there is a wrong answer that you should avoid at all costs and it may be the first thing you think of. Don't say that the job for which you are applying is your dream job. This answer sounds entirely insincere - and it likely is.
When you give a knee-jerk reaction like this one, it tells the interviewer that you haven't given the question any real thought. Instead, you've blurted out what you think they want to hear. That can come across as smarmy and fake. You can leave the flattery at the door.
Go into the interview well prepared
If you're preparing for your next interview, don't forget to ask yourself “what is my dream job?” and draft an answer to this question. You don't want to be caught off guard when you're in the hot seat. Having at least a brief idea of how you can respond means that you won't stumble over your words. You may want to jot down some notes or even bullet-point what you may say. That way, should the question rear its ugly head, you will have a razor-sharp reply.
Acing interviews doesn't have to be challenging. If you want to give yourself a competitive edge, our expert TopInterview coaches can guide you through things.