The Best Ways to Answer "What Are You Looking for in Your Next Role?"

How to Answer "What Are You Looking for in Your Next Job?"

Tailor your answer to the company's mission or job requirements. When an interviewer asks you what you're looking for in your next job, what they're really hoping to find out is if you're a good fit for their company and the role. To reassure them you're a good fit (and pass the interview), explain how your career goals align with the company's core values and the requirements of the job you're applying for. For example, if the company describes the job you're applying for as "fast-paced," tell the interviewer, "I'm interested in challenging roles that keep me on my toes." If one of their core values is diversity and inclusion, say, "I'm excited by the idea of working with a wide variety of people and learning from their perspectives."

Emphasize the skills and experience you bring to the company. Some of the top qualities interviewers tend to look for in candidates include leadership abilities, flexibility, teamwork, communication, and crisis management. When you address your experience, mention ways you achieved success in past roles and your work's impact. This strategy will show the interviewer the real value you would provide as an employee.

Be truthful about your priorities, abilities, and experience. It may be tempting to lie to the interviewer about your experience or skills just to get the job. Always choose to respond honestly, as it will make you sound more authentic in the interview and give you a greater chance of landing the role. If you're having trouble getting excited about the job applied to, try to find at least one thing you like about the company. For example, if you're applying for the graveyard shift as a merchandise stocker, you can tell the interviewer, "I'm looking for a role with steady hours and straightforward duties."

Keep your response short and to the point. It's easy to ramble on or give a vague answer to this question, especially when you're nervous. Avoid sounding awkward or too vague by practicing your answer ahead of time. When in doubt, list off your top priorities, like developing your skills or working in an inclusive environment.

Avoid focusing on compensation and benefits. While your interviewer will probably ask you about your expected salary, their first objective is to discover whether you're interested in the job for more than money. If you express enthusiasm for how the role will advance your career, for example, the interviewer will see you as someone who can grow with the company instead of as someone chasing the next biggest paycheck. If possible, wait until the interviewer brings up compensation and benefits to discuss it. If the interview seems like it's about to end and they still haven't broached the subject, politely ask them about the role's projected salary and for a brief overview of the benefits you can expect to receive.

Example Answers by Profession

Software Development "I'm looking for a role where I can continue to hone my skills in software development. As such, I'm ready to embrace new challenges and put my experience, flexibility, and communication skills to good use."

Customer Service "One of my core values is helping people, so I'm looking for a job that gives me the opportunity to do just that. I also have experience in crisis management and have successfully helped resolve conflicts with customers at my previous job."

Construction "I'm looking for a job where I can use my project management skills to complete projects with an amazing team. I'm resilient and hardworking, and I feel confident that I would thrive in such a role."

Finance "In my past roles, I made a positive impact on people's lives by helping them turn their finances around. Now, I'm looking for a job with a great company where I can achieve similar success."

Education "I want to work in a role where I can have a real impact on education. I'm also interested in institutions that foster teamwork and collaboration, and that make communication a priority."

Healthcare "What I want from my next role is a challenging environment that pushes me to become better at what I do. I'm experienced at handling crises and my top core value is prioritizing patients' wellbeing."

Why do interviewers ask "What are you looking for in your next job?"

Interviewers ask this question to determine if you're a good fit. Your answer tells them about your character, your work ethic, and your vision for your future. These details help them decide if you'll fit in with their company culture; if you're truly invested in working for the company or only interested in the paycheck; and whether you intend to stay for a long time. These are important considerations interviewers must make before they offer to make you a part of their team. Interviewers may phrase the question in a few different ways. Here are common variations of the question: "Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?" "With all your past experience and skills, how are you looking to grow and develop those qualities even more in your next job?" "What type of company would you be enthusiastic about working with?" "What core values do you look for in a company when you're thinking about working for them?" "What type of projects and impact would you like to make in your next role?" "What skills are you most excited to bring to bear in a new role, and are there any new ones you're interested in learning?"

How to Find What You're Looking for in Your Next Job

Decide where you want your career to go from here. Ask yourself if you want to advance to new levels in your profession or if you want to stay where you're at. There's no wrong answer, but having an answer will help you define your career path so you can explain what you're looking for to the interviewer.

Analyze your work experience for priorities to focus on. Were there specific things you liked or didn't like about jobs you had in the past? If so, make them priorities for your next role. For example, if you had a micromanager in a previous role and don't want to experience that management style again, emphasize your ability to work on projects or tasks independently without direct supervision. This strategy isn't guaranteed to help you land a role with no downsides; after all, no company is perfect. But it can help you advocate for yourself and ensure that the company you're hoping to work for is as good a fit for you as you are for them. Avoid complaining or ranting about a bad experience or issue in the past. Instead, focus on your goals and skills that might prevent them from happening again.

Consider your personal goals, not just your professional ambitions. There's more to life than work, and in many cases, our personal lives dictate the types of jobs we hope (or need) to get. Parents and caregivers, for example, may prioritize jobs with flexible schedules. For people with chronic illnesses, having sick leave is an absolute must. It's perfectly okay to make your next role fit in with your off-the-clock schedule, not the other way around.