What they are really asking

The interviewer is checking whether what you want matches what they can offer. If you want to manage a team and the role has no reports, you'll be frustrated in six months, and they'll be hiring again. So this is partly a fit question and partly a motivation question: what gets you out of bed?

The trap is answering with things any job gives you, like "a good salary" or "a friendly team." They're true, but they don't tell the interviewer anything. The other trap is asking for something the job obviously can't give. Read the job description first, then pick things that are really in it.

A shape that works

Two wants, both visible in this role. Name one thing about the work itself, like the kind of problems you want to solve, and one thing about growth, such as a skill, a responsibility or a kind of team. Tie each one to something specific in this job. Leave pay out of it unless they ask; it isn't wrong, but it's a different conversation.

Model answers

Listen to how each answer is built, then make it yours.

Answer 1: a supply chain analyst in Seattle
Answer 2: a physiotherapist in Manchester
Answer 3: a video editor in São Paulo

Check yourself

1Why is "a good salary and a friendly team" a weak answer?
2What do all three answers do?

Practice · 3 min

Find a job description you're interested in. Pick one thing about the work and one thing about growth that you really want and that the role offers. Record your answer, naming the specific part of the job each one connects to.

Your recording stays on this device. Nothing is uploaded.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.