Latest / Interview Prep with Fexingo: Behavioral Questions, Case Studies, and Hiring Manager Insights / How to Answer the What Are You Looking For in Your Next Role Question
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've covered a ton of classic interview questions on this show, but there's one that keeps coming up in listener questions and it's trickier than it sounds: 'What are you looking for in your next role?' Luna: Oh, that one always makes me pause. It sounds so straightforward, but if you're not careful, you end up with something generic like 'I want to grow' or 'I want a new challenge.' Lucas: Exactly. And the problem is, interviewers hear those phrases a dozen times a day. They go in one ear and out the other. So today we're going to break down why this question gets asked and how to answer it in a way that actually lands. Luna: Let's start with the why. What is the interviewer really trying to figure out when they ask this? Lucas: There are a few things. First, they want to see if you've actually thought about your career path. Are you intentional, or are you just throwing applications at the wall? Second, they're checking for alignment. Do your goals match what this role and this company can offer? And third, they're trying to gauge your self-awareness. Do you know what you're good at and what you need to grow? Luna: So it's kind of a test of your EQ as much as your experience. Lucas: Right. And the worst thing you can do is answer with something that has nothing to do with the job. Like, I once heard a candidate say they wanted a role with more travel because they loved exploring new cities. And the role was for a back-office accounting position with zero travel. Luna: Ouch. That's a quick way to get crossed off the list. Lucas: Yeah. So how do you avoid that? I like to use what I call the 'three buckets' framework. You structure your answer around three areas: the role, the team, and the company. Each bucket gets one or two specific things you're looking for, tied back to evidence from your past. Luna: That's smart. Can you walk us through an example? Lucas: Sure. Let's pretend you're interviewing for a marketing manager position at a mid-sized tech company. Your answer might sound like this: 'In my next role, I'm looking for three things. First, a role where I can own the full funnel, from top of funnel awareness to bottom of funnel conversion. In my last job, I built a campaign that increased conversions by 20 percent, and I want to do more of that. Second, a team that's collaborative and data-driven. I thrive when I'm working with people who want to test and learn, not just follow a playbook. And third, a company that's at a stage where marketing can really move the needle. I saw that your CEO just talked about doubling down on product-led growth, and that excites me.' Luna: That's a really solid answer. You're not just listing wants; you're connecting each one to something you've done and something about the company. Lucas: Exactly. And that's the key. Each bucket should have a concrete example, not just an adjective. Don't say 'I want a challenging role.' Say 'I want a role where I can lead a project from kickoff to launch, like the time I did X.' Luna: And what about the team bucket? That's the one people often forget about. Lucas: Right, they focus only on what they want to do, not who they want to do it with. But teamwork is a huge part of any job. So mentioning that you want a cross-functional team, or a team that values mentorship, shows you're thinking about the cultural fit too. Luna: And for the company bucket, you need to do your homework. You can't just say 'I want to work for a growing company.' You have to know something specific about the company's strategy, product, or culture. Lucas: Absolutely. That's where you can stand out. If you can reference a recent quarterly report, a new product launch, or even a quote from the CEO, you show you've done your research and you're genuinely interested. Luna: Let's talk about what to avoid. What's the biggest mistake people make with this question? Lucas: Probably the vagueness we mentioned. But another big one is focusing entirely on what you want to get out of the job, without mentioning what you can give. Like, 'I'm looking for a role where I can learn and develop new skills.' That's fine, but it's all about you. A better framing is 'I'm looking for a role where I can use my skills in X to help the company achieve Y.' Luna: So you're flipping it from what you can take to what you can contribute. That's a good tip. Lucas: And also, avoid talking about salary, benefits, or flexible hours in this answer. Those are better discussed later in the process. This question is about your professional goals, not your personal perks. Luna: Right. And what about mentioning that you want a role that offers work-life balance? Is that off-limits? Lucas: You can mention it, but frame it as something like 'I'm looking for a sustainable pace that allows me to do my best work.' That's more professional than 'I want a nine-to-five.' Luna: Good point. Now, how should someone practice this answer? It's easy to sound robotic if you're not careful. Lucas: I'd say write it out first, but then don't memorize it. Just remember your three buckets and your key examples. Then practice saying it out loud, maybe with a friend or even to yourself, until it feels natural. You want to sound confident, not rehearsed. Luna: And time it. If you're going over two minutes, you're probably rambling. Keep it concise and punchy. Lucas: Definitely. Aim for thirty to sixty seconds. That's enough time to hit all three buckets with a quick example for each. Luna: Speaking of keeping things going, I want to take a quick second here. A handful of listeners chip in monthly through buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo, and honestly, that's what funds making as many of these as we do. It's a small group, but it keeps us ad-free and going. Lucas: Yeah, we really appreciate it. It's what lets us keep doing deep dives like this without any sponsors. Okay, back to the interview question. So we've covered the framework, but what if the interviewer asks a variation like 'What do you want to do in five years?' Luna: Ah, that's a different beast, but you can use the same buckets. For the role, talk about growing into a leadership position. For the team, maybe you want to lead a bigger cross-functional group. And for the company, you want to still be there, contributing to its growth. Lucas: Exactly. And you can tie it back to the specific role you're interviewing for. Like, 'In five years, I see myself having mastered this role and taken on more responsibility, perhaps leading a small team.' That shows you're ambitious but also realistic. Luna: What about if you're interviewing for a role that's a step down? How do you frame that? Lucas: That's a tricky one. You might say something like 'I'm looking for a role where I can focus on deep technical work rather than managing a large team, and this position offers that.' You're turning a step back into a strategic choice. Luna: Good. And what if you don't have a clear answer? What if you're not sure what you're looking for? Lucas: Then you need to do some self-reflection before the interview. Think about your past roles: what did you enjoy doing, what made you proud, what did you dread? Those clues will help you figure out what you want in your next role. Luna: And if you're still stuck, you can always say 'I'm looking for a role where I can apply my skills in X and grow in Y.' That's a safe fallback, but you need to fill in the X and Y with something real. Lucas: Right. The worst thing you can do is say 'I'm just looking for a job.' That tells the interviewer you're not invested in this specific opportunity. Luna: To wrap up, let's sum up the three buckets one more time. Role, team, company. Each with a specific example, tied to the company, and delivered in under a minute. Lucas: That's it. If you can do that, you'll answer this question with confidence and stand out from the sea of 'I want to grow' answers. Luna: And remember, the key is to practice it out loud until it feels natural. Good luck out there. Lucas: And if you want to hear more frameworks like this, you know where to find us. We'll catch you on the next one.