Success means different things for different people. This week’s KIQ wants to find out how you define it.
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Workplace expert and author Lynn Taylor has come across a lot of trick questions hiring managers have asked. One of those questions is: “How do you define success?”
It a question that is used to probe an applicant’s priorities and motivations, according to Taylor. It could be a big pay check, the thrill of a new challenge or the drive to learn new skills; the hiring manager who asks this wants to know what gets you out of bed in the morning.
The tricky part of this question is trying to gauge what the hiring manager is looking for. Success is highly subjective and it’s possible that your answer could be misinterpreted.
“There’s a fine line between sounding ambitious and appearing as if you’re eyeing the top spot in the office — because you ‘really want to advance and make a difference’,” Taylor said.
So what’s a good answer to this question? Taylor suggests to define success in a way that relates to the prospective employer. Stay specific and shape your response to fit the job. An example of this would be: “Applying my brand expertise to the strategic marketing goals you’ve established for XYZ company, building on your existing success.”
How would you tackle this question? Let us know in the comments.
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