Last updated on Mar 20, 2024
- All
- HR Management
- Resume Writing
Powered by AI and the LinkedIn community
1
Know your story
2
Tailor your answer
3
Be positive and enthusiastic
4
Provide examples and evidence
Be the first to add your personal experience
5
End with a question or a connection
Be the first to add your personal experience
6
Here’s what else to consider
Be the first to add your personal experience
If you're applying for a job, you might face the question "Why did you choose this career path?" in an interview. This question is not only about your motivation and passion, but also about your fit and alignment with the company and the role. How can you answer it effectively and confidently? Here are some tips to help you prepare and impress your potential employer.
Top experts in this article
Selected by the community from 6 contributions. Learn more
Earn a Community Top Voice badge
Add to collaborative articles to get recognized for your expertise on your profile. Learn more
- Scott Valenti SHRM-CP 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫!💥𝟕𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞.𝐜𝐨𝐦
6
- Swarna Sharma 23K+ Followers | 3.5M+ Impressions | Senior HR Generalist SourceBae | People Culture Enthusiast | Influencer |…
2
- Mary Southern LinkedIn Top Voice - Resume Writing | Podcast Host: Resume Assassin presents Recruiting Insider | Founder: Resume…
2
1 Know your story
Before you go to the interview, reflect on your own career journey and identify the key factors that influenced your choices. Think about your interests, skills, values, goals, challenges, achievements, and learning experiences. How did they shape your decision to pursue this career path? How did they prepare you for the job you're applying for? Write down your main points and practice telling your story in a concise and coherent way.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
- Scott Valenti SHRM-CP 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫!💥𝟕𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞.𝐜𝐨𝐦
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
If someone asks you, "𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉?" you had better have a clear and concise answer! It is totally okay if you fell into this path as that is often the case with career professionals... but try to tie it in with a 𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒆 coupled with your excitement about being really good at what you do! Hiring managers, business partners, employees and just regular people LOVE seeing someone that is excited about their jobs! Celebrate it! But also, be intentional with your 15 second elevator pitch because you never know where it might take you next!
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
6
- Swarna Sharma 23K+ Followers | 3.5M+ Impressions | Senior HR Generalist SourceBae | People Culture Enthusiast | Influencer | Personal Branding Expert | Human Resource Manager | Recruitment Specialist | MBA (HR)
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
If asked why I chose my career path, I'd highlight my passion for the field and how it aligns with my strengths and interests. I'd discuss any formative experiences or role models that inspired me to pursue this path and articulate how I see it as a natural fit for my skills and aspirations. Additionally, I'd emphasize the impact I aim to make within the industry and the sense of fulfillment I derive from contributing to meaningful work. Ultimately, I'd convey my genuine enthusiasm for the career and my eagerness to continue growing and making a difference in this chosen field.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
2
-
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
You really need to do a deep dive introspection to really provide a strong response to the interview question, "Why did you choose this career path?"Take some time to think about what initially drew you to your chosen career path. Think about significant experiences or moments in your life that have contributed to your career choice. Reflect on your long-term career goals and how your chosen career path aligns with them.Identify the skills, strengths, and qualities that make you well-suited for your chosen career path. After you have reflected on these areas, then you can start creating a narrative that connects your personal experiences and motivations. Bottom line, be authentic and genuine in sharing your story.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
1
- Kashaf Noor I Write Personalized Career Stories That Get You Hired | DM for Resume Writing Service
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Before the interview, reflect on what sparked your interest in this field. Was it a childhood fascination, a life experience, or a role model? Passion or practicality? Be honest about your motivations. Did your skills naturally lead you here, or does the work itself deeply resonate with you? Even if your path wasn't linear, showcase how previous experiences honed skills valuable in this role. Briefly mention how your interest or skills have grown over time, demonstrating your commitment to the field. End by mentioning something specific about the company or role that aligns with your career goals.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
2 Tailor your answer
While your story is personal and unique, you also need to adapt it to the specific context of the interview. Research the company and the role you're applying for and find out what they are looking for in a candidate. How does your career path align with their mission, vision, values, and culture? How does it demonstrate your suitability and potential for the role? Highlight the aspects of your story that match their expectations and needs.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
-
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
The real challenge is tailoring your response to the question, "Why did you choose this career path."You do want to be genuine and authentic, but you also want to make sure it aligns with the position you are interviewing for. Consider the organization as a whole, including their mission and culture. How do those align with your own mission?This is a huge one because if you are a great culture fit, you will beat the next person every time. How do your skills, experiences, and accomplishments throughout your career align with the requirements of the role?Truly emphasize why you believe the company and the role are an ideal fit for you. You are well on your way to creating a personalized story that is also aligned to the position.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
1
3 Be positive and enthusiastic
Your answer should not only show your logic and rationale, but also your emotion and passion. Avoid negative or vague statements that might undermine your credibility or interest. Instead, use positive and enthusiastic language that expresses your satisfaction and excitement about your career path. Show how you enjoy and value your work and how you are eager to grow and contribute in the role you're applying for.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
-
- Report contribution
Thanks for letting us know! You'll no longer see this contribution
Trust me, if you are excited and enthusiastic about the position, the hiring manager will remember you. Try expressing your genuine passion for the career path you've chosen. Share what excites you about the field, the work you do, and the impact you can make. Let your enthusiasm shine through as you talk about why you love what you do. Explain why this career path is personally meaningful to you.Highlight why you believe this career path is the perfect fit for your skills, interests, and long-term goals. And don't forget to share success stories and positive experiences from your career journey.
LikeLike
Celebrate
Support
Love
Insightful
Funny
2
4 Provide examples and evidence
Your answer should not be a mere summary or declaration of your career path. It should also include concrete examples and evidence that illustrate your points and showcase your skills and achievements. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your examples and explain how you handled specific situations, challenges, or projects related to your career path. Quantify your results and outcomes whenever possible to demonstrate your impact and value.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
5 End with a question or a connection
Your answer should not be the end of the conversation, but rather an invitation for further discussion. You can end your answer with a question or a connection that relates to the company or the role you're applying for. For example, you can ask about their current goals, challenges, or opportunities, or you can mention something you learned or liked about them from your research. This way, you can show your interest and curiosity, as well as your fit and alignment.
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
6 Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
Resume Writing
Resume Writing
+ Follow
Rate this article
We created this article with the help of AI. What do you think of it?
It’s great It’s not so great
Thanks for your feedback
Your feedback is private. Like or react to bring the conversation to your network.
Tell us more
Tell us why you didn’t like this article.
If you think something in this article goes against our Professional Community Policies, please let us know.
We appreciate you letting us know. Though we’re unable to respond directly, your feedback helps us improve this experience for everyone.
If you think this goes against our Professional Community Policies, please let us know.
More articles on Resume Writing
No more previous content
- You're torn on including coursework on your resume. How do you navigate conflicting advice? 1 contribution
- You're struggling to organize your resume sections. How can you break through writer's block?
- You're considering a career change. How do you decide which experiences to highlight on your resume?
- You're considering a career change. How do you address potential gaps in experience on your resume? 11 contributions
- You're navigating through various job industries. How can you highlight your transferable skills effectively? 10 contributions
- You're crafting your resume. How can you justify including seemingly unrelated coursework? 8 contributions
- You're navigating a new industry's job market. How should you handle salary expectations during applications? 19 contributions
No more next content
Explore Other Skills
- Training and Development (HR)
- Job Search Strategies
- Human Resources (HR)
- Training
- Career Counseling
- HR Consulting
- Career Development
- HR Operations
- Recruiting
- Global Talent Acquisition
More relevant reading
- Strategy What are the best strategies to answer questions about long-term career goals?
- Motivational Interviewing What do you do if you're unsure about your career path during an interview?
- Human Resources What do you do if you're asked about your long-term career goals in an interview?
- Administrative Management What do you do if you're unsure about your long-term career goals in an interview?