“What Are You Looking For in a New Position?”: How to Answer This Interview Question
This seemingly simple question carries significant weight in interviews. Your answer reveals your priorities, motivations, and—critically—whether what you want aligns with what the company offers. A strategic response demonstrates self-awareness while reinforcing why you’re right for this specific role. Here’s how to craft an answer that works.
Why Interviewers Ask This Question
Understanding the interviewer’s objectives helps you respond effectively:
Assessing Fit
They want to know if what you’re seeking matches what they’re offering. A mismatch means someone will likely be disappointed—either you or them.
Evaluating Motivation
Your answer reveals whether you’re running toward something (growth, challenge, mission) or running away from something (bad boss, boring work). The former is more appealing.
Testing Self-Awareness
Can you articulate what you need to be successful and satisfied? Self-aware candidates make better employees.
Understanding Priorities
What matters most to you—compensation, growth, work-life balance, mission? Knowing this helps them assess fit and, if they extend an offer, structure it appropriately.
Gauging Genuine Interest
Are you interested in this specific role or just any role? Genuine interest in this opportunity is far more compelling.
The Strategic Framework
Lead with Professional Goals
Start with what you want to accomplish and learn, not what you want to receive.
Effective approach: “I’m looking for opportunities to lead larger teams and develop my strategic planning capabilities.”
Less effective: “I’m looking for a higher salary and better benefits.”
Connect to the Opportunity
Whatever you say you’re seeking should be available in this role. Reference specific aspects of the position.
Effective: “I’m looking for a role where I can apply my data analysis skills to business strategy, which is exactly what this position offers.”
Less effective: “I’m looking for a management role.” (When applying for an individual contributor position)
Balance Honesty with Strategy
Be truthful about what you want while emphasizing elements that align with this opportunity.
Key Elements to Include
Professional Growth
Companies want employees who are motivated to develop:
“I’m looking for a role where I can continue developing my technical skills while also gaining more exposure to client-facing work.”
“I want to expand my leadership capabilities by managing a larger team and taking on more strategic responsibilities.”
Challenge and Learning
Expressing desire for challenge signals ambition and engagement:
“I’m seeking work that challenges me to think creatively and solve complex problems. The technical challenges in this role really appeal to me.”
“I want to work on projects that push me beyond my comfort zone and help me grow as a professional.”
Mission and Impact
Connecting to purpose demonstrates genuine interest:
“I’m looking to apply my skills somewhere they can make a real difference. Your company’s work in sustainable technology aligns with my values.”
“I want to contribute to something meaningful. The opportunity to help democratize financial services is what drew me to this role.”
Team and Culture
Expressing interest in collaborative environments is generally positive:
“I thrive in collaborative environments and want to work with talented people I can learn from.”
“I’m looking for a team-oriented culture where I can both contribute and continue developing.”
Scope and Responsibility
Seeking increased responsibility signals readiness for the next level:
“I’m ready for expanded ownership of outcomes. I want to be accountable for results at a broader level than my current role allows.”
“I’m looking for end-to-end responsibility for projects rather than working on isolated pieces.”
Sample Answers by Situation
Mid-Career Professional
“At this point in my career, I’m looking for a few things. First, I want to continue building my expertise in digital transformation—it’s where my skills are strongest and where I see the most opportunity for impact. Second, I’m seeking a leadership role where I can guide a team rather than just execute individually. Third, and honestly most importantly for this stage, I want to work on problems that matter. Your company’s focus on making healthcare more accessible resonates with me personally.
This role seems to offer all three: the chance to lead digital initiatives, manage a team, and contribute to meaningful healthcare outcomes.”
Career Changer
“I’m looking for an opportunity to apply my skills in a new context. I’ve spent eight years in financial analysis, but I’ve always been drawn to the operational side—understanding not just the numbers but the processes that drive them. I want a role that leverages my analytical background while letting me develop operations expertise.
What attracts me to this operations analyst position is that it’s a genuine bridge between the two. I can contribute my financial analysis skills immediately while learning the operations discipline I’m excited to build.”
Recent Graduate
“As someone early in my career, I’m looking for a foundation-building role. Specifically, I want to work somewhere I can learn from experienced professionals, contribute to meaningful projects, and figure out where my strengths lie. I know I’m good at data analysis and communication, but I want to discover which applications of those skills excite me most.
Your rotational program is appealing because it offers exposure to multiple business areas while providing the mentorship and structure I know I’ll benefit from at this stage.”
Senior Professional
“At my level, I’m fairly clear on what I want. I’m looking for a role where I can have significant strategic impact—not just execute strategy but help shape it. I want to build and lead a high-performing team, ideally inheriting some strong talent while also making key hires myself. And I want to work somewhere the executive team values the function I’d be leading.
Based on my conversations so far, this VP role offers that opportunity. The direct reporting line to the CEO, the mandate to build the department, and the company’s commitment to investing in this area are exactly what I’m seeking.”
Returning to Workforce
“After several years focusing on family, I’m looking for a role that lets me rebuild my professional identity while accommodating some flexibility. I want meaningful work where I can apply my skills and continue growing—not a placeholder role. At the same time, I’m realistic that I’ll need some time to get up to speed on how things have changed.
This position appeals to me because the work is substantive and the hybrid arrangement would support the balance I need. I’m committed to proving myself and growing within the company.”
What Not to Say
Don’t Focus Solely on What You’ll Get
Avoid: “I’m looking for a better salary, more vacation time, and less stress.”
Better: “I’m looking for a role where my contributions are recognized and valued, with a sustainable pace that allows me to do my best work.”
Don’t Be Generic
Avoid: “I’m looking for a good opportunity with a good company.”
Better: “I’m looking for a role where I can apply my supply chain expertise to solve complex logistics challenges for a company with a strong reputation for innovation—exactly what this position offers.”
Don’t Badmouth Current/Previous Employers
Avoid: “I’m looking for somewhere with competent management, unlike my current job.”
Better: “I’m seeking an organization where I can learn from experienced leaders and continue developing my skills.”
Don’t Make It All About You
Avoid: A response entirely focused on what you’ll receive without mentioning what you’ll contribute.
Better: Balance what you want with what you’ll bring to the role.
Don’t Contradict the Opportunity
Avoid: Saying you want management experience when applying for an individual contributor role.
Better: Research the role thoroughly and align your answer accordingly.
Balancing Honesty and Strategy
Be Truthful
Your answer should be genuine. If you accept a role based on misrepresented priorities, you’ll likely be unhappy.
Be Strategic
Emphasize aspects of what you want that align with this opportunity. You don’t need to mention everything.
Be Specific
Generic answers are forgettable. Specific answers demonstrate thoughtfulness and genuine interest.
Handling Follow-Up Questions
”Why Are You Leaving Your Current Position?”
Connect your answer to what you’re seeking:
“What I’m looking for—strategic leadership opportunities—isn’t available in my current organization’s structure. This role would give me the scope I’m ready for."
"What If This Role Doesn’t Offer [Something You Mentioned]?”
Be honest but flexible:
“That’s important to me, but it’s not a dealbreaker if other aspects of the role are strong. I’d want to understand what the growth path might look like."
"Is Salary the Most Important Factor?”
Never say salary is your top priority, even if it is:
“Compensation matters—I have financial obligations like everyone else—but it’s not my primary driver. I’m more focused on finding the right fit where I can contribute and grow. If those elements are right, I’m confident we can find compensation that works for both of us.”
Preparation Steps
Research the Role
Understand what the position actually offers so your answer aligns:
- Review the job description carefully
- Research the company’s growth trajectory
- Understand the team structure
- Learn about advancement opportunities
Reflect on Your Priorities
Before the interview, honestly assess:
- What professional development do you want?
- What kind of work energizes you?
- What environment do you thrive in?
- What’s non-negotiable vs. nice-to-have?
Identify Overlap
Find where your genuine priorities intersect with what this role offers. That intersection is your answer.
Practice Delivery
Your answer should sound natural, not rehearsed. Practice enough to be comfortable but not robotic.
Making the Connection
Your resume and cover letter establish your qualifications; your interview establishes fit. When you answer this question effectively, you create a narrative connection between your background (documented in materials created with tools like 0portfolio.com) and your future with this organization.
The best answers make interviewer think: “This person wants exactly what we’re offering, and they understand why this opportunity suits them.”
Key Takeaways
Do:
- Lead with professional goals and growth
- Connect your answer to specific aspects of this role
- Balance what you want with what you’ll contribute
- Be genuine about your priorities
- Show you’ve done your research
Don’t:
- Focus solely on compensation and benefits
- Give generic answers that could apply anywhere
- Describe what the role clearly doesn’t offer
- Badmouth previous employers
- Sound rehearsed or inauthentic
When interviewers ask what you’re looking for, they’re offering you an opportunity to demonstrate fit. Take it seriously, prepare thoughtfully, and use this question to reinforce why you and this role are right for each other.
