What are your Short-Term and Long-Term Goals: Sample Responses for Freshers

An essential question in any HR interview is about your short-term and long-term goals. As a recent graduate or entry-level employee, it’s important to have a clear sense of direction and purpose in order to succeed in the long-term. The employer might ask you where you see yourself in the next ten years, and your answer will help the employer better understand your goals for yourself and the company.

Are you seeking help picking the right ones from your long list of goals? Read on to learn more about how to answer ‘what are your short- term and long-term goals’ as a fresher.

Read More:

• What are short- and long-term goals?
• What is the employer trying to find out?
• List of Short-term Goals
• List of Long-term Goals
• Sample Responses
• Frequently Asked Questions

What are short- and long-term goals?

Short-term goals for freshers refer to the objectives that a recent graduate or entry-level employee aims to achieve within the first few months or years of starting a new job or career. These goals are typically focused on learning and adapting to the new job or industry, as well as developing the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the long-term.

Long-term goals, on the other hand, refer to the objectives that a person aims to achieve over a longer period of time, usually several years or more. These goals are typically more ambitious and require more planning and commitment to achieve.

What is the employer trying to find out?

The interviewer wants to know your short-term and long-term goals to see if you have a realistic view of the position you’re interviewing for, where they’re likely to lead, and if there are any gaps between the company’s goals and your goals. They also get to judge your goal-setting abilities.

List of short-term goals for freshers 

• Get a platform to enhance my abilities
• Work on your core competencies
• Upgrade my skills 
• Contribute to the growth of the company
• Become a productive member of the organization

List of long-term goals for freshers

• Move through the ranks and gain leadership experience
• Gain management experience
• Becoming an expert in my domain
• Acquire better decision-making skills
• Grow as an individual

Sample responses: Short-term and long term goals for freshers

# Sample 1

As a fresh graduate entering my first full-time job, my short-term goals are relatively simple. I want to be a part of a prestigious organisation like XYZ and quickly adapt to the work culture here. I want to understand the working culture here and learn the basics of corporate culture. As far as my long-term goals are concerned, they align with my short-term goals; I picture myself growing in the field of my choice, gaining experience, and moving up the organisation ladder. 

# Sample 2

My short-term goals are aligned with the job description for the position I’ve applied for, which I have read carefully. I want to learn new skills and hone them to contribute to the company’s growth while also growing as an individual. Working with this team will help me achieve this goal, and the experience I gain will help me progress in my career, which is one of my long-term goals. I strive to achieve bigger targets and objectives and deliver the best outcomes. This way, my short-term and long-term goals are connected, and one helps me fulfil the other.  

# Sample 3 

As a fresher, I want to start building a solid foundation on which to build my career. I’m confident that an opportunity to associate with a prestigious organisation like XYZ will give me ample space to learn and leverage my skills. My short-term goals include learning to meet the challenges this job will offer me daily and preparing myself for the more significant challenges. I want to emerge as an excellent professional, communicator, and leader in the long term. 

# Sample 4 

Being a fresher, my short-term goal is to expand my knowledge base, set realistic targets, analyse my performance and rectify my mistakes, if any, regularly. In the long run, I want to improve myself constantly and evolve as a better professional with a suitable skill set and attitude. I want to continue learning and progress through hard work and dedication. 

 # Sample 5

I would say my short-term goal is to build trust and credibility and work on my skills. Getting placed in a reputed company like XYZ was one of my short-term goals. Now I want to work on building credibility, working as a team, and working hard in these initial years to build a solid foundation. I want to learn multiple skills and gain knowledge and ample experience. As I work on these goals and shape myself professionally and personally, I will also plan my long-term goals. Even if it takes a while, I want to move slowly yet steadily within my career with a strong foundation. 

In conclusion, setting short-term and long-term goals for freshers is an important step as they begin their careers. Short-term goals can help them quickly adapt to their new job or industry, while long-term goals can provide a sense of direction and purpose as they work towards achieving their long-term aspirations. By setting clear and achievable goals, freshers can stay focused and motivated as they work towards achieving success in their careers. It’s also important to review and adjust goals as needed, as an individual’s priorities and aspirations may change over time. Therefore, setting and achieving goals is a continuous process that helps freshers to grow and develop in their careers.

Frequently Asked Questions1.

1. What should I be careful about while answering questions about my goals? 

Try to be honest with yourself and the employer while speaking about your goals. Your body language should reflect confidence and positivity. Try to be short, crisp, and concise. It is advisable to conduct basic research about the organisation, its goals, and its objectives so that you can align your personal goals with those of the company, leaving a good impression on the employer.

2. What are some common goal-setting mistakes I should avoid as a fresher?

Setting unrealistic goals in an attempt to impress the employer is a common mistake made by freshers. Always set genuine, practical, and authentic goals. Another is overlooking the importance of aligning your goals with those of the organization.

3. Why is it important to set both short-term and long-term goals?

Setting goals – both short-term and long-term – is considered a positive trait, and it will help you stay motivated throughout your career. The short-term goals will help you identify challenges and meet them over a gap of days, weeks, months, or years. Once you achieve these short-term goals, you can begin the process of working toward your long-term goals. The employer wants to ensure that any potential employee is serious about his/her future career as well as the growth of the organization.