Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

It's important to be able to articulate your dream job. Not just for personal reasons, but also for when you're asked about it in interviews. But, how can you even begin to describe your ideal job, especially to someone who's clearly going to be judging your response? Just picking a place to start is a head-scratcher.

First, let's talk about what you're good at doing, or your strengths. It's likely you've already had the chance to talk about this topic a bit during the interview, so it makes for a nice transition. Highlight the skills that you enjoy using most, not just the ones you're a superstar at. This is about your dream job, so don't shy away from mentioning any that you want to grow as well.



Next, it's time to talk about what interests you. Think big picture for this. What drew you to your industry? What's something you did as a kid that's actually found its way into your work? What is it about your career that keeps you engaged? Weave that in.

Giving a sense of what your career values are will give the interviewer an idea about what motivates you; it's a good way to bring the focus back to the company you're interviewing for. It also adds some extra complexity to your answer. You're not just saying, "I want an interesting job that I'm good at." I mean, that's nice, but this is your dream job we're talking about!



Don't pigeonhole yourself with anything that official. Instead, give the hiring manager a more nuanced response by covering your skills, interests, and values. He or she will get the chance to learn more about you-and you have more flexibility to line up your career goals and the position you're applying for. That's a win-win.

What is the tone of the passage?