What are the best ways to answer the interview question “What do you hope to gain from this experience?”
To help you effectively answer the interview question “What do you hope to gain from this experience?”, we asked career coaches and hiring managers this question for their best responses. From not just focusing on yourself to making sure your growth will help the company, there are several strategies that may help you best answer this question and land a second-round interview.
Here are 10 ways to respond to “What do you hope to gain from this experience?”:
- Don’t Focus Only On Yourself
- Think Long-term
- Treat the Job as a Portfolio Builder
- Define How the Opportunity Works with Your Values
- Emphasize a Love for the Job
- Be Honest with What You Want to Gain
- Learn from More-tenured Employees
- Develop Yourself and Their Company
- Show You Have Studied the Company
- Make Sure Your Growth is Going to Help the Company
What do you Hope to Gain from This Experience?: 10 Answers
Don’t Focus Only on Yourself
“What do you hope to gain from this experience?” is a tricky question! Why? Because you might think that the recruiter wants you to describe only your personal gains when answering this question. However, that’s not always the case.
Many candidates make the mistake of focusing only on what benefits they can get by being selected for a specific role. While it’s OK to talk about learning and development opportunities that you can gain, you should also remember to highlight the unique value you will bring to the table. The recruiter wants to see WHY they should give you a chance and hire you. That’s why you should demonstrate how your skills and experience can benefit your potential employer and help achieve its business goals. In your answer, show that hiring you is a WIN-WIN situation for both you and the company.
Dorota Lysienia, LiveCareer
Think Long-term
Show that you’re thinking long-term. Interviewers want to know whether your goals align with what their company has to offer, but they also want to see how serious you are about the position. As a candidate, you can demonstrate real interest in a company just by taking the time to understand the role you’re applying for, and how it blends with your aspirations. Employers want to hire people who are enthusiastic and genuinely want to be a part of the team. The best way to demonstrate that is to show you’re looking at how this specific position or company can help you develop and how you fit in long-term.
Lisa Odenweller, Kroma Wellness
Treat the Job as a Portfolio Builder
Answering that the job serves as a portfolio builder implies that you’re ready to come in and get your hands dirty. You want to show what you can do, as a way to not only serve the company, but also to get your career off to a great start. This answer also implies that the wheels of creativity are already spinning in your mind and that you’re ready to pitch your ideas.
Jae Pak, Jae Pak MD Medical
Define How the Opportunity Works with Your Values
There can be plenty of reasons for recruiters to ask this question, but showing that you are a good fit is always a plus. That’s why when you’re faced with such a task, it’s best to focus on the values, passions or dreams that you’ll be able to pursue in the position that is very close to your heart.
This way, you’ll not only show your cultural fit but also prove that you’re well-motivated for the job, which will encourage the employer to give you a chance. Recruiters know how important self-fulfillment is in the context of burnout, so they opt for people who show sincere interest in the company and the job. Additionally, such employees are more likely to stay with the company longer, which proves to be among the most critical factors that hiring managers look for.
Magdalena Sadowska, Passport Photo Online
Emphasize a Love for the Job
If I was posed this question in an interview, I would assume the person conducting the interview was asking what I hoped to gain if I got the job. My answer would be simple: regaining my love of work again. I would be excited and enthusiastic about the job based on what the position entails, but also because I would be excited about joining a great team and a reputable brand.
I don’t want the interviewer to think I’m disgruntled at my current job, but I want them to know that I would be excited about the greater possibilities ahead if I were to be hired to fill this new role.
Alan Ahdoot, Adamson Ahdoot Law
Be Honest with What You Want to Gain
Across the country, there are thousands of students and job seekers looking for a job. The process can be daunting, but with a little preparation and effort, it can be an enjoyable experience. Preparation includes knowing what to wear and how to behave during the interview.
In addition, being honest is something that will set you apart from other candidates. If you don’t believe in the company or the position, say so. If you don’t want to relocate, say so. Also, avoid negative comments about the company or position—if you speak negatively of the company or position, it is likely they will remember your negative words and decide against hiring you.
Travis Lindemoen, nexus IT group
Learn from More-tenured Employees
Expressing a desire to learn from more-tenured employees is a great answer to this question. Ensure that you add phrasing which addresses the fact that you want to be part of an already-strong team. For example, say “As your team already has a sterling reputation, I know that I will have no shortage of role models from whom I can learn very much.” Finally, steer away from mentioning anything regarding money as being your key motivator. Oftentimes, this can be a turnoff for the person conducting the interview.
Gerald Lombardo, The Word Counter
Develop Yourself and Their Company
When an interviewer asks you this question, they’re looking for insight into what motivates you, and to see if this aligns with their company and the position you’re applying for. This is an opportunity for you to explain what drives you and what you’re passionate about. Your answer can also demonstrate what you hope to provide for the company, and how you can achieve your collective goals. Being authentic in your answer is crucial, as this is a great question to show the interviewer who you are beyond a potential employee.
Saneem Ahearn, Colorescience
Show You Have Studied the Company
When questioning the candidates about their expectations directly related to the experience, the recruiter expects honesty. The recruiter’s idea with this question is to understand what the candidate expects from the opportunity in terms of self-development, wages and career development.
I believe that at this moment, the person should show the recruiter that they have researched the development opportunities in the company. For example, naming a program that the company offers which is of their interest. Talking about a specific topic of a company’s culture, and how that work environment is compatible with what they are looking for, is also essential in the answer. Remember, all that will not work if the recruiter feels the candidate is not honest. This is what matters when a candidate answers any questions in a job interview.
Ricardo von Groll, Talentify
Make Sure Your Growth is Going to Help the Company
As a candidate, have a clear focus on what you want to do in this new role and how you plan to develop your skills. As you review the job posting in preparation for your interview, review those particular job responsibilities and identify one or two skills as potential areas for your growth and development. For example, if you are interviewing for a project coordinator role, one growth area might be learning new processes to help a project run more effectively.
Bring your growth back to how it’s going to help the company. In today’s market, companies want to know you will be organizationally loyal and committed to their success.
John Neral, John Neral Coaching, LLC
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