What Do You Want to Be?

What do you want to be when you grow up? This question is often asked of younger kids. I remember when, many years ago, my oldest son proudly presented a little booklet of pictures. These pictures were drawn by each member of his class. The title of the little book was, “What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?” There was the policeman, the singer, and of course, the fireman. The fireman was the most popular among the boys. There was this one little boy who decided to go against the grain. His first choice was to be a “snowman.” That’s right, a snowman! That is funny on so many levels. First of all, we live in Texas where it snows about once every 10 years, so I am not sure he has actually seen a snowman. Second, I have not checked lately, but the pay for a snowman is probably pretty low (although there are probably perks, such as free snow cones). On the good side, I guess it would be considered seasonal work with lots of vacation time! After a good laugh, I discovered that I learned a lot about the kid by that little exercise and that one picture.

Tip: It may surprise you, but asking a candidate “what they want to be when they grow up” offers a great chance to learn more about their career desires and aspirations. This simple question (modified) can be a great conversation starter to provide you with insights into the current and future fit of the candidate to the job. What are they looking for in a job? Is this a short-term job or a long-term career? What are their interests and goals?

Caution:   Make sure the question does not come across as silly and non-productive. Instead, work to loosen the candidate up a bit and get them to share. Your motivation for the question should be to gain a deeper understanding of the candidate. It is a vehicle for discussion around their historical vocational choices, current passions, and future aspirations. Learn as much as you can about the candidate. What did you want to be when you were younger?

P.S. - My youngest daughter drew the snowman just for you.