Especially when you are a fresher, just facing interviews can feel challenging. Interview questions for freshers on the surface seem simple but they can be subtle in terms of the danger as well as the opportunity that they pack for the interview candidates. A few questions go beyond just the challenge and opportunity. They add an extra layer of confusion to these two. This is why they can feel daunting. One such common fresher interview question is, “Are you aiming for further studies?”
This interview question can come across to you in many different ways. Let us see what they are.
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Similar interview questions on further studies or higher studies
1. Do you intend to pursue further studies?
2. Do you wish to pursue higher education?
3. Are you planning to continue your studies?
4. Do you have any plans for continued education?
5. Why are you not going for higher studies?
6. Are you done with your studies after your graduation degree?
Freshers or those who are just 2-3 years in their career tend to be in the exploration mode of their future plans. They are also understanding their own inclinations and capabilities better. This is why this common interview question can be especially tough for them.
If you’re not sure what you want to do next, this is your opportunity to start the journey of figuring it out. It makes sense to spend some time on this before your interview. There are many options available leading to different career paths. With planning and research, you can find the right direction for yourself.
Whatever path you choose, make sure you feel confident and clear in your decision. Then you can become ready to discuss it with potential employers. In this article, let’s discuss why interviewers ask this question to the freshers and provide you with sample answers to impress the interviewer. After all, it is important to be clear about your plans and articulate them well.
Why do interviewers ask, “Are you aiming for further studies?”
Desire to learn and coachability are 2 main qualities that interviewers look for in freshers specifically. This is mainly because your first 2 to 3 jobs play a fundamental role in your professional development.
You are fresh out of your academic life and just entering the professional world. Companies generally invest heavily in the learning and development of their new hires.
If you can be trained quickly and if you have a strong desire to learn on the job, your company gets the right combination of hard work and perseverance that is central to success in entry-level roles.
So, It’s a question that interviewers ask to get a sense of your long-term ambitions.
They want to understand whether you see yourself continuing your education or not. They want to explore your direction and expectations of professional development.
Employers want employees who are always looking to learn and improve because that means they’ll contribute more value to the company over time. At the same time, they also want to gauge if you will stick longer with their company naturally.
It’s always best to answer this question honestly and confidently. If you’re not sure what you want to do, say so, but make it clear that you’re willing to explore all options and are open to new opportunities.
So if you’re not committed to your career, and you’re only looking for a job so you can make a few quick bucks, then the interviewer will probably conclude that you won’t be a good fit for the company.
How to answer this tricky fresher interview question?
“How you respond to this interview question for freshers generally is tricky.
On one end you need to show deep interest in learning and developing your career systematically.
On the other hand, you need to ensure that employers don’t feel that the position they are offering is a stop gap arrangement for you to make some money while taking brief experience with them.
They want the hires that stick for at least a few years.“
So, it depends on the job and the company. Some companies want you to have a long-term career vision and to be planning for the next step up in your career.
Other companies may not care as much or may prefer that you focus on the job at hand and not worry too much about future plans.
Remember that in this fast-paced professional world, employees working for 2 to 3 years with a company on average, is often considered the norm.
No one expects you to work with a company for ten or twenty years as it used to happen in the last generation. Employers find this acceptable.
This means you can always find a way to express your plans for further studies in accordance with this accepted timeline of employment.
The best way is to tailor your answer to the specific company and job you are interviewing for.
For example, if they ask specifically about further studies, then state that you are interested in furthering your education but are also very interested in this particular job and would love to learn more about what it entails.
Try exploring how you can study while working with the tie-ups that the company may have with known educational institutions.
You can also mention how online learning from platforms like Udemy fits into your future learning roadmap. You can also mention any additional training or certifications you have obtained recently to make you a stronger candidate.
Overall they want to see your desire to learn, clarity of your next few professional years, and your inclination towards specific areas of work in the industry.
Mistakes to avoid while answering this interview question on your higher education plans
Here is a list of common mistakes that fresher make while answering questions around their higher education plans.
1. Don’t be Vague
It is essential to be clear and specific when answering this question. Many employers may see a lack of clarity on “further studies” as a sign of indecision or a lack of commitment to carefully crafting your career.
2. Don’t give a super short answer
You should always provide a little more context when discussing your education plans. Providing too little information can make it seem like you’re hiding something or aren’t proud of your achievements.
3. Relating education with money
You don’t want to convey a feeling that your choice of further learning or studies is solely driven by the money you can earn with it. This may be considered negative by many interviewers.
4. Sounding too certain or specific
Interviewers know that you are a fresher or early in your career. This means a ton of possibilities and career growth directions for you. It is obvious that while you may be certain about your direction for future education, you may have many equally good or better alternatives. This is why, if you sound too specific and too sure about your future plans of higher studies, it may come across as a sign of overconfidence or amateurishness. It may also ring a bell in their mind about your lack of coachability.
8 Tips to Answer, “Are you aiming for further studies?”
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as pursuing further studies depends on many different factors. However, here are a few general tips to help you craft your answer.
1. Ask yourself why you want to pursue further studies. Are you looking for career advancement opportunities? Do you want to learn more about a particular topic? Or are you simply looking for a way to challenge yourself academically? What are your career goals?
2. Consider your current skills and experience. What do you already know about the subject you want to study? How will your previous coursework prepare you for further studies? And most importantly, are you ready for the challenge?
3. Talk to professors in your field of interest and ask them what they think the benefits of pursuing a graduate degree would be.
4. You can also talk to people who have already completed their graduate studies and get their insights on the process.
5. Some freshers are mistaken that they need to obfuscate their true intentions or withhold information to seem more professional or credible. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you’re not transparent and honest with your interviewer, they’ll see right through you, and they’ll lose trust in you.
6. Talk about your higher study plans with a level of flexibility in your approach to the timing of the study. Avoid showing any urgency to go for your higher studies. The recruiter wants to know that you will stick for at least 2 to 3 years with their company.
7. Your direction for higher education should have natural synchronization with your personality, style, inclinations, and your long-term goals.
8. There should be a connection between what you plan to study in the future and why have you chosen the career path related to the job you have applied for. Otherwise, the disconnect between the two can alarm the interviewers.
Sample answers to this Tricky Fresher Interview Question
# 1
“Yes, I am aiming for further studies in business management. However, after gaining some work experience, I realized that I wanted to continue developing my skills and knowledge to be better equipped to handle managerial responsibilities.
A business management degree would give me the theoretical and practical foundation that I need to pursue a career in management. Additionally, the networking opportunities and industry insights that I would gain from studying at a top business school would be invaluable.”
Here, if you are aspiring for a career in business management, you are showing your maturity in taking a more logical approach. This is because everyone knows that without practical experience, the theories in business management cannot be properly grasped.
# 2
“Yes, I am planning to pursue further studies in accounting and finance. I find accounting to be a very interesting field, and it will help me understand financial statements and other business documents better.
Additionally, pursuing higher education in accounting will also allow me to work in various fields such as auditing, taxation, or consulting.
In many ways, this is one place where you get real insights about businesses and how they work!
That said, first it will be important to get some experience for next 3-4 years. I plan to pursue my higher education with online courses initially and later by doing part time degrees.”
This shows your deep interest in a specific field. It also shows how you want to focus on practical knowledge while improving your know-how of the concepts in the field with higher education.
# 3
“In the field of software, you need to keep learning all the time. There are hundreds of good courses available online to start with and if I find any particular field like data science or operating systems interesting, I will think about completing my masters with a known institute.
Fortunately, with sites like EdX I can learn while working. It also gives me chance to learn from the best in the field of computer science.
I find myself to be more of a hands-on person. So this mode of learning seems natural.”
Here, you have shown that you like continuous learning. You are well aware of websites and courses where you can do it in your part-time. This is giving the ideal combination of work and learning to you, from the interviewer’s perspective.
All in All
If you’re aiming for further studies, it’s essential to show the interviewer that your goals align with the company. Mentioning specific programs or courses related to the position can help demonstrate your interest and commitment.
If you’re unsure what direction you want to take your education after completing your current program, be open and honest with the interviewer about your plans and ask for their advice. They may have some great suggestions!
How do you plan on continuing your education? Share your thoughts in the comments section so that it can help others as well.