What do you want to do?

I had a job interview a few days ago.  My time with Travelzoo ended in December, so back to the drawing board I go.  Since I have spent the last year interviewing people for a living, I am usually not stumped by questions that are asked in that type of exchange.  But in this interview, I was literally silenced when asked the question "Sarah, what do you want to do?"  I answered everything else with the utmost confidence and articulation,  even when it was a hard question.  But when directly confronted with the inquiry of what path I wanted to commit to for the rest of my career life, I could not answer.

So I said the following...

1.  I want to work for someone who appreciates me for who I am, not just what I do.

2.  I need to be with people, not cooped up behind a computer all day.

3.  I want to know that what I do matters.  That I am contributing in some way.  I also appreciate verbal acknowledgment of that.

4.  I need to make money.

That's what I said, folks.  I was pretty proud of that answer, because it was the truth.   I have learned that most hiring managers have one answer they are looking for, and if you don't give it, you could be dismissed from consideration.  This manager was no different.  But I had no idea what the rest should look like, and I wasn't going to act like I did.

I think it is okay to not know all the details.  My career journey has not been strategic.  I am not working towards some great achievement in corporate America.  My needs are pretty basic, and I will leave the rest up to God.