How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?

  
How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?

This question is aimed directly at you and possibly implies that the interviewer would like to know about your wider interests. However, you should keep any improvements career orientated. Anything that is not related to your job specifically should be discounted as a possible answer. It would also be unwise to answer with expectations far and beyond the job you have applied for. Talking about getting off this stepping stone and onto the next towards your ultimate goal may be the truth, but if your interviewer thinks you might not be hanging around, you probably won’t be considered for the post.

To play it safe with this question, answer in a way that suggests a steady progression in your career. You could throw in some examples of advantages to the company and benefits that certain improvements could have on your job. Just be careful not to go too far. As a rule, questions about you should be answered briefly. The main reason you are at the interview is to explain why you would benefit the company and not why the company can benefit you.

For example, If the job eventually required you to gain qualifications, you could say "By this time next year I hope to have added to my level 2 in…. and will hopefully have achieved a level 3. This will allow me to take on more day-to-day responsibilities and allow me to build on my skill base". This is a positive response as it shows that you care about your career, and are therefore more likely to be motivated and enthusiastic in carrying out your tasks. It also includes benefits to your job which is the sort of response that the interviewer wants to hear.

Overall, it is important to keep your answer short and sweet. Don’t swell on it for too long and don’t bring in personal goals that have nothing to do with the job.