TRAPS: If you say
"yes" and elaborate enthusiastically, you could be perceived as a
loose cannon in a larger company, too entrepreneurial to make a good team
player... or someone who had to settle for the corporate life because you
couldn't make a go of your own business.
Also, too much enthusiasm in answering "yes" could
rouse the paranoia of a small company, indicating that you may plan to go out
on your own soon, perhaps taking some key accounts or trade secrets with you.
On the other hand, if you answer "no, ever" you could be perceived as
a security-minded drone who never dreamed a big dream.
BEST ANSWER: Again
it's best to:
1) Gauge this
company's corporate culture before answering, and
2) Be honest
(which doesn't mean you have to vividly share your fantasy of the franchise or
bed-and breakfast you someday plan to open).
In general, if the corporate culture is that of a large,
formal, military-style structure, minimize any indication that you'd love to
have your own business. You might say,
"Oh, I may have given it a thought once or twice, but my whole career has
been in larger organizations. That's
where I've excelled and where I want to be."
If the corporate culture is closer to the freewheeling,
everybody's-a-deal-maker variety, then emphasize that in a firm like this, you
can virtually get the best of all worlds, the excitement of seeing your own
ideas and plans take shape...combined with the resources and stability of a
well-established organization. Sounds
like the perfect environment to you.
In any case, no matter what the corporate culture, be sure
to indicate that any desires about running your own show are part of your past,
not the present or future. The last thing you want to project is an image of
either the dreamer who failed and is now settling for the corporate cocoon ...
or the restless maverick that will fly out the door with key accounts, contacts
and trade secrets under his arm just as soon as his bankroll has gotten
rebuilt.
Always remember, match what you want with what the position
offers. The more information you've
uncovered about the position, the more believable you can make your case.
