What are your long-term goals?
What are you professional goals?
Where do you see yourself in 2, 5 years, or 10, etc.?


These are basically the same question. This is not merely an inquiry as to whether you'll stick with the company for the foreseeable future. When this questions arises in an interview setting, the interviewers likely want to gain insight into you as person, your self-awareness, and your communication skills.

Here are a few Wrong Answers: 

1. "In five years I plan to be the director of marketing at this company, managing a small but innovative team--working to grow the brand of this company." Is this even an option within the company or department where you're applying. Unless you're 100% sure, that your vision for the company is in line with their strategic plans, goals and direction, this goal shows inflexibility. It also connotes a low opinion of the current 'brand'. 
2. "Hmm, with this busy final semester and graduation, I haven't really had time to think about it." This answer will likely prompt a few follow up questions that you really don't want to answer...What have you had time to think about? Realistically, this answer shows a lack of vision, planning, and creative thinking. 
3. "Well, in a few years I hope to be back in school working on my MFA in order to become tenured faculty at X University." This answer states, without stating, that you are killing time in the potential job. You are either looking a company to pay for your advanced degree or a place to wait until you get into grad school. 

How about the Right Answer:

What are your goals? What do you really want. Most successful business people will tell you that a key success factor is the ability to set and achieve goals. Think about this before you get to the interview. Is this job a stepping-stone for the next professional level? How does this job factor into your real long-term goals.


Monster.Com says to Script it Consider this answer:

"I have learned that long-term goals are best achieved when I break them into shorter goals. My short-term goal is to find a position that will put me in a forward-moving company with solid performance and future projections. As part of a team, I want to add value and continue to grow the company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. My plan is to move into a position of responsibility where I can lead a team."

Now What?

1. Figure out your personal costs, cost of living, student load debt, etc. 
2. Find out comparable companies in your region pay their graphic designers, and 
3. Balance that information against your personal strength as a designer.

Undergrad taught me two things:  never stop learning, and design freebies are out there if you simply look for them. Lynda.com isn't exactly a freebie, but it is a great inexpensive resource that will help you learn everything about the software tools in you Graphic Design Toolkit. In my junior and senior years I regularly purchased month-long memberships to this online learning community and took advantage of the tutorials.

If paying the monthly fee is out of the question, consider signing up for the Lynda newsletter. It regularly showcases new tutorials and recordings, tips and tricks, AND even some free tutorials/courses.

Get on over there and start learning! www.Blog.Lynda.com