How Ambitious Are You?

1. A potential boss asks you where you want to be in five years. You:
A. Look her in the eye and tell her, “I want to be where you are.”
B. Tell her you hope to be in a greater leadership role.
C. Look sheepish and tell her you haven’t really thought that far, but that you hope to grow in your job.

2. The company has given you three weeks’ leave in the year and everyone is making plans on how to utilise it. You:
A. Are not going to take so much as a day off. What if your colleague is given that coveted promotion when you are on holiday?
B. Plan holidays in the periods where the workload is not so heavy. It pays to be seen as a team player.
C. Are thinking, “Just three weeks for the whole year! I need a month at least.”

3. You are told when joining a new job that you may have to work late hours. You:
A. Say you don’t mind working weekends either.
B. Are willing to put in some late hours now and then, but hope it doesn’t become a regular thing.
C. Decide this is not the job for you. You need your evenings for fun.

4. There’s an office party and HR announces it is supposed to help you let your hair down and get to know people. You:
A. Make a beeline to the boss and stand by her all evening, trying to direct the conversation towards your achievements.
B. Make conversation with those around, but wait for a few minutes with the boss to make your presence felt.
C. Just stay with the general crowd and think it’s really not necessary to ‘suck up’ because it’s just a party.

5. You are going to a family wedding when your mum tells you that a distant relative is the
CEO of a big company. You:
A. Hunt out an uncle who can give you an introduction so you can angle for a job.
B. Hope that you get introduced to this man sometime in the evening; it may help you some day.
C. Wonder if she wants you to hook up with him. Is there only one way to the top?

Mostly As
You are a complete workaholic who wants to get to the top at any cost. You have planned your goals to the last step and want to beat down all competition. Ambition is good, but ulcers are less fun. And you won’t be reimbursed for the family dinners you’ll miss.

Mostly Bs
You are a balanced worker with clear career goals. You have dreams of where you want to go, but are willing to give it a reasonable amount of time to get there. You have a good attitude, but don’t let complacency set in.

Mostly Cs
You don’t value your career too much. You maybe happy now, but soon you will be left behind by your peers and juniors and that’s going to hurt. So, pull up your socks, focus on your career now—it’s not just about the money, work empowers you.