Italian Phrase
Quali sono i tuoi obiettivi di carriera?
Meaning
Literally, 'What are your career objectives?' It asks someone to describe the professional goals they aim to achieve in the future, often in a job interview or networking context.
When to use
Use this question during a job interview, a performance review, or a casual conversation about future plans. It signals genuine interest in the other person's professional aspirations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Qualisonoituoiobiettividicarriera?
Quali (interrogative adjective)
Used to ask about plural nouns, matching gender and number; equivalent to 'which' or 'what' in English.
sono (verb essere)
Third person plural present of 'essere', used here as a linking verb.
i tuoi (possessive adjective)
Possessive adjective agreeing in gender and number with the noun it modifies; 'your' (masculine plural).
obiettivi (noun)
Masculine plural noun meaning 'goals' or 'objectives'.
di carriera (prepositional phrase)
Indicates the domain of the goals; 'career' is a feminine singular noun, but the preposition 'di' does not affect agreement.
🗨In Conversation
Quali sono i tuoi obiettivi di carriera?
What are your career objectives?
Vorrei diventare project manager entro tre anni e poi guidare un team internazionale.
I would like to become a project manager within three years and then lead an international team.
✕Common Mistakes
Quale sono i tuoi obiettivi di carriera?
‘Quale’ is singular; the correct plural form is ‘Quali’ because ‘obiettivi’ is plural.
Quali è i tuoi obiettivi di carriera?
The verb must agree with the plural subject: use ‘sono’ not ‘è’.
Quali sono i tuo obiettivi di carriera?
Possessive adjective must agree in number: ‘tuoi’ for plural nouns.
↔Alternatives
Che obiettivi di carriera ti sei prefissato?
What career goals have you set for yourself?
Quali sono le tue mete professionali?
What are your professional targets?
Dove ti vedi tra cinque anni?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, career discussions often include a balance between personal ambition and the desire for work‑life harmony. When answering, it’s common to mention both concrete milestones (e.g., a specific role) and softer goals such as developing leadership skills or contributing to a company’s growth.