My traditional answer has been one that looks backwards before forwards. I'd entered college assuming I'd be a doctor, then focused my vision on being a researcher enough to see what I knew I didn't want to be (That has a bit of a jingle to it, quite enjoyable). Eventually I found a new wind (Still in college, thankfully), focusing on computer science, which led me to my first role that was a combination of biochemistry and computer science. Always trying to find a vision, but never being able to project a flashlight that far into the future. Or maybe never willing, graduate school most certainly would have set me on a track for 5 years (And likely many more).<p>In crux, my answer is that I couldn't have answered that question in a meaningful way 5 years ago, so I've learned to express that I don't expect myself to have an answer based on my experience.<p>I have, however, learned some characteristics of where I hope to be -- the problems must be interesting and the people thoughtful. New ideas excite me, so I'd expect there would be some component of that as well. I'm only 26, so I suppose I'm living in a brackish estuary of naiveness and perspective. I wrote an essay when trying to get into one of those fancy "Top ranked" colleges at 18 -- the prompt asked, in short, "What is between living and dreaming?" -- I said "pursuit", and I would still say so.