Young female entrepreneur enjoying business and job success against city and sunset background. Successful businesswoman smiling outdoors

Download Our Free Report

Get my concise, FREE report for step-by-step guidance to STAND OUT & WIN in interviews!

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

by THEA kelley | August 21, 2013

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

How should you answer this tricky interview question?

A great interview answer is one that is both authentic and strategic. It’s the best answer that’s true and shows you’re a good fit for the job.

It may help to put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. If you were them, you’d be looking for an employee who will not only stay a reasonably long time, but also will be 100% engaged in the job. Too many employees have mentally “checked out” from their jobs, going through the motions day after day. Often it’s because there’s a mismatch between the job and their career goals.

If you’re not sure what your goals are, you’re not alone! It may be hard to decide now what you’ll want a year from now, let alone five years. You might use your difficulty with this question as a wake-up call to explore your career options. But let’s get back to the immediate challenge: answering the question in an interv iew.

The good news is, your answer to the five-year question doesn’t have to be extremely specific. It may be enough to say something like this:

“I see myself continuing to grow with this organization, deepening my skills, taking on new challenges. I am interested in growing into (new area that’s a realistic next step within the company, such as mastering new technologies, team leadership or management) over time, once I’ve proven myself in (role for which you’re interviewing).”

or:

“Being a recent graduate, I’m still exploring my career path, but I do know it will involve (skills or subject matter), so this job is a great fit. I admire this company because (reasons based on your research), and I can see myself continuing to develop my career here.

Key point: Show a balance of motivation with patience, ambition with realism, goal-setting with adaptability.

Be careful if your goal is to get your boss’s job – or if they might suspect as much and feel threatened. Communicate loyalty and flexibility in your answer.

Your answer to the five-year question may be brief, but it’s wise to prepare – so you can respond with confidence.

RELATED POSTS

Young female entrepreneur enjoying business and job success against city and sunset background. Successful businesswoman smiling outdoors

Download Our Free Report

Get my concise, FREE report for step-by-step guidance to STAND OUT & WIN in interviews!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}
Share1
Share4
Tweet