June 16, 2022 | In How to Answer
June 16, 2022 | In How to Answer
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The above question is one of the many confounding job interview questions.
This question could cause you to remain on the job search market if not navigated carefully.
You might wonder if the person interviewing you expects you to have a black clay pot with a piece of red cloth tied at the neck, allowing you to see the future at will.
You did not even know what you would have for breakfast until you got into your kitchen, yet this person expects you to know what you will be doing 1,825 days from now.
noun
/klɛːˈvɔɪənt/
a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
Source: Google Search
Believe it or not, the interviewer does not expect you to be a clairvoyant (#wordoftheday), nor do they expect you to know 100 percent where you see yourself in the future.
Come to think of it; everyone has dreams or goals; I remember how as a 10-year-old kid, I had planned my future in detail. If those plans had worked out, I would be a pilot earning seven figures with a wife and three kids who fly around with me.
These are the things your interviewer wants to hear;
Your goals and ambitions for your career.
How you plan to achieve those goals.
How your goals align with the company's values, mission, vision and the role you have applied.
* we won't spam you, never.
25-05-2022
They are trying to gauge how valuable you would be to the company and gain insights into how you think and how ambitious you are.
This might sound strange- but they can also calculate how loyal or trustworthy you are from how you answer this question.
Imagine your partner asks you where you see yourself in 5 years, and you say, "I see myself married to a doctor".
Knowing very well your partner is a law student. Marrying a doctor might be your dream, but this answer could warrant some cool five or more days of cold shoulder treatment.
"I don't know" - No, seriously, why would this even be something you say at a job you really want and have prepared hard for?
"I see myself as the CEO of this company" - Ambition is good, but there is such a thing as being realistic. An answer like this gives the interviewers the impression that you might not be happy in your role if, after five years, you are not the CEO.
"I plan on owning a very profitable business." or "I would like to go back to school to further my education" - Ideally, these are not awful things to want for yourself. Still, it might be a terrible time to bring it up because how do these plans align with the desired role?
The organization uses its resources to train new hires. Hence, a candidate seeking to use that position as a steppingstone to another path, outside of the company, will not be the top choice.
Luckily, job interviews are almost always predictable.
The format might differ, but the formula is almost always the same.
That is why not preparing for a job interview is unacceptable
Now that you know what your interviewer might be looking out for, think about this question ahead of time. Write it down, try recording yourself giving that answer and make the necessary adjustments.
Like my 10-year-old self, get imaginative - try visualizing.
Like my 10-year-old self, get imaginative - try visualizing.
Think about where you would like to be, your dream work culture, and the type of accomplishments and achievements you would like to have.
Remember to ensure they align with the role you are applying for, and the company's values, mission and vision.
You can call it your 5-year strategy.
This 5-year strategy will enable you to express a realistic and informed idea of where you see yourself in five years.
Think about where you would like to be, your dream work culture, and the type of accomplishments and achievements you would like to have.
Now that you are prepared to answer this question in an interview, how are you supposed to answer the question?
One quick tip is to frame your responses as actions rather than goals.
When answering this question, it is recommended that you divide your response into two parts: a short-term goal and a long-term goal
When answering this question, it is recommended that you divide your response into two parts: a short-term goal and a long-term goal
For instance;
"One of my long-term objectives over the next few years is to head a design team, formally or informally." I'm also looking forward to working with product and event teams to build optimized procedures, which is a natural match given my project management expertise. I'd also like to improve my user experience abilities to help create better user-centered designs."
Even if your intention with this role is to develop yourself for a better organization or position, this answer does not communicate that. Instead, it gives the employer the impression that;
You are focused.
You are excited to learn new skills.
What you are learning will benefit the company in the future.
Let's look at one more example of how to answer this question;
“It's just been two years since I graduated and started working. In five years, I'd like to see a major improvement in my sales abilities (or whatever ability you want to improve). One of my long-term career ambitions is to work in sales training and mentoring, maybe as a manager or corporate trainer. I understand that mastering the day-to-day work is the first step. So, in the next five years, I plan to continue honing my sales talents in person and over the phone and pursue my current sales career path. I looked through your job description, and it appears that this role would provide some excellent challenges and learning opportunities for someone like me who is new to sales."
It might be intimidating to roadmap your future ambitions and decide how to present them in an interview.
It does not need to be so
With just a little preparation, you can answer this question without breaking out in a cold sweat.
So, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
* we won't spam you, never.
25-05-2022
