They’re just looking for a few key things in your response. Sample Answers If you don’t seem to have put any thought into what direction your career is going, it’s going to cost you job offers from top employers! When you answer this question, avoid answers like, “In 5 years, I see myself in your shoes,” or “5 years from now I see myself running this place.” Answers like these come across as overbearing and may even lead the interviewer to think that you aren’t very interested in the position you … When the interviewer ask this question, they basically want to know about your career goals. In many ways, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” is an odd question for an internship or job seeker. My goal is to become a nurse in five, or in seven years time. After all, you’re interviewing because you don’t know where you’ll be two months from now—forget five years! Nobody’s going to check on you. And if you seem like you don’t really want their specific position, they won’t hire you either. I do not have big career plans in five, or in ten years time. So in the next five years, I look forward to continuing to build my sales skills, both in-person and over the phone, and continuing on my current career path as a salesperson. Remember – employers want to know that they’re hiring someone who is goal-oriented, motivated, and cares about their long term career and future. All that matters is you give a good answer that gets you the job offer, and you can do that by highlighting certain traits that will show the employer you’re a good fit for the job. Whether it really happens or not, is not that important for us. Try not to overthink your answer, avoid specificity, and don’t say anything that makes the hiring manager doubt that you’re a solid investment for the future. “Moving (way) up the ranks,” “running this place,” “working for myself,” or “in your job,” for example. to see how well your answer lines up with the company’s long term goals. “ Where do you see yourself in five years? As a final step, make sure that with whatever five-year goal you share, you can explain how the job you’re interviewing for fits into that goal. The much-used interview question "Where do you see yourself in five years' time?" The one advantage you have is that you know that you want to do the job you’re interviewing for right now. In fact, you might not even be with the same employer. I definitely see myself employed in this company five years hence as my values match with that of the company’s and I would strive to get them to a superior level: Your answer shows your interest in the job you … is often dismissed as a waste of time.No one can see that far into the future; particularly graduates who may not have a set career path in mind and are exploring their career options. Most project managers start out working on a team that is managed by another, more senior-level project manager. Explaining not only where you want to be in 5 years, but also how their specific job fits into your longer-term goals, and why you applied for their position. They ask this question because they want to hire someone who is motivated, proactive, and likely to stick around and work hard. So, in your “where do you see yourself in 5 years” answer, you might mention you want to be fully situated in your new career. You may or may not have an exact picture of where you want to be in five years. Sample answers. How Should You Answer “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?” Before going into the interview, consider how this job could work for you in the long run. You can use this same style of answer if they ask about 2 years, 10 years, or any other time period, and you can also use this if they ask a similar interview question like, “Where do you want to be in 5 years.”, Just adjust the beginning of your answer and say, “In 5 years, I hope to be doing….”. To be honest, I do not think about the future much. trick questions like this one are meant to weed out everyone but the best of the best, only use it for your answer to this interview question, Click Here To Download Our “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years Cheat Sheet”, question to ask the interviewer during your interview, 200+ Job Interview Questions List (PDF Practice Cheat Sheet Included), How To Write A Killer Resume Objective (Examples Included), Behavioral Interview Questions And Answers 101 (+ Example Answers), The Best Cover Letter Format For 2021 [3 Sample Templates], 8 Phone Interview Tips That Will Land You A Second Interview. One of the most common interview questions you’ll hear is: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Once you interview for a job, however, you should say that you would prefer to have the same job in five years time, perhaps becoming a better teacher, a better person over the years. (or 2 years, 10 years, etc.). They want to see that you’ve thought about your future and care about your long term career path and growth (because this means you’ll work harder, have a better attitude, and be more motivated). Preparing for this question is a very good exercise in figuring out what you enjoy doing, what is meaningful to you, and -- really -- what you actually want to be doing in five years. I reviewed your job posting and it seems like this position would offer some great challenges and learning opportunities for someone relatively new in their sales career like myself.”, “In the next 5-10 years, I hope to be leading a team or department. So for the interview, you just need to say something that’s a bit challenging but still reasonable. I see myself gaining knowledge in multiple fields. I have no idea.”, And you also don’t want to draw a blank and say “Um, let me think.”. And if you're really not sure of the specifics of what you'd be doing in five years, it's fine to say that, but talk about what you do know you'd like to do. Here's how to answer that age … While talking in an interview, however, you should try to convince them that you plan to stay for a long time. Of course, you can leave the company in one year time (or even in one month time), if you get a better offer, or if you feel like leaving the job. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This being the case, the question “Where do you see yourself in five years?” can be the ideal opportunity to showcase your plans to be a loyal, productive, long term employee. If you read everything above, you know know what employers look for when asking this interview question, and how to explain where you see yourself in five years to impress them. You don’t want to say, “I see myself in the same position doing the same work five years from now.”. This means researching the company before your interview and being ready to name a few things that excite you about their job description, their company’s overall mission, their industry, etc. That would be a dream come true. When the interviewer asks you this question, they aren’t expecting you to really know where your career or life will be in five years. Job interviews can feel tough and that is why I provide job interview questions and answers sample. Job Interview Question: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? These guidelines will help you develop a winning answer to this common job interview question. I love to design. Employers typically ask this type of question to gather insight into how well this job fits with your overall career aspirations. Join 10,000+ job seekers in our email newsletter and we'll send you the 30 must-know questions, plus our best insider tips for turning interviews into job offers. A good answer should reflect your focus, ambition and future plans that are aligned with the company you are interviewing with. The trick is: Employers don’t actually expect you to know when answering this question. Just take a rough guess at what direction you’d like to go in with your career, and pick something that sounds ambitious… (something that’s 1-2 steps ahead of where you’re currently at in your career). Interviewers would like to assess you on your confidence, aspirations and career outlook. For example, let’s say you are applying for a position as a project manager. Then you could easily explain how this Supervisor role is a great first step to get into leadership, and how you would excel in this job and enjoy the opportunity. Stumped, you cross your legs, … Some examples are: “I do not have a precise role in mind, but my aim over the next five years is to be at a place where I can make a difference. In time, a project manager can make a smooth transition into upper-level management or even into becoming chief operating officer (COO). For example, let’s say you were recently laid off after working in academia for five years and are now interviewing for a job in biotechnology management. So it doesn’t matter if your prediction is accurate. During the course of these five years, I want to continue learning while I am performing my duty. When answering the “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” question, make sure your answer outlines your commitment to staying with the company long-term. I'd like to work more closely with customers over time, as … None of which are necessarily things you should say out loud in an interview. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” There is perhaps no interview question as daunting or mind-numbing. Sample answers. Your job posting looked exciting and mentions some great leadership opportunities, so I was eager to have a job interview and learn more about this opportunity.”, “Since becoming a Project Lead in my last job, I’ve found I really like project management. If you do this, you’ll show the interviewer that you’re goal-oriented in your career and have taken the time to think about where you see yourself in five years or more. Sample answers. I thought your Senior Project Manager position was a great step in that direction and would provide a nice challenge, while also making use of my 2+ years of prior project leadership experience in this same industry.”. And if you can back it up with a strong explanation of why you plan to stick around and how you can to contribute to, and grow with the company, so much the better. Oct 6, 2018 - "Where do you see yourself in 5 years" find out how to frame the answer of this interview question with few sample answers. The first step to take is to think about a general idea of where you’d hope to be in five years. So thinking about this ahead of time will prepare you to talk confidently about the topic. One of my longer-term career goals is to be involved in sales training and mentoring, maybe as a Manager or corporate trainer, but I know the first step is to master the day-to-day work. Being unsure how to answer the question. Use resources like Google and the … No worries, though — hiring managers aren't concerned with … Uptowork published an article that highlights several well-crafted answers to the question “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Consider adapting these sample responses to fit your situation and goals. Before interview day, learn as much as you can about the natural and logical career progression for someone in the position you are applying for. Where do you see yourself in five years? Nothing sounds worse than saying, “Wow, I haven’t thought about that. Some Example Answers to “Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?” 1. They want to know that you’re interested in the specific type of job they’re hiring for, and aren’t just applying because you’re desperate to find any work you can (this is also why they ask, Showing the employer you’ve clearly thought about this topic. Of course I know that I am just starting my professional career, and have to start from the bottom, just like everyone else in the company. I want to continue to build on that experience while solving additional challenges as they arise in this position. Let’s take a look at some sample answers for a theoretical entry-level sales associate position. That’s how to answer where you see yourself in five years in a job interview. And if you can explain how their job fits in with your long-term goals (Step 3/3 in the instructions earlier in the article), then they’ll be even more impressed with your response to this interview question. However, I do not like to stagnate and hope to become better in all my roles–a better mother, a better wife, a better nursing assistant. If you do want to stay in your next job for five years without trying to get any promotions, that’s your choice. I wish to help many of your clients to build successful campaigns, I hope my work will have a huge impact. When an interviewer asks you, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” they are testing your level of career ambition. “Well, in next 5 years I want to build deep expertise in my current working area (You can mention your field name or job role here ). The cycle of learning never stops. 7 sample answers to “Where do you see yourself in five years time?” interview question I see myself having a managerial role in this company. Alternatively you can focus on your goals from personal life. For example, if you’re applying for your first Supervisor position, and you want to be a Manager in the next five years, you could explain that you think you’d really enjoy leading people and your big career goal is to break into management. And then I will teach you how to give the “where do you see yourself in 5 years answer. I’ve always enjoyed leadership in my career, so growing as a leader is one of my core career goals right now. Even if you don't know where you see yourself in five years, there's a right way to answer this question during an interview. “It’s only been two years since I graduated and began working, but I’d say that my goal in five years is to see significant growth in my sales skills. This is also true when answering, “what’s your dream job?” – you don’t need to say this is your exact dream position, but it should have some similarities to what you want to be doing long-term! I try to live in a present moment, do my job and enjoy life. How to Answer "Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?" As you attempt to answer this common question, be sure you avoid these mistakes. Sample Answers of “Where do you see yourself in 5 years” These answers are basic frameworks, you can add and mention your technologies, skills, industry, job role etc. (Plus Sample Answers!) I hope to be recognized as an ingenious designer in five years time. Otherwise, they’re going to be wondering whether you really want their job and whether you’ll stay long-term. All Rights Reserved. Five years ago (before I started training as a teaching assistant) I asked myself that question and I … “Where do you see yourself in five years?” When a hiring manager asks you this, there may be a few things running through your brain. Where do you see yourself in 5 Years? Picture this scenario: the interviewer asks you where you see yourself in a few years’ time. ‘Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?‘ — This question is believed to be super daunting and mind-numbing, but keep in mind, your recruiters are not even interested about your actual plans. But saying that won’t help you get hired for most of the high-quality jobs out there. If you do this, you’ll show the interviewer that you’re goal-oriented in your career and have taken the time to think about where you see yourself in five years or more. When you ask where do you see yourself five years from now, the answer is straight and simple. Questions about your future plans can be tricky to answer—you need to be honest in your response, but also keep it relevant to the job and industry. I would like to try a leadership role in the future. A few good answers. Get our free PDF with the top 30 interview questions to practice. Employers have a LOT of applicants to choose from and almost always pick a candidate who has specific reasons for wanting their job. Remember – nobody’s going to tap you on the shoulder in 5 years and check on you! Updated: September 9, 2020. I would love to work as a secretary in five years time, doing a good job. ” is a question about your future plans or goals that you may be asked in an interview. By Beth Colley. Your response to “Where do you see yourself in five years?” is your opportunity to sell the interview on your commitment to the career path and the position. They just want to see how well you reply to impromptu questions. First, here’s the WORST thing you can do: Respond in a way that makes you sound like you haven’t put any thought into it this all, or that you don’t have career goals or long-term aspirations. For example, don't share your five-year goal to publish a novel if you're interviewing for an accountant position. Despite its ambiguity, this question, when asked, does have a definitive answer. In five years, I hope to be leading larger projects, or maybe managing multiple project teams. Now that we’ve looked at why employers ask where you see yourself in five years and how to answer, let’s finish with a couple of word-for-word example answers. 28 Common Second Round Interview Questions, 11 Final Interview Questions to Prepare For, How to Answer “Are You a Leader or Follower?” (Interview Question). In the example answers above for where you see yourself in five years, you’re: If you do these three things, you’ll put a smile on the interviewer’s face and move one step closer to getting the job offer. There you have it…three solid examples of how to answer the question “Where do you see yourself in 5 years” as well as tips on how to avoid the dreaded hidden trap employers like to spring on unsuspecting job applicants. 1. – Best Answers. Copyright © 2020 Career Sidekick, LLC | Privacy | Disclaimer, Answers to “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”, The 105 Best Questions to Ask an Interviewer, Best Elevator Pitch With Examples For Job Seekers, “Why are you applying for this position?”, researching the company before your interview, Why employers ask this question and what they’re, How to answer the question in 3 steps to show employers you’re a good fit for their job. I love to work on new campaigns, make a difference with my work. The problem: Who honestly knows where they’ll be in that amount of time? Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years Generic Example “In the past, I’ve had [an experience that’s relevant to the problem at hand]. And most importantly, you’ll feel confident and relaxed next time they ask where you see yourself in 5 years. So make sure that you back up your 5-year plan with reasons how and why your talents will help make it all possible. 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