Where do you see yourself in five years? is one of the most often asked interview questions. (Or two, three, etc.) years Who can accurately predict where they will be in that time, though? The catch is that while asking this question, hiring managers don’t truly expect you to know the answer. They only want to hear a few salient points from your response.
I’ll share the following in this article:
What hiring managers are truly searching for and why they ask this interview question
How to respond to the query in 3 easy stages to convince employers that you’re a good fit for their position The Mistakes to avoid while describing your goals for the next five years
complete examples of responses
Why Employers Ask Where You See Yourself in 5 Years
The interviewer isn’t really expecting you to know where your life or job will be in five years when they ask you this question. Nobody will keep an eye on you. You two could not even work for the same company.
Therefore, it makes little difference if your projection of your long-term objectives is correct.
The most important thing is that you provide a thoughtful response that secures you a job offer. You may accomplish this by emphasising particular qualities that the interviewer wants to see and that demonstrate your suitability for the job and the organisation.
Also see: Email Writing Format
What hiring managers want to hear when they ask this question:
- They want to know that you’ve given attention to your long-term objectives and plans, and that you’re concerned about your professional development (since this shows them that you’ll put in more effort, have a better attitude, and be more motivated in their organisation).
2. They’re checking to see if you’re generally aspirational and goal-oriented.
3. They ask, “Why are you applying for this position?” because they want to make sure that you’re interested in the particular type of job they’re searching for and aren’t just applying for any job you can find.
Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years? Best Sample Answer
Example answer #1
“Even though it has only been two years since I graduated and started working, I would say that my five-year aim is to show a noticeable improvement in my sales skills. I realise the first stage is to master the day-to-day work, but one of my longer-term career aspirations is to be involved in sales training and mentoring, possibly as a Manager or corporate trainer. I therefore anticipate developing my phone and in-person sales abilities throughout the course of the following five years and keeping up with my current professional path as a salesperson. According to your job description, this position would present a lot of opportunity for growth and learning for someone like me who is just starting out in the sales industry.
Example 2
“In the next five to ten years, I want to be in charge of a group or division. Growing as a leader is currently one of my main career goals because I’ve always appreciated it in my professional life. I was eager to set up a job interview with you because your job advertisement appeared interesting and mentioned some fantastic leadership potential.
Example 3
“Since taking on the role of Project Lead in my previous position, I’ve discovered that I actually enjoy project management. I want to be managing many project teams or perhaps overseeing bigger projects in five years. I believed your Senior Project Manager role was a fantastic step in that direction and would offer a nice challenge while also using my prior project leadership expertise of more than two years in this same area to good use.
Examples 4
I’ve recently begun working on my five-year plan. In five years, I would like to be a manager or supervisor in this field, or perhaps a project manager, as I’m currently searching for an entry-level position in social media and content marketing. I must thus become an expert in the basic and practical parts of the role over the next few years if I want to advance. I’d also desire to expand into other facets of digital marketing in the very long run of my career and take over the complete marketing division at my employer. According to the job description, this employment looks to be a wonderful fit for my five-year plan.
Conclusion:
Consider a broad vision of where you expect to go in five years as your first step. Keep in mind that nobody will be looking out for you. Just choose anything that sounds ambitious and make a rough guess as to the direction you want to take your career. (Something that’s 1-2 steps above where you are in your profession right now).
