How do you answer "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"?

Question

In my job search I get asked this question a lot and all I say is "team lead" or management role. What is the best answer?

Answer 1

I have to say, I hate this question. I think it's stupid. But, I know people ask it anyway. Basically, they are looking for 2 components to the answer:
1) leadership aspiration (i.e. they want some one who is ambitious and wants to progress up the ladder - but not too quickly)
2) that you see your future in their company (i.e. you are not just there to get the learning & then go somewhere else, that your are dedicated to them, their industry and your job function.).

Good luck on your interviews! I'm interviewing, too.

Answer 2

There is no best answer. Some companies will be perfectly happy to hire you if you are competent, but not ambitious. For those, the best answer would be "doing the job I am interviewing for right now". Other companies want to see some passion for career growth, so they're looking for something along the lines you mentioned. Yet others look for energetic people without attachment to the company (say, the company has long-term plans that involve redeployment at a low-cost location and substantial reduction in the currently employed workforce), so they'll love to hear something like, "getting my MBA" or "starting my own company".

Answer 3

The most important part of this answer is to show that you are foward thinking... But for an employer.. they want to see growth within their Business...they don't want to see unreasonable goals like.. the CEO of this business or ...in Five years I'm going to be retired.... They want something like.. IN five years I'm hoping that I will be continuing my education with this firm and thus moving to a position that will assist this organization to build it's success.

Answer 4

I answered this question with "Sitting in Your Chair" - doing your job. I got the job, it worked for me - don't know if it will work with you. I guess my interviewer was a very laid back guy.