I would like to hear some opinions about an interview question that I hate...?

Question

When an interviewer ask the question "where do you see yourself 5 years from now", I just want to scream or tell them, "hopefully it won't be here kissing butts, scraping to get a promotion"; I also would like to say, "I plan on being financially independent", but I know that wouldn't go well for hiring purposes! I really wonder what kind of answer they are looking for. I know that within 5 years I would probably be looking for a new job. I would need it to help dislodge me from the stagnated condition that the prior job left me in, after the challenge was gone and my salary was capped! Besides that, with the job situation today, you have to be multi-talented and ready to get layed off, due to downsizing, bankruptcy, or whatever. You can't bank on the hope of retiring after "x" amount of years like it used to be!
If you've ever been asked that question during an interview, what kind of answer did you give? Any interviewers out there, what kind of answer are you looking for?

Answer 1

They're looking for an answer that shows that you see yourself THERE at five years (either in the same position if they've had a lot of turnover & they just want someone who will stay...or in a growth position).

Dh, who has interviewed for nearly 18 years says say something along the lines of, "I'm looking for a long term opportunity with a company where I can still be contributing & still be interested after five years or longer." He says you should follow up with a question fo your own & this is: "So, tell me, since you asked that question, has your company/department been successful in holding people for five years or longer? What is the average tenure here? What is your turnover rate?" Blunt question, but if they ask you the other one...it gives you license to ask this...tenure is a two way street requiring a committed employer and committed employee.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

I have asked this question while interviewing people and I have been asked this question. When I ask it I am looking for an idea of (a) if the applicant has any kind of ambition and therefore hopefully some motivation to really work and (b) how my job fits in with where they hope to be. I work in youth development and if you tell me you hope to be an accountant or a rocket scientist or something in 5 years then probably the job I am interviewing you for is not a good fit for both of us. For me when I ask this question it's another way to feel out how good of a match you are for the job. I don't need a text book perfect answer and probably actually prefer not to get one. That would tell me you're just regurgitating some baloney and not thinking about this individual position and you.

I myself do not have a real answer to where I see myself in 5 years. I can't tell you that, professionally or personally. The answer I gave the interviewer was that when I first started working for this company (I was applying for a promotion) that I didn't expect to be here longer than 5 months and here it is 5 years later and I'm still here. While I don't know what I want to do next, I am 100% committed to the thing we do at this organization and to making that happen well and I'm not planning on going anywhere anytime soon.

Answer 3

Hi. I regularly hire people, and not only do I ask that question I also ask: where do u see yourself in 1 and 10 years...and usually I ask them in chronological order...that is, first 1 year, then 5, then 10. Usually what I am expecting to hear is:
For 1 year: def something related to the fact that you want to grow in the company where you are being interviewed, and you have show genuine interest. For 5 years: i am not necesarily looking for an answer that has to do with being with me that much down the road...yet I want to see how ambitious and clear-headed you are...how much of an idea do u have of your goals? How will you get there? Is my job offer a stepping stone, how important is it to achieve your goals? I want to see how good you are as an employee, and how honest you are with me and with yourself. And yes...the "I want to be independent in 5 years" is a cliche, and I think you shd avoid that answer...even if you mean it. Instead, tell me how and why you will be indep in 10 years, and share with me your plan to get there...VERY few people have answered these questions well. Something else...i usually ask the questions in 3 dimensiones: family, personal and biz.

Answer 4

I once asked this question of a new graduate. He thought for quite a while. His answer, "Gee I never thought about that. I think I should." I was impressed.

I never asked the question to hear all the canned answers about how they expected to be with the company for 5 years. I wanted to know if they were goal oriented and if they have a 5 year plan. How can you reach any goal if you do not have a plan?

So I suggest that you think about where YOU want to be in 5 years. Then think about how you are going to get there. Then when you are asked this question, you will be able to show how the job in question fits your 5 year plan. If it does not fit the plan, why do you want the job?

Answer 5

They want to hear that you have ambition and want to be in management or be promoted. They also want to know if you have any interest in another area in the company. Some people apply for a position to get their foot in the door at a company but have a desire to work in another department. It's not really a trick question. It's one to help them decide if you are a good match for their company. Some people want a person who is motivated to advance and others are looking for someone who doesn't mind doing the same job for the next 20 years. Just be honest.

Answer 6

I have to say I'm sorry you're saying this.

For years, I worked in jobs in which I could never answer that question with any ease. The jobs were professional - the institutions were top-notch - I hated the type of work entirely and I could not see my career going past 5 years in that field. Somehow how I stayed in the field for 12 years still amazes me to this day.

I ended up taking major risks and switching to career track I'm much happier with. I can answer that exact question with alot of ease no problem.

For your information, I used to work in the biological sciences as a researcher and now I have transitioned to biological sales. Having the confidence to sell science was something I had no ability for, but I really wanted to do it.

Where do I want to be in 5 years? I want to have established a large clientele over the Western Regional US and establish long-lasting relationships with my customers to a very friendly point.

Answer 7

You give the interviewer what they want to hear. You tell them that you would see yourself in a higher position with the company like supervising or whatever comes to mind that if you were the interviewer you would want to heat that answer. Being that you do work for that company.

Answer 8

You should have said that you do not know where you will be in that time-frame. Instead, show your interest in the position you are applying for. Then, say you will let this position determine where your future lies. Employers generally ask such questions to see if you plan to be "committed" to one position for a length of time. The worst thing a company wants is an employee who jumps a position too often.

Answer 9

They are pretty much asking you if you plan to stay with them for about that long if they hire you. So just let them know you see yourself working with them but with more responsibilities. You probably won't stay for that long, but hey, answer what they want to hear. Most companies don't like investing so much time with a new employee who is not going to stay with them for a reasonable time.

Answer 10

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