Questions about your career plans can come up during interviews and one of the more common styles such questions come up is “where do you see yourself in five years”.
If you haven’t given thought to the question of where do you see yourself in five years, it is advisable for you to start considering it. If not for nothing at all, at least for the mere ability to articulate an adequate response if it comes up during the interview.
Even though, you may not be able to come up with a perfect response as plans can change or situations can come up, there are guides as to how to answer such questions. For example, the response to such a question should not be vague – speak in clear terms. One of the most advisable things to do is to tailor the response for the specific job role you are being interviewed for. Does that mean, you have a different answer for every question of “where do you see yourself in five years” in an interview? Possibly! However, remember that using metrics will give you a solid advantage.
Steps to take in interviewing for a job
Why the question – Where do you see yourself in five years?
HRs are very concerned about the success of the company they’re recruiting for as much as you’re concerned about getting a job and living a good life. As a job seeker, you must understand before going for an interview that companies have goals, objectives, and philosophies. Understanding and having a full grasp of these philosophies and values will give your chances of securing the job an upward push.
Still wondering why you must go through this stress? The question of where do you see yourself in five years helps interviewers and HRs get a full sense of the person they are interviewing, and how his plans align with that of the company. Some companies are in for the long-term, while some are not troubled if you’re coming in for the short-term. Interviewers and hiring managers are out there to gauge how long you’ll be staying at the company, helping it build and achieve its long-term goals, or if you’ll probably zoom off after some few months or years on the job. Now, you see why you need to understand the company’s philosophies?
Get a professional resume and CV services here!
How to answer The dreadful question
Ensure your response is related to the industry/job
One of the golden keys to scaling an interview is “tailored answers”. Make your response propose relevance to the job/industry. Even if you personally nurse an ambition that is a diversion from the job or the industry, for the sake of that interview, limit the scope of your answer to the industry. When asked, where do you see yourself in five years, don’t give responses like “I hope to move onto bigger things in the world with my music” when you’re applying for an HR position.
When responding, do the following
Summarize Your Career Journey
Take mental notes of your career and the steps in your career before you enter the interview room. When you answer, try to paint an accurate picture of the modalities of the steps on the ladder with respect to that career. Try to research about the pathways in that particular career so you can present an answer from a knowledgeable perspective. Now you see why we emphasize research before the interview!
Take this for an example, Moses is applying to intern in the R&D department of a manufacturing firm, to present a clearer perspective of where he sees himself in five years, Moses has to make inquiries about the organogram of the firm, and the modalities surrounding promotions in that company.
Display Activated Interest in the Present Job
If Moses who is applying to intern in the R&D department of a company is asked “Where Do You See Yourself in five Years” and Moses starts going off about how he expects to be an assistant manager in five years, it speaks more desperation and ambition than actual commitment which the interviewer would be on the lookout for.
It would be ideal for Moses to display his commitment to the position he is applying for by giving responses like “I believe by interning here, I should be able to garner sufficient knowledge that can give me an edge for the future”
Also, integrate into your response how your skills can help you perform the job effectively.
Making a good impression during a remote internship
Emphasize Your Mastery of the Skill
There are particular job interests that don’t have clearly defined career pathways. For such jobs, the best thing to do is to emphasize how you aim to become more skillful at executing your job.
If Bisola was applying to become a Biology teacher in a middle school and the question of where do you see yourself in five years comes up, Bisola can respond by saying, “I hope to get better over the years at making ideas stick such that my students would be able to discuss meiosis during sleepovers”. That’s quite an ambitious agenda that gets the interviewer interested in what you have to offer.
Talk About Past Goals
Present your past goals and how they were achieved. It gives your interviewer a sneak peek into your goal-setting process. For example, “After my journalism degree, I set a goal to have my article on the cover page of my town’s biggest newspaper within five years, I achieved it by interning at the newspaper for a year, then working my way into working for the editor as his personal assistant, etc.” Take it from us, an interviewer or hiring manager would be more interested in your growth in their company after hearing this.
If you’re to move up the ladder
There are many jobs these days that require you to be promoted or move up the career ladder after some years – investment banking or accountant for example. If you are being interviewed for a job such as this, then you’ll have more freedom to express yourself when asked “where do you see yourself in five years”. However, the freedom you may have, you should stray away from the guidelines of establishing how the job you’re currently being interviewed for is of high interest to you, and what you can bring to the table of the employer.
1 thought on “Best Response to “Where Do You See Yourself in five Years””
jzzmzq