How to Answer Where Do You See Yourself in 5 years - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

How to Answer Where Do You See Yourself in 5 years - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. You are on an interview for a new job, it seems to be going well so far and then you are asked the question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” It was bound to come up at some point, as it is a pretty commonly asked question after all, but it is often difficult for people to answer. The problem is you do not know where you will be in 5 years; anything can happen during that time and the course of your life may change entirely, but that is okay. The interviewer is not looking for a specific answer that describes some far reaching goal. The purpose of this question is to gain insight into what you want out of the job and where your professional interests lie, in order to help them decide if you are a good fit or not. Your answer to this question cannot be generic for all interviews you attend. It will need to be tailored to each one according to the company’s circumstances. For example, at a small company, you want to be aware that saying you want to be in management could mean you are pushing for the interviewer’s job. It may sound counterintuitive, but this is one questions in an interview that should be answered with less specificity. To help formulate an answer to this question, consider the following: Describe your professional aspirations and what types of responsibilities you would like to take on in the years to come. Ideal expectations for your current role and where it will lead What you are looking for out of your career and what is important to you in your career What you see as success in your career Explain your desire to grow with the company. Long-term commitment What you want to learn and where you expect it to lead you Examples of how to answer: In five years’ time, I would like to have developed in my role with your company so that I am seen as a highly valued resource and contributor to the team. As my skill level increases I would like to take on more leadership responsibilities where I can assist other team members in a training or mentoring capacity. This field has always been something that sparks my interest and have wanted to learn more about while working with industry leaders, something that this opportunity provides. At this time, I am eager to learn all there is to know about the industry and grow professionally. In the future, I hope to take on more responsibilities and confront new challenges that will further my growth as I build my career with you. A career path can be difficult to choose, and for many people it remains undefined for a very long time; however, at any given point in your career, you should have some idea of the general direction you would like to proceed in, or at least what you are interested in regarding your career. If you do not have it all figured out yet, it is okay, you are not alone and there is nothing wrong with that. Just remember that honesty is key; do not lie to get through the question. What matters is your ability to communicate your expectations of the role and how it can align with your goals. It does not have to lead to a specific role. This will help provide the employer with a lot of needed information when determining if you are the right fit or not.