workawesome.com: I’m sure you’ve been asked this question at an interview at some point in your life.
Coming straight from the ‘stock questions to ask interview candidates’ manual, the “Where do you see yourself” question sits neatly alongside “What’s your greatest weakness?” and “How would you deal with a difficult situation?”
It’s a lazy employer who asks one of these ‘difficult’ questions. Both sides could probably just as well do the interview over the phone and save everyone a lot of time!
Unfortunately, if you want the job you’re going to have to sit through these painful interviews and prepare to give the same stock answer.
via Lifehacker
16 comments:
It's good to consider all these questions and consider your answer, however I find the stock answer to be...well...a stock answer. It's a little generic. I hope to still be with this company - leading a department - fits my skills.
The most important statement from this article is to be honest. If you don't have any idea where you are going to be, or what you what, be honest with yourself. Consider some larger goals.
It's interesting to me because college students focus so much on getting the job, being employed and not moving in with your parents. However, once you've acquired the job, there's a bit more to consider. What do you want out of that job or after the job?
Think about your five-year plan and what you want to get out of it.
I think that the tip about being more specific than "I see myself as an integral and motivated worker in this company" is very useful. Doing research to see what values are important to the company and how that is applicable to the job you are applying for is a great tip. On top of that, though, a person should know what values he/she possesses and how they want that to be integrated in whatever job they possess. This will not only help your employer see how you will perpetuate their values and goals, but it will provide a lot of insight on your own specific goals and work ethic.
I remember being asked this exact question at my interview for this program and realizing that I had absolutely no idea; and that's exactly what I told them, that I didn't know and didn't necessarily want to know quite yet. This question is somewhat useful in that it lets the interviewer know what the candidate's ambition and goals are, but honestly I just find it very restrictive.
This was a pretty good article and I agree with Ariel that the most valuable thing they said was to be honest. Personally I don't ever see my self as having the same job for more than a year or so. I would go out of my mind. I guess you just have to balance, what you want and what the company you want to work for wants. If you dont see your self still there in five years maybe you need to reevaluate and think on if that job is really the best fit for you. Or just be honest with them an tell them you were really only interested in working there for a few years as a starting off point. They might be alright with that and if not they might be able to point you in the right direction. And if you see your self much farther along than they think they will beable to get you, its much better to find that out before you even start the job than when your stuck in the same thing four years down the road.
This actually is the hardest question though! I've never been asked it in an interview setting but even when Im talking about it with friends I find it impossible to answer. Maybe its because, in our profession, holding the same job for more than a couple of years seems bogess. How can we possibly know what we're doing five years from now if we dont know what we're doing five months from now?
I absolutely agree that you should know the company you're interviewing for in order to properly answer that question. Even if you're not doing it so that you can properly answer the five year question, knowing who youre working for can grab you some major brownie points and maybe secure a job for you that will hold for five years. If that's what floats your artistic boat.
External monologue: Most likely goes something like this article suggests. It is good to hint that you are looking to settle into the company and could see yourself planning a longer career with them. It's a stock answer, yes, and I find that it's also good to be memorable as well. This answer with a twist might not be so bad. I'm sure there's plenty of ways to shoot something unique into the mix while still saying that you want to be motivated and meet/improve the needs of the company which is looking to hire you.
Internal Monologue: I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I SEE MYSELF IN FIVE YEARS I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT I ATE FOR BREAKFAST HOW ARE THERE ONLY 24 HOURS IN A DAY WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE.
The number one tip for a successful interview is to never let that crazy slip out.
I also agree with the best way to answer the question as being honest. Yes, I also think that letting the company know you have plans with them is prudent as well, because it shows your interest. But at the same time, if you plan to use the company to move on to something else, then why not include those thoughts as well. Also, if you're not sure, then let the company know what you are hoping to get out of them in hopes of of that helping you determine a move for the future. This could even be turned into a compliment. Honestly, I say answer with whatever you are feeling at the moment and if they don't hire you, then it means you weren't meant to be there and that you will fit somewhere else where an honest and somewhat sporadic answer will be welcomed.
I have been asked this question in an internship interview with a company that I want to work for after I graduate. I thought they were going to think I was sucking up when I said that I hoped to be working for them in five years, but I'm ultimately glad that I did that because it showed my genuine interest in the company. I am a bit relieved after finding that this author also thinks it's important to mention where you would like to be with the company if you are genuinely interested in it. I agree with Ariel that the answer they give is pretty lame. I think it's a bit of a "safe" answer. When answering this question, you have to tread a fine line between being confident and serious about your goals while making sure you don't come across as over-confident. While the given answer in this article does state the hefty goal of hopefully leading a department in five years, it doesn't really commit to that goal with confidence. As other commenters have said before me, honesty is the most important here- and if you honestly have a goal, you should embrace it and prove to the employer that you are serious about it.
I honestly had never thought about how important it is to incorporate the company into your five year plan. If you're applying for the job, obviously you want to get the job, and would like to be there for at least a couple of years. Most of the job interviews I've been in have been for temporary or part-time gigs, where me becoming a full time member of the company isn't a realistic and probable option. And this answer should be something you've thought about -- if I want this job, WHY do I want it? How will it benefit and further me? Where will THE JOB take me in five years?
I hate this question. Open ended questions are the hardest to answer in interview but they also help to tell a lot about yourself. When ever I answered this question I tried to make the question have something about myself and what I like to do. However this articles three tips are extremely helpful and I plan to use this in the future. Although the example they gave is too "wordy" for me, it does seem like a great way to answer and keep yourself rooted in the truth.
I think the whole, "How to ace the interview and what the interviewer really wants to hear from you" is less interesting and less important, on a life level, then actually being able to answer that question, not for points but in a truthful way, for yourself.
Summary of this article: In job interviews, more specifics are better.
That's really all the article says, and it's not exactly an earth shattering revelation. Why are we so obsessed with "winning" life at, usually, the price of some sort of actual human happiness? Something beyond "I have a job that impresses other people" or "I have nice things" or even "Sometimes I look at a sunset and I just feel really deep, man".
I do think honest is the best policy, so I would tell my potential employer exactly what I would like to be doing in five years............as long as I knew what that was...........In my field, there could be a multitude of possibilities that I could be happy with so my answer could be one of many. I know that I couldn't go wrong in saying that I want to be able to make a living at something I love doing. Money is a factor, but if I can pay my bills with a little extra, I won't complain. I can go almost anywhere in the world and do what I love, so in 5 years I will be wherever the best and most exciting job takes me. I want all the experiences I can get so I would tell them I want to learn and grow in whatever job I have. I think the three steps are good advise. Knowing who you are dealing with or the company you will be working for is crucial. Letting them know what I have to offer is just common sense, but showing motivation is what I think get's the job.You can't fake passion. If they see that you love what you do, are good at it, and have the desire to be great, then I think you already have one foot in the door. Five years form now............I want to be great.
I think there's a second option to answer this question, one which I have been using and think is fairly successful. It goes agains what this article says however- I propose saying that you may not be at the company in 5 years! I know I would like to go to grad school in a few years, so have told that to employers. The key though is to connect what you imagine going to grad school for back to the company you work for. This both sets your sights high and explains how you will be valuable to the company.
No, but why can't I just say, “sipping a cocktail on a desert island after winning the lottery?”
This is a really good/helpful article. I have been in interviews where they have asked that question, either about the 5/10 year plan. I agree with the author that it does help when you give them a well thought out answer that shows some research into the history of the company, while expressing your goals for achievements within the company. I also really liked that the author stated at the end that you just shouldn't lie! If you haven't thought about an answer to this question and if you know that you will sound shaky answering the question. Then just be honest. Sometimes employers prefer to know that a prospective employee is being honest rather than, faking it and lying.
I agree with what was said above: this article presents itself like it has the ultimate answer to the hardest question, when really, the answer it gives as being "better" than the boring stock answer is the same stock answer, just longer and with an added clause or two.
I think the best advice is just to be honest. In any interview situation, the interviewer will be able to tell when you're giving a stock, memorized answer and when you're just not telling the truth.
Yes, I'm sure they want to hear that you want to be working for them in five years, and helping the company grow and be successful, but any way you phrase that, it's a stock answer, unless you HONESTLY want to be there in five years. If that's the case, you'll be able to talk about why and how and what you want in an amount of detail that they hopefully won't see from many other people.
I completely agree with this thought process, pairing where you actually want to see yourself in the future, with how the company can take you there. I know for one that I myself need to do ALOT of figuring out before I can clearly articulate to someone all of my goals and ambitions- sometimes a job that you are applying for might not be your one way- ticket to your dream future, but whether or not this is true, the job you are applying for SHOULD and must contribute to your future somehow, and therefore it is important to tell your possible employer how you are in fact going to take yourself there.
Post a Comment