Killer interview question.

[ADDled]

I don't know how to answer this! I've been asked several times, and feel I have stumbled through it/not answered well.

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

Or some variation.

Yikes! How the hell do you answer that one? What's a good answer? I'm at such a point right now where I've planned and planned and things haven't gone like I planned, you know? So I'm not planning right now. My previous 5-year goal has kind of disintegrated, you know? Recently. So I don't have a new one yet!

I'm a goal-setter, typically, and a planner, so this question is usually a no-brainer!

Any suggestions for how I can answer this without sounding like a fool, or like someone that either has no ambition whatsoever, or someone who has goals that have nothing to do with this job and will leave them high and dry in a couple years.

?!?

[aleutsi]

I don't know how to answer this! I've been asked several times, and feel I have stumbled through it/not answered well.

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

Or some variation.

Yikes! How the hell do you answer that one? What's a good answer? I'm at such a point right now where I've planned and planned and things haven't gone like I planned, you know? So I'm not planning right now. My previous 5-year goal has kind of disintegrated, you know? Recently. So I don't have a new one yet!

I'm a goal-setter, typically, and a planner, so this question is usually a no-brainer!

Any suggestions for how I can answer this without sounding like a fool, or like someone that either has no ambition whatsoever, or someone who has goals that have nothing to do with this job and will leave them high and dry in a couple years.

?!?


I'm probably not the best to answer, but I've run across this question outside of employment. Bible studies & such. Anyway, I find it hard to answer as well. First I take it as more of a where would I like to be - it's less intimidating/depressing for me to think like that. Second, I figure up my kids ages and try to picture what I want life to look like when they are that age. So for me, right now, in 5 years my kids will be 22, 20 and 14. That means I will have only one dependant child in my home - one who will be quite independant by that age and I hope to be working part time at a job I enjoy, or in the midst of taking classes somewhere on subjects that will improve my photography or allow me to gain employment in some type of social work.

Like I said, probably not a good answer for an interview, but it's an example of how I brainstorm.

[ADDled]

Hmm. If I were interviewing for my current job, and were asked that question....I'd say.....

I'm looking for a stable career, with room for growth in knowledge and experience. I want to be able to challenge myself, and so in 5 years, I see myself having mastered my work, and taking on additional responsibilities.

Or....something like that. You can get more specific about the work and responsibilities. I think when I was asked this question, I said the things I wanted to *learn*, that I didn't currently know.

And...that's *basically* true, but I don't plan to be at my current employer in 5 years, I hope to be done with school by then, and...doing what I said above, for someone else, in a different career path.This is freaking brilliant! :kiss: Thank you!

[Holly]

and see myself as a "go to person"

Or something of that nature. You most definitely do not need to go into in depth life plans ;-)

[ADDled]

You most definitely do not need to go into in depth life plans ;-)
And I needed to hear this, too, because that's where my mind was automatically going :D

[ADDled]

...
Yeah, that's the thing. I don't think job searchers want to hear that stuff. When I get asked that from a career point of view, my mind automatically goes to my kids, too, which screws me all up LOL!

I'm not really a rehearsed interviewer. I've been told over and over I interview very well, and I just go on the fly (obviously I research the company thoroughly, and the subject matter if it's new to me). I don't rehearse common interview questions, usually. I just make conversation, and answer what's asked.

However, this one I need to rehearse, because people are asking me this one, and my mind is automatically going to my kids, and how I had plans to be homeschooling and doing foster care and maybe social services volunteer work, and then I get all flustered and can't answer from a professional point of view, you know?

[aleutsi]

Yeah, that's the thing. I don't think job searchers want to hear that stuff. When I get asked that from a career point of view, my mind automatically goes to my kids, too, which screws me all up LOL!

I'm not really a rehearsed interviewer. I've been told over and over I interview very well, and I just go on the fly (obviously I research the company thoroughly, and the subject matter if it's new to me). I don't rehearse common interview questions, usually. I just make conversation, and answer what's asked.

However, this one I need to rehearse, because people are asking me this one, and my mind is automatically going to my kids, and how I had plans to be homeschooling and doing foster care and maybe social services volunteer work, and then I get all flustered and can't answer from a professional point of view, you know?

Yeah, after Trish posted I realized that I just illustrated why I'm not that employable, LOL! :bag:

[ADDled]

Yeah, after Trish posted I realized that I just illustrated why I'm not that employable, LOL! :bag:
LOL! It's OK, like I said, my mind goes right where yours goes.

Typically people rehearse for interviews. I just seem to have the "gift of gab" (or the gift of bulls*** LOL) and so typically don't need to.

But in this instance, my mind has been going right to where yours goes - no need for the paper bag! :D

[candeo]

I don't know how to answer this! I've been asked several times, and feel I have stumbled through it/not answered well.

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

Or some variation.

Yikes! How the hell do you answer that one? What's a good answer? I'm at such a point right now where I've planned and planned and things haven't gone like I planned, you know? So I'm not planning right now. My previous 5-year goal has kind of disintegrated, you know? Recently. So I don't have a new one yet!

I'm a goal-setter, typically, and a planner, so this question is usually a no-brainer!

Any suggestions for how I can answer this without sounding like a fool, or like someone that either has no ambition whatsoever, or someone who has goals that have nothing to do with this job and will leave them high and dry in a couple years.

?!?

Seriously - I know I've seen that on a list of "killer interview questions and how to handle them." I agree it's a tough one. What I've done with that question is talk about some theme that I see to the work that I've done - in my case it's all education in some form - and talk about my commitment to education and how I always see myself working towards increasing educational opportunities and access for people. It works if the job I'm interviewing for has anything remotely to do with education, which they always seem to, even if I have to really stretch to get there.

[ADDled]

Seriously - I know I've seen that on a list of "killer interview questions and how to handle them." I agree it's a tough one. What I've done with that question is talk about some theme that I see to the work that I've done - in my case it's all education in some form - and talk about my commitment to education and how I always see myself working towards increasing educational opportunities and access for people. It works if the job I'm interviewing for has anything remotely to do with education, which they always seem to, even if I have to really stretch to get there.
Why didn't I think of that? Is there a forehead-smacking icon? LOL!

Googling it is a great idea :D