How to answer “Where do you see yourself in five years?” in an interview
Why employers ask this in an interview
When interviewing for a position, you’ll likely be asked, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”. You may be wondering what information this gives employers and what they’re hoping to gain from your response.
It’s simple. Letting them know your five-year plan will provide them with insight into what your goals are – both short-term and long-term. It tells them if you’ll be around for the long haul, if the company can provide you with what you’re looking for, and if your values align with each other.
It can be difficult to answer a question like this, but since you can expect it to be asked, you can prepare your response.
When answering the question
1. Tailor your answer to the job description
First, make sure your answer aligns with the description of the position you’re interviewing for. It’s possible you’re applying to jobs out of necessity, and your long-term goals don’t align with the position itself. This can disqualify you from future interviews.
Do your research into the position and the company. In five years, what is someone in this position likely to be doing? In what ways can you benefit the company that far down the road if you get this position now?
If you’re applying for a management position, it can be advantageous to speak on leading a large, collaborative team, establishing clear lines of communication, or expanding the workload of the team.
However, if you’re applying for an IT position, where you may be working more independently, talk about what you know you can do as a one-person powerhouse. Streamlining processes, increasing security, etc.
2. Highlight your skills and achievements
When speaking about the position and what you hope to bring to it, show that your goals are achievable with the help of your past experiences. Your achievements prove that you don’t just hope to accomplish something, but you also have the knowledge too.
Furthermore, if you’ve received any past awards, proving you go above and beyond, shout them out!
3. List short-term goals as well
Predicting exactly where you’ll be five years can be difficult. You may have a general sense of where you want to be (e.g. I want to be in a management position, I want to spearhead the company’s future mergers/expansions, etc.), but to help the interviewer get a better idea of what they can expect to see from you over the next half-decade, it helps to share your short-term goals.
Short-term goals may include hitting certain sales numbers, streamlining processes, or getting a promotion between years one and five.
Noting this gives the interviewer a proper vision of the difference you’ll make at the company. It proves you not only have a big-picture idea of where you want to be, but you have the puzzle pieces to bring that image to life.
4. Be authentic and honest
Hiring managers are likely to interview multiple people for the same role. If you try and reply to this question like you think they’d want you to, odds are, others are doing the same.
Be unique in your reply – but keep it honest.
Don’t shoot for the stars and say you want to be the CEO when you’re starting at a company in an entry level position. Ask yourself, do you want to be promoted? Do you want to collaborate with more teams? Do you want to lead big projects that will make a large impact on the organization?
Giving specific goals that are unique to you will show that you have put thought into this position, looked into the company, and believe you can make the differences you want to achieve.
5. Keep things general
Although listing specific past achievements and awards is good, it’s better to keep your long-term goals broader. Don’t get too focused on details to avoid seeming inflexible. Approach your goals as what you truly wish to see for yourself and your company in terms of growth, making an impact, and taking on more responsibility.
6. End with a question when appropriate
If appropriate, at the end of the question, ask the interviewer a question of your own that aligns with your goals – showing you’re serious about wanting to achieve them.
If you wish to be managing people in five years, you can ask, “What opportunities for professional growth does this company provide?”.
Not only will this show the interviewer you’re serious about achieving your goals and getting to where you want, but it will give insight into whether the company can provide you what you need.
Example answers to “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
- In the next five years, I want to attain a leadership role within the company. I’ll leverage my past experience and current skillset to achieve this next step, while paving a way for others along the way.
- I believe I’ll make a great leader in a few years’ time. I’m a dedicated worker and have strong time management skills that have helped me meet or exceed my past career goals. In addition, the training provided here will push me to be better and fill in any missing gaps, allowing me to one day step into a higher-level role.
- In five years, I believe I’ll be able to see concrete differences I’ve made in the company, having contributed to its growth and overall success. I would like to strengthen my current skillset as well as acquire new ones, and I think this position will allow me to do that. With those new and stronger skills, I know I’ll be ready to take on more responsibility here in a leadership position.
Are you looking for your next position? Addison Group has more than 20 years of experience connecting top candidates with top companies. Contact us today!
