How to answer the question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

06 September 2017

How To Answer The Question  Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years  (1)

โ€‹It can be difficult to juggle the need for spontaneity and open-mindedness with having to plan for your future. It's a pretty scary thought - where will you be in 5 years? 

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Whatever the variation; โ€œwhat are your long term career goals?โ€, โ€œwhat plans do you have for the future?" etc. if youโ€™re heading for a job interview, thatโ€™s probably a reason to sit down and think about where you see your career heading. Itโ€™s likely theyโ€™re going to ask you about it. 

It can be a good thing. Understanding your direction will help you make the right decisions to get you to where you want to be. That being said, 5 years, thatโ€™s quite a long way off. 

No interviewer expects full clarity but it helps to be prepared.

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Just remember these things if someone pops that interview question: 

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Reassure the interviewer you are invested in that career path

Letโ€™s face it, a lot of time, effort (and often money) goes into hiring people. Letting the interviewer know youโ€™re going to be around for a while and that their effort will pay off, is often all they really want to hear. 

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Do some research into the company structure 

You could really WOW the interviewer with your knowledge of the company. Express how youโ€™d like to be in a certain role that is attainable, maybe even name the person who is currently in that position to really show off your forward thinking. 

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Be enthusiastic

Body language and enthusiasm can say a lot. Sometimes itโ€™s not about what you say, itโ€™s how you say it. 

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Ultimately, the worst thing you can say is โ€œI donโ€™t know". So stear clear of that.