The Balance Careers uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Alternatively, if you’re interviewing for a marketing role and you want to be a UX designer in five years, you most likely won’t be considered a good fit for the job. I’m motivated by connecting my initiatives to a company’s larger goals and I’m excited by the prospect of getting more experience in that.". Think about components of the job in which you can excel. For example, if you’re a registered nurse applying for a clinical nursing position at a hospital, and your goal is to someday move into management, you should research the organization to see whether nurses typically work their way into nurse manager roles. The length of time employees stay with the same company varies based on age and industry. Stating your goals in terms of results that you would like to produce is another angle for responding. Hiring, onboarding and training a new employee is often seen as an investment and turnover is costly, so most employers seek candidates who plan on being at the company long-term. Could you use some help getting your answers in shape? You'll learn how to craft smart responses that paint you as a thoughtful candidate, eager to get out there and prove yourself. In any profession, there is room to grow and continue learning. After all, the hiring manager will probably want someone who’ll be happy and competent in that role for at least a year or two. On average, 54% of people stay in the same role for at least 5 years. If you want to reach a more advanced job title in five years than the employer can accommodate, they may determine that you are overqualified or would too quickly become bored in the position you’re interviewing for. For example, don't share your five-year goal to publish a novel if you're interviewing for an accountant position. Integrating a clear rationale into your answer about how your interests and skills equip you to do the role can help to alleviate any concerns about how long you’ll want to stay in the job. It is acceptable (and sometimes beneficial) to keep your answer to this question more general. Because goals, interests and dreams can change, it is reasonable to present general ideas instead of specific details. Your interviewer will expect you to ask questions about the company or the job. However, it is important have a solid answer. I’m also excited to learn more about the business from the most highly regarded agents in the industry. If you can, find a friend or family member who can pose as an interviewer and ask you these questions. “I can tell by your resume and cover letter if you have the skills and education necessary to fill the position—that is why I am talking to you,” he says. Think about the following categories and how they might look in the future: Are there specific achievements you could map out? Hopefully, I’ll sign with someone soon. Maybe there’s an area of the business you don’t understand and would like to learn more about. In order to prepare well for this question, research a reasonable career path that will flow from the position for which you are applying. Employers typically ask this type of question to gather insight into how well this job fits with your overall career aspirations. Related: Behavioral Interview Questions (and How to Answer Them). I’m eager to continue developing my clinical skills as a member of this unit. “I do not want to hear about how you will be a CEO or working for my competition in five years.”, You say: “I want to explore management training opportunities and also learn the finer points of this industry, so I can eventually become a company leader.”. Here are tips for responding to questions about the next stage of your career, while affirming your interest in the role you are being interviewed for. If this is a likely career path, your research should show that employees typically make that move. Show them you’re interested in knowing more than you do right now. There might be a particular area of interest you want to focus on in the role you’re interviewing for and it might reasonably take several years for you to reach an expert level. More Job Interview Tips There may be times when you don't see yourself in a role long term and that’s okay, though it’s not necessary to disclose that to your interviewer. Taking time to consider where you want to be in five years based on the job description, your interests and your goals can help you craft an answer that communicates why you’re the best person for the job. Otherwise, if you do not feel that you will still be in that same job after 5 years, you can answer by saying how uncertain the future is with regards to your career, but you are hoping that by having the job it will be a huge stepping stone in achieving your dreams as an engineer. Let’s say you’re in the middle of switching your career. Employers want to know their employees have some desire to grow in their careers, says Helen Chalmers, a career counselor with Dallas-based Thoughtful Therapy. Finally, employers are often curious if your interests align with the position they’re offering. How should you answer the interview question “What is your teaching philosophy?” Here are several tips and examples to help you prepare. Some employers will clearly outline pathways in the career section of their website. In this example, the candidate includes their goals of (1) practicing leadership (2) collaborating with other departments and (3) developing skills that will strengthen their expertise. The information on this site is provided as a courtesy. It can be difficult to know or even plan for what you will be doing in five years, however, managers still look to hire candidates who have a sense of how they want to grow and progress in their career. What If I Am Planning a Career Switch? Review these options for giving the best answers for questions about the future, along with examples you can tailor to fit your own circumstances. You may or may not have an exact picture of where you want to be in five years. For example, only say you want to develop a skill if it is something you can learn within the role. So while you can't exactly see into the future, you can take a few steps to make sure the forecast looks bright. When preparing your answer, consider the following best practices: When crafting your answer, remember to carefully review the job posting. When an interviewer asks you, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” they are testing your level of career ambition. Understanding your related passions and interests helps employers envision how you might contribute to the team in both the short and long term and it assures them that the role will provide a fulfilling experience for you. They typically want to hear that you see yourself in this role—or a relatively similar position—at the company for several years. When employers ask, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” They’re likely looking for a few key pieces of information: Employers want to know that your goals fit with the job they’re offering. ", How to Answer "Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? Consider which of the required skills and traits you already have and would like to strengthen and also those you’d like to gain more experience in. Joseph Wessner, assistant general manager of Coughlin Printing Group in Watertown, New York, says despite its ambiguity, this question, when asked, does have a definitive answer. Don't say this: My long-term goal is to leave the ad agency world and concentrate on my writing. Don’t go overboard, though. You should’ve already done your research on the company, so you can easily pick out some points from the company’s mission statement that resonate with you and your goals, and mention how you hope to expand on those in the coming years.