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Where Will You Be In Five Years?
Christina Macres | HMForces.co.uk
“Where do you see yourself in five years?” — it’s not an easy question to answer. Many of us don’t know what we’ll be doing next year let alone in 5 years. What with the economy so precarious, and public and private sector cuts happening, who can say for sure what we’ll face?
The only certain things are that if you do enjoy your current job, and intend on staying in it (for argument’s sake let’s say that you’re not facing redundancy) it’s a fair bet that you might perhaps know your expectations for the next 5 years.
If you’re already serving in the Armed Forces and are beginning to have a clear view of how long you want to serve then perhaps this article might help you. Where Will You Be In Five Years? – is a question that civilian interviewers can often ask as well.
When your review for promotion comes up someone might ask you this question to measure the depth of your ambitions. Most interviewers look for interviewees to answer by way of long-term professional goals. Use that opportunity to share your motivation for the job, your goals for building your knowledge and expertise, and your eagerness to succeed in your given discipline; whether Pilot, Soldier, Submariner. It is really an opportunity to sell yourself and impress your boss.
Check out these five tips on how to best answer this often difficult interview question:
Tip #1: Choose the best answer.
Only after you’ve got to a comfortable level in your current role and need a challenge to step up to the next, you should have a good feeling for the new potential position, and be able to state your five-year plan suitably.
Pay Attention: Interviews work for both interviewer and interviewed. Bear in mind that you are using this opportunity as a means to examine the pontential in your new role. If your boss’s needs don’t mesh with your career goals and outlook, it might be necessary to think again why you’re in this interview in the first place.
An answer for those who want to be experts in their field: If your career goal is to be an expert in your field (this is more likely to be true of younger professionals, or those who are newer to their careers) you may want to say something like, “ In five years, I see myself as a successful Engineer (or your technical field), and learning new skills that will benefit my company and help achieve my career goals. I am eager to experience new challenges and excited to invest five years time specialising in a career I find extremely interesting and motivating."
An answer for those who wish to be in management and increase their rank: If your career goal is to move up the ranks because you’ve become an expert in your field, you may want to say something like, “In five years I see myself in a management role. This would allow me to demonstrate my aptitude for managing others and having more responsibility. I am dedicated and hope to better both my career and my company via my commitment and enthusiasm.”
