How to Answer “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”

How to Answer “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”

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Why hiring managers ask these types of interview questions

So, if hiring managers don't actually care about your path in 1,820 days, why do they ask this silly question? Well, asking "Where do you see yourself in five years?" is more about getting insight into your hopes, aspirations and goals for the next few years.  Interviewers ask about objectives you have set to give them an inside look into how 

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Why hiring managers ask these types of interview questions

you operate and structure your thoughts. The interviewer wants to understand more about your career goals and how their position would fit into your grand plan.  Companies want trustworthy, detail-oriented, and dedicated team members who are willing to take a leap — not a noncommittal employee who is only sticking around until a 

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Why hiring managers ask these types of interview questions

better opportunity arises elsewhere. Hiring managers may pose this common interview question in different ways.Below are a few examples of similar job interview questions that aim to uncover the same information: – What are your long-term career goals? – What is your ideal dream job at this stage in your career?

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Why hiring managers ask these types of interview questions

– What are you looking for? – How do you define success? – What is most important to you in your career? – What is your five-year plan? – What is your goal in the next five years? – Where will you be in five years?

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What not to say when answering "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

– That you plan on a short-term tenure with the company. If an organization is going to invest time and resources in you, they want to believe you'll be with them for the long haul or at least five years.  Employees may now be spending less time in a role before moving on, but you definitely don't want to let the cat out of the bag that you 

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What not to say when answering "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

– That you haven't given any thought to your future with the company or life in general. Whatever you do, do not respond, “I don't know.”  If the answer doesn't come to you at first, take a few seconds to think about how you have grown over the last five years. Consider the natural flow of progression and formulate an answer. Again, one of the 

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What not to say when answering "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

main reasons this question is asked is to find out if you have goals and are excited about your prospective future with the company. They also want to know that you have ambition and a good work ethic and that you've considered how you might handle your work if you were to be hired.

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What not to say when answering "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

– That you want their position. Yes, the interviewer wants to know you're ambitious, but you don't want to let it be known that you're very eager to move up and see yourself in their position, especially if it's a small company where such opportunities are few and far between.

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