The Ultimate Job Interview Guidebook by Frank McClain

Author:Frank McClain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Frank McClain
Published: 2019-07-29T00:00:00+00:00

Question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Same Question: What are your long-term career goals?

Same Question: Where do you see yourself in the future?

Explanation/Answer: This question might come across as odd in an age where many professionals are ready to move on to their next job in 3 to 5 years. The important thing to recognize in this interview question is that hiring managers want to know if you are interested in staying long term with their company and workplace.

It costs their company time and money to hire you (such as going through the job interview process and paying a hefty commission to a staffing agency), and it will cost their company time and money when you leave because they have to pay with time and money to find your replacement. Therefore, some hiring managers want to know if you will give their company some return on their investment after hiring you; or do your career goals indicate that you will potentially leave their company in the near future—1 to 3 years from now.

Hiring managers also know that job-seeking candidates that seek long-term relationships with their company are more likely to be more productive workers. Any job-seeking candidates who reveal they plan to move on from their company in a couple of years are oftentimes the first to be eliminated from the job interview selection process.

Therefore, even if you don’t plan on being with that company long-term, tell the hiring manager you hope to be with their company long-term or 5 years from now (if the hiring manager asks you where you plan to be in 5 years). Remember, there may be 5–15 other applicants waiting in line to interview for that same job as you. When faced with equally qualified job-seeking candidates, hiring managers are more inclined to select the candidate that will provide the greatest return on their company’s investment.

It’s unrealistic in our 21st century to expect any job-hunting candidate to still be with a company beyond 5 years. So, you’re just answering the hiring manager’s unrealistic question and expectation with an equally unrealistic answer. However, the fact is you, the hiring manager or anyone else doesn’t know if you’ll be with that company after 1, 2 or 5 years; unless, of course, you know how to work a crystal ball. Who knows, you may like it there and decide to stay beyond 5 years or work there until you retire.

So rather than laughing in the face of the hiring manager for asking you this outdated question, simply pat yourself on the back for the hiring manager’s interest in wanting you to stay at that company long-term. Just play along with the hiring manager’s silly reindeer game; take a deep breath of gratitude; and then give the hiring manager the assurance he or she needs with a positive answer that indicates you plan to give their company a return on their investment. You can share other long-term goals you may have; just make sure they include their company in your long-term plans when asked this question.

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