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Interview Questions: Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

This isn't always an appropriate question I'd have thought.... I was asked it recently in a job interview and so I wondered what the right answer would be.

If it's a small company, no chance of promotion, job is "a good one", it's the job you want to do and the company have no opportunity for advancement then you can't say "Oh I'd want to be heading up a team of this sort" as they'd take that as meaning "I'll use you then bog off".

So what is the right answer for a "middle-aged" person?
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Comments

  • Welshwoofs
    Welshwoofs Posts: 11,146 Forumite
    I've always answered that question as though it were a joke and I've only ever failed to get one job from interview. It's a really stupid question because it'll go one of two ways; the answer which threatens the position of the person interviewing or the answer which makes them think you'll be long gone by then.

    I've gone for a mixture of "Well at my age, having 45 cats and a penchant for brown tartan coats" or "Under a surgeon's knife so I don't have to change the D.O.B on my CV" and a whole range of flippant answers in between. I've found making them laugh diverts their attention.
    “Don't do it! Stay away from your potential. You'll mess it up, it's potential, leave it. Anyway, it's like your bank balance - you always have a lot less than you think.”
    Dylan Moran
  • cazziebo
    cazziebo Posts: 3,209 Forumite
    I agree with Welshwoofs - it's a stupid question. I never ask it and I think I'd find it hard to hide my distaste if it was asked of me. Says nothing about job predictability. When I'm on a panel and someone else asks it, I have to stife a yawn as yet another candidate says "I'd like to be in your job"....

    However, I'm not naturally a funny person so don't think I could carry off a jokey answer. (:T Welshwoofs - wish I could!) Something like - "In a job where I'd be looking forward to coming in every day, enjoying the challenge and still able to learn and grow". Bit yeuch but ticks the boxes
  • briona
    briona Posts: 1,454 Forumite
    This isn't always an appropriate question I'd have thought.... I was asked it recently in a job interview and so I wondered what the right answer would be.

    If it's a small company, no chance of promotion, job is "a good one", it's the job you want to do and the company have no opportunity for advancement then you can't say "Oh I'd want to be heading up a team of this sort" as they'd take that as meaning "I'll use you then bog off".

    So what is the right answer for a "middle-aged" person?
    I don't think there is a 'right' answer.

    I have always said (with a wry smile) something along the lines of "I take each day as it comes. I don't tend to look that far into the future suffice to say if I'm happy somewhere, I stay there". ;)
    If I don't respond to your posts, it's probably because you're on my 'Ignore' list.
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I have Aspergers, so these fluffy-headed, nonsensical questions immediatelyy make me look stupid as they're too open, so I've no answer, no idea what sort of answer they're expecting, so the next time I open my mouth I usually seal my fate to the "no thanks" pile.

    At this stage I just had the job title, she hadn't said anything about the job, the role, the company, just went down a list of questions and wrote my answers down on the sheet.

    Another one was "How would you deal with a difficult person?" - well that would depend on who was being difficult, why, the relationship to that point, their position within the strategy, whether they were being difficult because they felt they weren't being listened to ... so I'd start by taking a step back and asking myself if they were being difficult, or just frustrated.

    I could see on her face that I'd "failed" on that one too.

    Didn't like her anyway :)
  • briona
    briona Posts: 1,454 Forumite
    Another one was "How would you deal with a difficult person?"
    Ouch! That's a bit of a difficult question and it's very tempting to reply: "How do you think I'm doing so far?!" (although probably not advisable at interview!). :p

    On a more sensible note, as with the previous question I would be deliberately vague. I would say something like "Well it all depends on HOW they were being difficult..." and then give a real-life example of a person who was being difficult and how you responded to it/dealt with it.
    If I don't respond to your posts, it's probably because you're on my 'Ignore' list.
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    briona wrote: »
    then give a real-life example of a person who was being difficult and how you responded to it/dealt with it.
    I've never encountered a difficult person that I can recall ... maybe I'm so lovely that people aren't difficult with me, or maybe I'm so unaware that I don't notice them.
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    She never once asked me anything about my experience, or told me anything about the job. Just this seemingly random questions, without any framework within which to work for the answers.

    It was most odd. She was the HR person and had been for some time. I didn't get to see any of the bosses/managers, or anybody related to or close to the role at all. I know the job, I know the industry, I know this stuff standing on my head, yet there were no questions whatsoever regarding the role/suitability/ability/experience.

    All most peculiar.
  • ceridwen
    ceridwen Posts: 11,547 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 22 January 2010 at 8:34PM
    Agree with you Pastures.

    I'd also be sitting there thinking "most peculiar". I guess its the latest fashion to ask questions like that unfortunately.

    I agree with you - I would be concerned with whether I had the experience/ability to learn what they required of me in the job and blow anything else. I wouldnt expect them to be bothered about it either. But - maybe thats just me - and you as well by the look of it.

    What on earth is one supposed to say to a dumb question like that? You can hardly say "In your job" or "I'd be your manager" - because if you do then you will be perceived as a threat and they will take it out on you by not giving you the job in the first place. So - just what on earth ARE you supposed to say in those circumstances?

    My guess is that interviewers who ask dumb questions like that are just "ticking the (latest fashion) boxes" and havent really stopped to think through what sort of response they ideally want from a candidate.

    .....but then...like you....I sometimes take things VERY literally (still thinking about the person on another thread who made such a point of saying that a lot of people WANT to be sacked.....it took me hours to realise that they probably REALLY meant "want to be made redundant" because they had used the wrong word). Like you - I focus on the EXACT WORD they have used. They said "sacked" - and "sacked" was what I was thinking about. Now "redundant" on the other hand - thats a totally different kettle of fish and they would have had a very different response from me( as I can see that quite a few people would like to be made "redundant" - but I have never yet met anyone who wants to be "sacked":cool::p).

    The trouble with you and I Pastures is that we take things very very literally I think.......(and I havent got Aspergers - well I dont think so......).
  • cazziebo
    cazziebo Posts: 3,209 Forumite
    I've never encountered a difficult person that I can recall ... maybe I'm so lovely that people aren't difficult with me, or maybe I'm so unaware that I don't notice them.

    That's a pretty good answer. If you perceive people to be difficult, then it's likely that the interaction becomes adversive. If you don't see "a difficult person" and just a problem to solve or a question to answer then you're way ahead of those who label a person as difficult. IMHO of course!
  • Dealing with a difficult person is quite a frequent question - particulary in managerial style interviews. The panel are looking to see that you have people skills, that you can empathise, that you can assert yourself etc...

    A colleague refuses to do what they are meant to do for no clear reason. Or a customer takes an illogical stance and refuses to listen to reason - I think these are the 'types' of difficult people they are referring to here.

    Gluck! =)
    whinge intr.v. whinged, whing·ing, whing·es Chiefly British To complain or protest, especially in an annoying or persistent manner.
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