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

PasturesNew

mountainofdebt wrote: »

In repsonse to the OP's question I think I would have to say hopefully working for an organisation that I was proud to say I worked for, with a team that I enjoyed working with.......yes abit woolly but there you go!

What if they ask for more!

mountainofdebt wrote: »

How would I deal with a difficult person - in a polite, professional manner.

Next question: how would you do that?

mountainofdebt wrote: »

What person would I be from history and why - I would be mountainofdebt because whilst I may not make it into the history books of the future in my own little way I am creating history.

My answer: I don't know anybody from history.

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Weirest question I was ever asked was (when it was still legal) my stance on fox hunting for an office job !

My answer: no idea, I have no stance.

PasturesNew

I was obviously stupid ... I thought I was there because I'm damned good at doing that job. Exceptional in fact, with a unique mix of skills and experiences to bring to the job .... but I was obviously there to answer daft questions and get some paperwork completed.



They didn't want me by the way, but I could tell that after the first 30 seconds when they asked the first question and I knew I would be in trouble.

Hey ... when did people stop having to be good at a job and simply needed to learn to be able to answer fluffy questions to get on?

teabelly

Life is too short to play silly games in interviews. I'm just me. Polite and honest about what I actually think as who wants to work in a place where you have to pretend to be something you're not to fit in. It's too tiring. Better to be honest and work somewhere you fit in.

If someone asks where I'd want to be in 5 years the honest answer would be 'pottering about at home, wealthy enough not to need to work!' Not sure that shows the required level of ambition for most workplaces as generally they want you to say a rung or two up from wherever you are now but not threatening their position.

VALM

I was asked this question at an interview earlier in the year for a temporary job where they kept stressing that the job would only be for 3 months maternity cover and there was little chance of anything permanent coming of it. At the time I hadn't had an interview in God knows how long and did want the job so answered that I really wanted to recommence my career as a Conveyancing Assistant and hoped that by that time I'd have a small case load of my own (technically, I'm a Legal Secretary so this showed I wanted to improve). Given what transpired in the rest of the interview (the interviewer knew my old boss and wanted details as to why his company had gone under!) I wish I had said flippantly that since they kept banging on about the job being only temporary that in 5 years' time I wouldn't be with them would I? As it was I told them I thought their questions re: my old boss were unprofessional and would you know it I never heard from them again. x

Pound

I don't think there's a right answer to the question but there are wrong answers. If you're applying for a job as a vet assistant and you said you'd like to be a qualified accountant in 5 years that's probably an indication that you see the job as a stop gap.

Red_Cat

I have been asked that question a few times, even when in a job! The answer I usually give is to manage a team. Shows some ambition, but not to usurp the person asking the question.

Obviously depends on what is approporiate for the job/industry you are in/going for.

spiritus

solodanceparty wrote: »

I hate this one. Thing is... I don't even know if I'll be in this country! I may decide to move back home, although this is highly unlikely. How many people actually know where they will be in 5 years, I don't even know where I'll be 5 months from now.

So how on earth do you expect an employer to give you a job ???

If you can't show some commitment to the job then why should they show any commitment to you ?

A lot of companies invest a lot of time and money in training new staff-I'm sure they'd be delighted if after 5 months you decide to leave.