Interview question - Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

jamesdd

How do you answer this question? Especially when you are in the position of applying for a job that you only want to tide you over for a while? but long term you want to carry on your dream path career which is not related to the job you are applying for?

shikoku

I would give some vague I just want to be healthy and happy wherever I am answer, it's the truth.

damoandclaire

shikoku wrote: »

I would give some vague I just want to be healthy and happy wherever I am answer, it's the truth.

i did exactly that, was told by the recruitment agency that it wasnt an accepable answer and if i didnt answer the question with a suitable answer, i wouldnt be put up to the next stage of interviews.

basically told them where to go. i wasnt goin to lie on an interview question for any reason.

recruitment agency completely agreed with me but the company they were working for didnt want to know. ah well. their loss.

MyRubyRed

James, you can fudge the truth a bit! Its a common question asked. What is the job you are applying for and perhaps we can give you some hints?

DCFC79

How about something like "You see youself with your own house, nice car and a family", ill either use that or the 1 shikoku suggested

jamesdd

So should i not answer with something work related? Just a personal thing i.e be happy and comfortable etc.

MyRubyRed

jamesdd wrote: »

So should i not answer with something work related? Just a personal thing i.e be happy and comfortable etc.

James, no. You need to demonstrate some forward thinking and some ambition

jamesdd

MyRubyRed wrote: »

James, no. You need to demonstrate some forward thinking and some ambition

Hi mate, sorry i missed your last reply. I'm applying now for an office admin position, but once i finish my degree i hope to move into marketing (hopefully)

The_Unready

This question, and other similar ones, are a good advert for competence-based interviews in which a candidate is asked about what they've actually done/achieved in their careers or life so far, rather than some airy-fairy enquiry into a candidate's innermost thoughts.

Basically, you could answer anything you liked to this question on the basis that an interviewer has no real idea whether or not you're being even the slightest bit truthful. As such, it's a meaningless question that would provide the interviewer with very little insight into your capabilities as an employee.

Being asked this question is probably a sign of an interviewer who hasn't put much thought or preparation into the interview (it's a lazy question) or who doesn't really know what they want from a candidate. Competence-based questions, at which you usually need to provide evidence of what you did in a particular situation (for example) at least provide some evidence (that can be checked with a previous employer or referee, if necessary) of how you've reacted in the past to a specific set of circumstances.

Unfortunately, until all questions of this nature (including those along the lines of "what would you do if...." or "what do you think of this....") are eliminated from interviews you won't have any choice but to prepare for them. However, you can be as creative as you like in your response.........let's face it, nobody is going to be any the wiser, are they?

The Unready

scubaangel

Whenever I've been asked that I've used it as a chance to ask the interviewer what the options are for further training within the role. So for an admin position I'd mention a desire to gain further training through the company if is a 'team' position I'd be talking about working towards a Supervisory role or more specific task oriented job than the generalist position applied for.

MyRubyRed

scubaangel wrote: »

Whenever I've been asked that I've used it as a chance to ask the interviewer what the options are for further training within the role. So for an admin position I'd mention a desire to gain further training through the company if is a 'team' position I'd be talking about working towards a Supervisory role or more specific task oriented job than the generalist position applied for.

James I'd suggest exactly what scubaangel is saying.