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

MyRubyRed

The_Unready wrote: »

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

He's likely to be asked both types of questions with the competence side attracting the scores don't you think?

The_Unready

MyRubyRed wrote: »

He's likely to be asked both types of questions with the competence side attracting the scores don't you think?

Difficult to know without further info from the OP. However, it still doesn't make that particular question any more worthy.

The Unready

MyRubyRed

The_Unready wrote: »

Difficult to know without further info from the OP. However, it still doesn't make that particular question any more worthy.

The Unready

Totally agree but answers to competence questions can be questionable also.

MyRubyRed

James, do you know if your interview is competence based and if so what is the criteria?

The_Unready

MyRubyRed wrote: »

Totally agree but answers to competence questions can be questionable also.

I agree, but they may be able to be checked out by a prospective employer at some stage (especially if the job interview is for an internal position). At the end of the day, I suppose that no system is fool-proof, which is why a lot of candidates who are nervous at the prospect of interviews, or who come across poorly during face-to-face discussions, will usually be at as disadvantage compared to the more confident candidate, even if they are more capable.

Preparation is the key.

The Unready

Jacey53

I've been asked that too. You could say something along the lines of "I don't want to commit to a particular career path at this stage but I am prepared to work hard, continue to learn and take advantage of any development opportunity available to me. I would expect in an organisation like this one, that my efforts would be noticed."
As an interviewer I am less interested in the actual job the person comes up with than in finding out whether the person in front of me will actively seek to develop skills and take on challenging tasks or will be passive and wait for opportunities to fall into their laps.
I'd be pleased if someone said they wanted my job, but only if they understood what it entails and what is needed to get it.

DCFC79

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.

if i get an interview where im hoping to ill try an use the above example as a basis for my rpely to the question of where i see myself in 5 years time

marmitequeen

The_Unready wrote: »

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. C

The Unready

Sorry, but I totally disagree. I love this question because it's a chance to see who's got the fire in their eyes. Yes, you can lie but I've had great answers from 'I want your job' to 'I'd have moved on to...' Someone who sees a job as a stepping stone is fine by me as it suggests they are going to work really hard to get to the next place. As subaangel said it's a great chance to discuss what training and development we are able to offer and how it could work for all parties.

I've never given a job to someone who's implied they're looking to get their slippers on and get comfy*.

Find something that works for you - yes, training someone up is expensive, but most places of employment have routes up so work out a route you would be interested in. If you don't know which then say multiple are attractive for different reasons and the experience at starting job will help you investigate which is for you. Remember, careers aren't like they used to be and people change their jobs and fields much more and that's fine.

Good luck.


*I interview and appoint candidates for approx 30 jobs a year - it's a school though, so some say it's a different world. I've been doing this as part of my teaching job for 10 years and have been lead interviewer for all recruitment in my current school for the past 2.

The_Unready

marmitequeen wrote: »

Sorry, but I totally disagree. I love this question because it's a chance to see who's got the fire in their eyes. Yes, you can lie but I've had great answers from 'I want your job' to 'I'd have moved on to...' Someone who sees a job as a stepping stone is fine by me as it suggests they are going to work really hard to get to the next place. As subaangel said it's a great chance to discuss what training and development we are able to offer and how it could work for all parties.

I've never given a job to someone who's implied they're looking to get their slippers on and get comfy*.

Find something that works for you - yes, training someone up is expensive, but most places of employment have routes up so work out a route you would be interested in. If you don't know which then say multiple are attractive for different reasons and the experience at starting job will help you investigate which is for you. Remember, careers aren't like they used to be and people change their jobs and fields much more and that's fine.

Good luck.


*I interview and appoint candidates for approx 30 jobs a year - it's a school though, so some say it's a different world. I've been doing this as part of my teaching job for 10 years and have been lead interviewer for all recruitment in my current school for the past 2.

At the end of the day, each interviewer will carry out interviews how he or she likes (presumably within company guidelines). However, just one or two of the comments from other posters on this thread have shown that non-specific questions of this nature are pretty well useless in gaining a true understanding of the candidate:

"James, you can fudge the truth a bit!"

"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 "

"You could say something along the lines of "I don't want to commit to a particular career path at this stage but I am prepared to work hard, continue to learn and take advantage of any development opportunity available to me. I would expect in an organisation like this one, that my efforts would be noticed."

"if i get an interview where im hoping to ill try an use the above example as a basis for my reply to the question of where i see myself in 5 years time ".

All these comments demonstrate that a candidate can basically say what they think an interviewer wants to hear. If said candidate is a believable and confident interviewee, how are you going to know whether their responses are genuine or not?

* I've also been a regular interviewer for numerous, diverse positions over the last 15 years. I've never knowingly asked a question like the one that's currently under discussion.

The Unready

CCFC_80

I absolutely hate this question at job interviews. Most of the time the employer wants to hear you give some sort of commitment that they would like you to be still be working at that company in 5 years time. In the current economic climate how can they guarantee that they will still have a business in 6 months time let alone 5 years.
Apologies for the pessimism but that is the way things are at the moment.