Where do you see yourself in five to ten years? It is difficult to know what the future holds, however, interviewers expect you to have envisioned a career path.
Why? According to CNN, your answer demonstrates if you have any understanding of how the industry and the company work as well as your motivation to succeed.
You need to prepare the answer but try not to make it sound rehearsed; speak from the heart, with poise and confidence.
“Always keep in mind, whatever the question is — that the interviewer is trying to uncover if you are a good fit and can make a positive contribution in the job,” the CNN report reads.
Your answer also helps a recruiter to gauge whether the role you are applying for is fit for you and if the responsibilities assigned will help you build a career.
In case you plan to start a business or switch careers, Forbes says this may not be the forum for such a discussion.
Below is an example on how to answer the question “Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?”
“To be honest, I’m not 100% sure what the next 5-10 years of my career will bring, so I can’t say with certainty that I know what I’ll be doing then. But I do know two things for sure. The first is that the day-to-day work I’ll be doing will involve (insert type of activity/responsibilities/skills/tasks that tie directly to that position) And the second is that it will probably be in the (insert type of sector/industry/type of organization that ties directly to the place you’re interviewing).”
You can also say
” In five years, I want to complete the internal training program for my position. I’ve read about it on your website, and I think it’s a fabulous program. Not only would I get all the training for my role, but I would be on the fast track to becoming a project manager. That’s my top career goal. Plus, my ideal path would include working abroad for a couple of years. I understand that it’s of value to you to find people prepared to do so”
Another example response can be
“I’d like to expand my horizons by jumping in feet first and learning as much as I can, as quickly as I can, with the organization. From there, I’d seek out opportunities — at least one to two a year — to expand my knowledge through training and educational opportunities to support my job. I’d love to participate in at least one project geared toward leadership training, if the opportunity arises. I also understand that the organization has a strong volunteer team, and I’d like to be an active participant of that team, as well. At some point, I’d also like to be considered for a supervisory or management level role.”
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