Difficult interview questions: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Stepping out in the job market is not easy, leaving the comfort of a secure position to take on new challenges can be daunting. However, if you want to grow in your career this is often the only way. For many job seekers, the thought of having someone grill you face-to-face with questions and being under pressure to think on your feet in the interview process can be quite overwhelming.

The best way to prepare yourself for the interview is to anticipate what may be coming and practice for it in advance. One of the most common questions that candidates struggle with is ‘where do you see yourself in five years.

We provided some insights to give you a new perspective on how to answer this when you are being stared down by the hiring manager in that crucial career-changing interview. 

Understand why interviewers ask this question
The interviewer wants to understand more about your goals specifically for your career and how this position would fit into your future plan. They care about your career goals because they want to hire someone who is motivated, proactive, and likely to stick around and work hard if hired.

Your interviewer does not want to invest time and effort in someone who is already planning to leave for something better as soon as it comes along. They are looking for those who have a clear mindset about what they wish to accomplish and most importantly those with a career plan.

Avoid giving a non-answer
Now is not the time to provide evasive or fluffy answers. Hiring managers can see right through those and will reject your candidacy on the spot. They do not want you to lie, manipulate or give an off-the-wall answer. They are just looking for an honest answer that will show that you have put some thought into your future.

Talk in terms of accomplishments and responsibilities
The best way to phrase an answer to this question is to focus on your professional development. Many people make the mistake of talking about money or rewards. It’s best to speak in terms of skills you'd like to acquire or ones you'd like to be using. You also have to address the issue around how you plan to contribute to and grow with, the organization over the next few years. After all the interviewer wants to know that it will be beneficial for the company to take you on in the long run. 

Focused mostly on the value you can bring to the company
At first glance, this question might seem about you and what your plans are for the future. This is true but the bottom line is that companies are making a huge investment by hiring a new employee. They are often spending a lot of money on hiring and training a new employee. So, hiring managers want to know if you are worth the investment. They want to know that you are willing to stick around the company and grow professionally and solve their problems. This is your opportunity to sell the interview on your commitment to the career path and the position.

Each person being hired brings something unique to the business and it’s important to seek out those with the best qualities. The interview process is the most important platform for hiring managers to decide if they would be the right fit. Don’t shy away from difficult questions like these, ensure you prepare well and questions like this will provide you a vital opportunity to show interviewers why you would be the best candidate to hire. 

Whether you are a candidate urgently looking for a new job or somebody looking to form a long-term career-building partnership, talk to us. We have a team of dedicated consultants specializing in the Finance, IT, Engineering, Freight, and Supply Chain industries. They can connect you with Top Employers in South Africa while assisting you to map both long and short-term career objectives and advise you on what steps to take to reach your ultimate career goal. Apply today.