Job Interview Answers: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
There are some questions you can expect to be asked during most job interviews. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” is one of the most common questions. Preparing your answers for commonly asked questions can help you shine during the interview process.
Employers ask this question to determine if you’re a good match for a position and assess your motivation. Your answer can demonstrate how much you’ve thought about your career path and how this job fits into your plans. Whether you’ve never worked before or you’re a seasoned professional, employers want to know you’re thinking about the future.
So, where do you see yourself in five years?
Here are some tips for answering this question:
1. Connect the position to your career goals
Maybe you’re just starting out and you want to use this job to break into a certain field of work. Or maybe you have a gap in your resume, and you hope to improve some skills that may have gotten rusty while you were out of the workforce. Even if you’re unsure what you want to do, prepare an answer that demonstrates you’re thinking about your next steps.
For example, if you are interviewing for a position in Information Technology (IT), this position may give you the opportunity to receive a certification in specific software or to have developed a certain number of websites within the next five years.
2. Be realistic
Be confident but realistic in your response. Telling an interviewer that you plan to oversee the company in five years may not be realistic. It’s important to show you have initiative, but you should also keep your goals and expectations in line with what you can accomplish. For more information on setting goals, check out Setting SMART Goals for the Job Search. Setting a SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) goal to help answer this question is a great place to start.
3. Be honest
Many of us have no idea where we’ll be in five years, especially if we’re interviewing for entry-level positions, and that’s okay! Think about the skills the position and company can help you develop and come up with some possible outcomes that could help you on your career path.
4. Be prepared
That’s why we’re sharing this blog post! This is one of the most frequently asked interview questions, and you should prepare for it in advance. Write down your answer and practice your response. This can help with preparing for any interview question.
5. Answer each question professionally
If you joke around and say you want to be sitting on a beach or want to be a millionaire, the interviewer will know you haven’t thought about your career path if you are chosen for the position. Make sure you take the question seriously and answer professionally.
6. Respect the interviewer’s time
Sure, you may be using a position as a starting point to launch (or relaunch) your career, but there’s no need to emphasize that. Instead of saying you plan to move on quickly, answer by saying what you hope to accomplish related to the type of work you’ll be doing.
Remember our IT professional example from the first tip? You can refocus on those goals without saying that you don’t plan to be with the company long term.
How Can Ticket to Work Help?
Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants can work with their employment team to receive the services and supports they need to prepare for the interview process. If you’re eligible, your employment team can help you every step of the way; from resume development to interview practice and on-the-job support.
Learn More
To learn more about the Ticket to Work Program, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; or visit choosework.ssa.gov.
Subscribe to the Choose Work! Blog for more tips on how to answer interview questions and other advice for your job search.
You can also learn more by registering for a free, online Work Incentives Seminar Event webinar. Or text TICKET to 1-571-489-5292 to receive Ticket Program texts. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.
