Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years and Sample Answer

In this article you will learn how to answer the difficult interview question, “Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years.”

If you have a job interview coming up, there is a strong possibility they will ask you this question and how you answer it could be the difference between a pass or a fail. Make sure you read this article very well because it will help you to pass it.

Related question: how do you see yourself in 5 years.

Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years Interview Question   

To help you answer the interview question, where do you see yourself in 5 years, this article will cover the following 4 things:

• Reasons why the hiring manager is asking you the interview question, where do you see yourself in 5 years? If you understand why the question is being asked, it enables you to give the perfect answer!
• You will also learn the 3 things you MUST include in your answer.
• The BEST WAY to answer this difficult interview question that is guaranteed to impress the hiring manager. Don’t forget that the hiring manager will ask this question to all candidates and how you answer it could be the difference between a pass or a fail.
• 3 brilliant top-scoring answers, just choose which answer option you think is the strongest and best for you.

REASONS WHY IS THE HIRING MANAGER ASKING YOU THE INTERVIEW QUESTION, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?

These are the basic reasons why the hiring manager is asking you the interview question:

• If you have a plan of what you are going to be doing in your life within the next 5 years, it tells the hiring manager that you are far more likely to be a high achiever. If you are the type of person who plans ahead, you are more likely to get hired.
• The hiring manager wants to take someone on in the role who plans to build a long-term career with their company. If you tell them you will have moved on in 5 years, you are unlikely to get the job.
• The hiring manager also wants to hear that you will have developed professionally within their company in 5 years’ time to the point where you are a highly-productive and reliable member of their team.
• Recruiting the right person takes time, energy, and resources, and if you have plans to move on and work somewhere else not long after starting, they are less likely to hire you.

3 THINGS YOU MUST INCLUDE IN YOUR ANSWER TO, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS

There are three things that you really must include in your answer to that difficult interview question, Where do you see yourself in five years?

• Tell the interviewer/hiring manager that you still plan to be working for their organization, either in the same role or having gained advancement to a more senior level.
• Tell the interviewer/hiring manager that you plan to have developed both personally and professionally within five years time.
• Tell the interviewer/hiring manager that you will be a trusted, reliable and supportive employee who is helping the organization to thrive and move forward.

Those are the three things that you have to include in your answer to the question, Where do you see yourself in 5 years time.

Bad answers to this challenging interview question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Question: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Bad Answer: “In 5years time I want to be sat where you are.”

Please do not use that answer when responding to the interview question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

And don’t use this response either.

“In five years is time I plan to be working for a larger corporate organization in a different role that has more responsibilities. However, if I am successful today at the interview and I get to work for you, I promise you I will do a great job all the time I am here.”

So those are two really bad answers to that challenging interview question, where do you see yourself in five years.

But how do you respond to the question without failing your interview?

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO ANSWER THE INTERVIEW QUESTION, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?

• Is to say you have researched their company, and because their values and plans for the future are attractive, you really want to still be working there in 5 years’ time!
• Is to say that in 5 years from now you hope to have undertaken numerous training development courses within their company to enable you to maintain competence in the role, and be seen as a high-achiever.
• Is to say that in 5 years’ time you would be the ‘go-to’ person in their company in your area of specialism.

Let now look at 3 brilliant example answers to that interview question, Where do you see yourself in five 5 years.

Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years Best Sample Answer

Below are 3 brilliant top-scoring answers, choose which answer option you think is the strongest and best for you.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS? ANSWER OPTION #1

Question: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Best Answers:

“In five 5 years time I plan to still be working for you either in this role or having gained advancement to a more senior level.

So in 5 years time I would have developed considerably, I would have undertaken various internal training courses, taken on more responsibilities and also be seen as a trusted and reliable member of my team.”

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS? ANSWER OPTION #2

Question: Tell me where do you see yourself in five years?

Best Answer:

“In 5 years time I would want to still be working for your company. However, whilst I would still be in the same role, I would have a wider remit of responsibilities and I would also be the go to person for advice and expertise in my area of specialism.

For example, in my last role I was the go to person for advice on customer service issues including dealing with difficult customers and also resolving customer complaints.

Finally, in five years from now I would be seen as someone who could be relied upon to help train up newer members of staff as and when they join the team.”

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS? ANSWER OPTION #3

Question: Tell me where do you see yourself in five years?

Best Answer:

“In five years from now I would hope to still be working for your company, but I would have developed considerably.

I would hope to have gained experience across different departments in the company, have a diverse set of skills and qualities that help the organization move forward and also be seen as a high achiever.

Finally, in five years from now I’d want to be a trusted and reliable member of my team and be in a position to potentially be considered for promotion.”

Those are three brilliant example answers to that challenging interview question, Where do you see yourself in five years?

Thank you so much for reading this article and I wish you all the best for passing your job interview.