The Best Way To Answer “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”

Sometime last year I was job hunting, and while being interviewed, I was asked a tough question by my employer — “So, Progress, where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

At this point, I was blank because I hadn’t even figured out where I see myself in the next 6 months, how much more five years. Whoosh! What was I going to say now?

It was hard to put words together as I struggled between fantasy, honesty, and confusion. I thought about saying, “I hope to perhaps lead the Branding & marketing team in your company” at least to demonstrate my loyalty for the company I was interviewing for.

At the same time, I wondered if I should tell them my pipe dreams & fantasies about becoming a digital nomad and traveling the world. Then again, another thought nudged me to just be honest — “In five years time, ummm… I don’t know.”

But none of my responses are what you’ll like to answer when asked this same question. If it’s your first time, I’m sure you’d be as confused as me too. But there’s a solution — this article.

We’ll look at why interviewers ask this question, what they want to know, variations of the question, and how you should answer it in a way that leaves a lasting valuable impression.

In addition, we’ll show you what you should never say when asked this question and share some sample answers with you.

Why Do Employers/Interviewers Ask This Question?

While this question might appear tricky to you, interviewers and employers ask it to get some information from you. These pieces of information include:

1. To ensure you’re a good fit for the role.

Employers ask this question because they want to know whether or not your professional goals match the position you’re being interviewed for. If your goals do not align with the role, they may doubt your ability to grow in your job or make a significant impact. In that case, they see you as a risky investment.

2. To know if you’ll be with the company in 5 years time.

How long an employee works with the same organization differs, depending on industry and age. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workers typically stay at their jobs for four years, on average. 

Since hiring, onboarding, and training a new staff is an investment by the company, recruiters want candidates who intend to work long-term at the organization. Hence, they must apply caution by asking “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” 

They want to hear that you’re willing to maintain that position or a similar one at the company for several years.

3. To check if you’re an ambitious person.

Having your five-year plan all figured out can be hard but you don’t need to have it all figured out. Hiring managers only want to know if you have a growth mindset towards your career. So, even though you have your ambitions mapped out, discussing all of them with your interviewer is inappropriate if they’re not relevant to the role.

4. To know if you’re genuinely interested in the job

Lastly, your hiring manager wants to see if you’re sincerely interested and if your interests match the role you’re vying for. 

For example, you can take this as an opportunity to highlight your plans to become an expert in your industry by taking more courses relevant to your field or acquiring a relevant certification. 

Highlighting your related interests and passions enables your recruiter to understand how you will contribute to the team currently and in the long run.

How To Prepare For The “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?” Interview Question

First, ask yourself about your career goals. Do they relate to the job you’re vying for? It’s fine if they don’t. The next thing? Get your notebook and write out some sample career aspirations and goals; then put them aside.

Afterward, write out some long-term career goals and aspirations that could be inspired by that role. It doesn’t matter if they don’t fit into your five-year career plan. When you’re done with that, follow up by researching the company in question and the position.

In your research, focus on the following:

• Shared values.
• Career paths for the job role.
• Interesting projects.
• Training and development opportunities.

Let’s assume you’re seeking a Marketing position in Procter and Gamble (P&G) and you intend to work for the company for several years. Since Procter and Gamble is a big company, they typically have a dedicated career website which permits you to look through career paths.

The corporation claims to have one of the world’s best sales training programs. So, you start by reading more about how P&G trains its employees. Then you discover that P&G customizes each employee’s training.

Additionally, you see that they offer networking and mentoring opportunities. And you find out that the training is equivalent to real-life projects and tasks at an infant stage. Now, make a list of everything you find attractive.

For instance:

• Customized training 
• Real-life projects and tasks 
• Networking and mentoring

Since you’ve gotten so much information, use what you found. When your interviewer asks you the “where do you see yourself in 5 years” interview question, make reference to one of the things you admire in your answer.

Remember that marketing is a position that may not result in a higher position for many professionals. It majorly requires becoming better at your job as you progress. In such a situation, your long-term career aspiration samples should focus more on improvement in your position.

Variations of The Interview Question “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years From Now”

The question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now” can be asked in various ways in a job interview. Here are common variations of this question:

• Where do you want to be in 5 years?
• Tell me about your career goals.
• Where do you see your career in 5 years?
• Describe your long-term career goals.
• Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years from now?
• Do you have a five-year plan?
• Describe your career goals.
• How do you define success?
• In the next 5 years, what job would you like to have?
• What are your short-term career goals?
• What is your ideal job at the peak of your career?
• What skills would you like to possess on your resume five years from now?
• Tell me your goals in the next 5 years.
• What is most important to you in your career?
• What specific steps are you taking/will you take to actualize your vision of yourself in the next five years?
• What are you seeking by applying for this job?

How To Answer “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years” Interview Question 

The best thing you can do for yourself while preparing for an interview is to prepare to answer this question: where do you see yourself in 5 years? This enables you to provide an in-depth and thoroughly thought answer that piques the interest of your employer.

The following tips will help you prepare to answer the interview question, “where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?”

1. Find the connection between your career goals and the job role.

Find the relationship between your goals and the job role to check if there are any skills you already have alongside those you want to obtain more experience in. Doing this will make it easier to tie in your goals with the job you’re vying for.

2. Consider if the organization can equip you for your career goals.

This is one critical thing you should think about. Can the organization equip you for your career goals in the next 5 years? If it cannot, you might double-think the job or notify your recruiter up-front that you may not spend up to five years with that company.

3. Think about the experiences connected to this role that you’d want to have on your resume in five years time.

How would you want your resume to look like in the next five years while in this position? Is it something you’d want? Have a deep thought about this; your answer will guide you to tackle the “where do you see yourself in 5 years from now” interview question.

Things You Should Never Say When Asked “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years From Now?”

As much as you’d want to be honest, your employers do not want to hear the following when asked this question:

• I am coming for your job.
• Jokes about how you will be on his side of the table in the next 5 years.
• In another department.
• It’s difficult to say.
• Some sort of “Ummm,” “Hmmm,” or “I don’t know.”
• In a more senior role than the one I’m currently vying for.
• Detailed explanation about how you’ll get a promotion within the company.
• Pipe dreams about returning to school, owning an empire, or becoming famous.

Examples/Sample Answers For “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years From Now?” Interview Question

A good answer shows your determination and drive while still communicating your excitement about the position you’re interviewing for. Here are some sample answers to the interview question, “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” You can use them as a guide to answer yours.

“Some of my goals in five years time include leading a marketing team in an informal or formal capacity. I’m also excited about the prospect of working with product managers and product designers on building a solution-driven product—this fits naturally with my product management background. I’d also like to develop my product design skills further to build more user-focused products.”

“My favorite part of my job currently is [ways you’ll add value]. I hope to do this continually alongside challenging myself to grow in different ways, including [give examples].”

Conclusion

It can be a struggle to answer the “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” question during a job interview. But with the right approach, you can harness this opportunity to showcase your ambition and alignment with the organization’s goals.

Don’t forget to streamline your response to the specific position, demonstrating how your experience and skills will bring success to the company. Additionally, be realistic, demonstrating your desire for growth while maintaining the context of the role.

A thoughtful answer will leave a lasting impression on your employer and position you as a valuable asset to the team.