Interviews can be nerve-wrecking. It stands between you and a successful career. But don’t panic, stay calm and you will nail your next interview. Answer all questions with ease and you could be the chosen candidate. A common question is “Where do you see Yourself in 5 Years?”. Learn how to give the best answers to this question and impress your future employers.
Importance of This Question
Wondering if employers only ask this question to get you rattled? Well the answer is no. This question has stood the test of time and with good reason. It holds a lot of importance, like determining who the best candidate is for a job. Other reasons include:
Proves you Have Goals
Recruiters want to hire employees with vision and ambition. It shows that they have goals and want to improve themselves. Personal growth will influence the growth of the company as well.
Realistic About the Future
The sky’s the limit on what you want to achieve in life. But your aspirations need to be realistic. Having realistic goals shows employers that you approach and plan things logically.
Preparedness for the Interview
No interview is ever the same. You may not know what to expect, but you can prepare yourself. Answering this question proves that you came prepared and that you are eager to work.
Determines if This is the Right Career for You
If you see yourself as a photographer in 5 years, applying for a secretary position might not be your best bet. If you want to grow into your position, this question could set you on your career path.
Answering the ‘Where do You see Yourself in 5 Years’ Question
Don’t get tongue tied when asked ‘where you see yourself in 5 years’. Use our tips and tricks and answer the question with full confidence. Impress employers and land the job of your dreams.
Promote Yourself – Your answer should be a level up from the job you are applying to. If you are applying for a junior sales assistant position, you could tell recruiters that you aspire to be a sales manager in 5 years.
Positive Thoughts Bring Positive Outcomes – Don’t ever feel like you’re not good enough for a position. You don’t have to spend your whole life in a dead end job. So when asked this question, be ambitious and believe in your skills.
Steer Away From Unrealistic Ambitions – The main aim of setting goals is being able to reach them. Although it’s good to have goals, telling employers you want to own a multi-million rand company may not be the right answer.
Your Personal Life is a Topic for a Different Conversation – If you want to be married with 2 kids, that great! But your answer should be based on where you see yourself in your career, not your personal life.
Possible Answers
Your answer to where you see yourself in 5 years should be your own. But if you are a bit confused on how to answer this question, use our possible answers below as a guideline.
- “I would like to become a team leader or assistant manager at this company in 5 years. I know that I will be able to learn and grow within this company.”
- “My dream is to become a tour consultant in 5 years. The job description posted, listed all the skills I would like to gain that will help me make my aspirations a reality”.
- “My skills and experience, along with your mentorship will help me reach my dreams of becoming a quality assurance manager’’.
Switching it up – Short Term and Long Term Goals
We all have goals we would like to achieve. And telling employers about your goals are a great addition when answering the questions of where you see yourself in 5 years. Make sure you know what your short term and long term goals are and how to set goals.
Short Term
Employers are also prone to asking where you see yourself in 1-2 years. These fall in line with your short term goals. Short term goals you can aim for include:
- Studying a short course to gain new skills
- Getting your matric
- Promotion from intern to permanent staff member
Long Term
Where you see yourself in 5-10 years refers to your long term goals. This means you are more established in your position and can aim higher in your career. Long term goals include:
- Getting an accredited qualification like National Diploma to improve your skills
- Building an impressive client base and network
- Become the manager of your department
Good luck with your interview! You’ve got this.
Impress Recruiters With Your Future Goals
Use our tips and tricks to land the job you’ve always wanted. Want to stand a better chance of getting hired? Study one of our wide range of courses today. Speak to our consultants for more information. You can:
- Call us on 0800 39 00 27
- Fill in our contact form for a call back
