“So, where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Answering the Classic Interview Question

by Jan 31, 2018

We’ve all heard the age-old example of the classic interview question: “where do you see yourself in 5 years?”. I’m sure we all have some answers for this question, but what are the best answers to give to your interviewer?

In her article, Jane Burnett gives a few suggestions on how to answer this broad and foreboding question in a way to best present yourself. Here are a few of her best tips:

  • Talk about the skills you’ll gain from the job you’re interviewing for: Burnett recommends saying that you hope to be utilizing the skills you’ll learn from working there. This shows your interest in the company, and that you see the value they would add to you. It also suggests that you hope to be doing similar work, ideally at the same place.
  • Talk about growth: Be sure to mention how you wish to grow, but make sure to use specific benchmarks and goals you have. It’s too vague to just say you hope to “grow”; give specific ways you want to grow.
  • Motivation and drive: The purpose of this question is really to gauge how motivated and determined you are. Remember this when you’re answering. You don’t want to give the impression that you’re so ambitious you’ll jump at the next opportunity, but you of course want to show that you’re motivated to work hard and learn a lot in the process.

 

Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain.

 

Rethinking Motivators May be the Key to Hiring Top Notch Job Seekers

Motivation for job seekers today is very different from the incentives that drove them in the past. Or, at least the order of what seems to be most important to them now compared to years ago. Renowned American psychologist Abraham Maslow, back in 1943, put to paper...

Contemporaries Inclusive and Diverse Workforce is the Secret to Our Success

The Greater Boston area and beyond is filled with many talented individuals who sometimes just need a foot through the door to launch their career and be given a chance to prove themselves. Since opening in 1998, Contemporaries, Inc. has provided that opportunity to...

Thank You Boston Candidates and Clients for 25 Great Years!

Many new exciting and interesting happenings occurred in 1998. Bill Clinton was President, while Newt Gingrich was the Speaker of the House. It was a time when the blockbuster hit, Titanic, dominated the Oscars as well as movie theaters and became the first picture to...

Contemporaries Named One of Best Staffing Agencies in Boston for 2023

Boston_ Ringing in the New Year is not just a one-day celebration. It also is a time to think about making future changes for the better, personally and professionally. If you are a business owner or decision maker in search of top talent, or a job seeker looking for...

All Staffing Firms Are Not the Same When it Comes to Placements

The standards for staffing agencies, when selecting a candidate for a specific position, may differ slightly, to drastically, depending on the types of job, the client, the length of assignment, as well as how the Recruiter is compensated. Traditionally, a firm may...

What Staffing Agencies Look for in Candidates

Do you want to know the secrets to making a great impression on a staffing agency Recruiter? Here are a couple of tips as well as insight on what Recruiters are looking for. First, they want the type of candidate who will take their job search activities seriously and...

Employers Have Choices Too! Part Three of Three Part Series

As we mentioned in the previous two parts of this series, employers certainly have choices when it comes to utilizing the services of a qualified staffing firm to accommodate their specific employment needs. Whether you require a temporary contract employee or the...

Employers Have Choices Too! Part Two of Three Part Series

Staffing choices can have massive ramifications to a public or private organization. Hiring the wrong individual may cost a company millions while making a great hire could lead to a vast increase in profits as well as other invaluable benefits such as positive brand...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share this post with your friends!