Where do you see yourself in five years time?

Do you get nervous in interviews?

We’ve all sat there and wondered what will come up in an interview.

I have often thought that we should send applicants the questions first, then they’d have a better chance of answering them.

It doesn’t work that way. It’s because interviewers want to catch you out!

They don’t of course. But that’s how it feel sometimes.

Here’s a different way to view the job interview – and tricky questions.

I remember early on in my work life going for interviews and never worrying about them. I think I actually enjoyed them. When I look back over each interview a pattern seemed to recur each time. I realised the meeting was just like any other meeting with somebody new.

I like meeting people and have never felt intimidated by status, power, size or volume (vocal and not size of person).

I quite arrogantly, it seemed, viewed an interview as a chance for me to suss out what I thought of the company and not really what they thought of me.

I wouldn’t apply for a job I wasn’t interested in, had some relevant skills and maybe a little experience, so why would I worry if I could do the job? It was all about whether I would feel comfortable working for them.

How to think about the ‘where do you see yourself’ question in a completely different way

Many mini careers later I found myself coaching others on how to find work and get through the dreaded interview.

The first question I would ask my client is “why do companies do interviews?”

Nearly every client would answer the same “so the company can see if you would be any good for the job.”

It seemed a little one way to me. They have your CV and invited you to an interview based on their perception you can do the job, so why do they need to interview you? I would ask. I would then receive a blank face from the client.

I would then explain that an interview is like any other meeting between people, but for you it’s a chance to build rapport and get a feel for whether you:

1) Like each other and the respect is mutual

2) Feel this is somewhere you would be happy devoting your time and energy to

3) Can see prospects that fit with your goals

Realising the interview was just as much for them as it was for the company would put a new confident slant on my clients usually nerve wrecking experience.

Here’s how to answer ‘where do you see yourself in 5 years time?’

So let’s get back to the questions and the content of the interview.

How do you answer these awkward questions?

How about “I see myself sitting in your seat!” Is this too cocky and arrogant? What if that came across a bit threatening?

Well you could say “I’d like to be a senior project manager with my own team, but is this realistic in the company’s plan for you?”

Imagine if this were a first date and you asked this question.

If they told you they would like to have a couple of kiddies, a mortgage and a heap of car finance, you’d probably make a swift exit.

If they told you they had a good feeling about the date and feel comfortable,  you would open up to them a bit more.

So here is how to answer the ‘where do you see yourself’ question:

“I’m glad you asked that today.

I’ve been really impressed by your organisation and wanted to know what progression I can realistically expect with you.

I really enjoy insert your role and feel passionate about making a career out of it.

Where could you see me in 5 years?”

I’ve never met an interviewer yet when given the chance to tell you about their company does not excel. When we take an interest and a care of something in somebody else’s world, they feel like you are interested in them.

The other important thing you are doing here is getting the interviewer to place you in the role.

They will need to take you in their mind through their career scale and promote you. What a great impression you have already made on them.

Interview questions can be tough. We don’t always know the answer the interviewer is looking for. We worry too much about saying the wrong thing.

Remember This

You already have something of interest to the company or you would not be sitting there.

You know the practicalities of the job and can confidently answer those areas.

So when you realise sometimes it’s not all about what you say, but just as much as how you can make them feel, you can relax a bit more and even enjoy the experience.

Ask the interviewer questions that will encourage them to feel rather than just think. Asking them how it feels working for the company can light the interviewer up and enthuse them to speak passionately.

Make them remember the interview and they will definitely remember you!

What about you?

How do you answer this question?

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Need to get ahead of the pack for your next interview?

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Deborah Barit wrote this book. She is one of Australia’s leading interview coaches.

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