How to Best Answer ‘Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?’

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Zety.com.

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” That one’s tough. Getting takeout with my dog? Oh, wait—let’s go with “biggest pop star since Britney Spears.” How does that sound?

Sometimes you can’t see far enough into the future to know what’s for dinner tonight. How do hiring managers expect you to tell them where you’ll be in five years? You don’t own a crystal ball.

Don’t fret. There is a right way to answer, and you’re about to find out what it is.

Keep reading to learn more about why interviewers ask this question and how you should answer.

Why interviewers ask where you see yourself in 5 years

So, what are interviewers getting at when they ask about your five-year career goal plan?

Interviewers ask about your future career goals and objectives for two reasons:

• They want to know if you’re going to stay put in the new position.
• They want to know if your long-term career goals align with the company.

Here’s what they don’t want to hear:

• Jokes about how you’ll be the one on the other side of the table in five years.
• Detailed schemes about getting promoted within the company.
• Pipe dreams about being famous, owning a business, or going back to school.
• A bunch of “Hmmmms” and “Ummmms.” Or, “I don’t know. That’s hard to say.”

Employers want to know if you’re a job hopper

So what are interviewers asking?

Well, when interviewers ask, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”, they’re really asking, “What are your career goals within this position?”

They want to know that the position will satisfy you and that you’ll work hard and stay with the company for a long time.

Remember, a hiring manager’s success doesn’t depend on how many empty chairs she can fill with warm bodies.

Her success depends on keeping talented employees happy and at work. If you leave, it’s going to cost her company time and money.

So, the “where do you see yourself in five years” interview question is how interviewers ask if you’re going to stay in the job.

Examples of right and wrong answers

The following are some examples of the right way and wrong way to answer the question “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

The right way

You’re excited about the position and what you’ll learn in the coming years. You’re eager to become the best at what you do and progress to the next level when appropriate. You say:

In five years, I want to complete the internal training program for my position. I’ve read about it on your website, and I think it’s a fabulous program. Not only would I get all the training for my role, but I would be on the fast track to becoming a project manager. That’s my top career goal.

Plus, my ideal path would include working abroad for a couple of years. I understand that it’s of value to you to find people prepared to do so.

You want to give the hiring manager the impression that you’re content with the position as is. But you should also express enthusiasm about developing in a realistic way.

Also, show that your personal career goals align with the company’s long-term goals. They’re looking for people eager to work abroad. You’re eager to work abroad. Sounds like a match made in heaven, right?

The wrong way

Wrong answer : You’re excited about using the position to move your career forward as soon as possible. You want to be CEO of the company in five years. Nothing less. You say:

My long-term career goal is to become CEO of the company. My mother always told me, “Never settle for less than your best.” So, I plan to claw my way to the top!

The best answers for the “where do you see yourself in five years” interview question are both vague and realistic. Don’t tell the interviewer you want to be CEO. And never ever say you plan to have their job in five years.

Tips for answering the question ‘Where do you see yourself in 5 years?’

You want to be careful when answering this question. Because it’s tricky.

Let’s say there’s no clear career path for your position, or you don’t know what you want to do in the long run. You’ll want to remain vague but realistic.

That’s right — vague. The “where do you see yourself in five years” interview question is the ONLY question for which you’ll want to prepare a bland response.

It’s like when you’re on a date, and the guy asks if you’ll ever want kids or a wedding. He wants to know if you’re on the same page.

His ideal future might include Ikea furniture, dogs, and conversations about preschools. You just want to make it to Burning Man at some point.

So, here’s the thing. Let’s say you like the guy. You need to come up with an answer that will satisfy his concerns and show you’re cool with commitment — for now.

You’ll want to follow the same rules when discussing your future during a job interview.

Variations on the question

Here are some variations of “where do you see yourself in five years:”

• Where do you want to be in five years?
• Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
• What are your career goals?
• Describe your career goals.
• What are your long-term career goals?
• What are your short-term career goals?
• What are your goals for the next five years?
• What is your ideal job at the peak of your career?
• What are you looking for by applying for this job?
• How do you define success?
• What’s most important to you in your career?
• What specific steps will you take/are you taking to achieve your vision of yourself in the next five years?

Pro Tip: Let’s say the interviewer asks, “Where do you want to be in five years?” And your knee-jerk reaction is to blurt out, “Maui! Tan, retired, and drinking coconut cocktails that come with those tiny umbrellas.”

Depending on where you interview, the hiring manager may or may not find such a response amusing. Remember to gauge your audience.

Want to see how to answer the most common interview questions? Read the Zety guide: “Most Common Job Interview Questions and Best Answers”

How to prepare for the ‘Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ interview question

Start by asking yourself: “What are my career goals?”

Are they related to the open position? No? That’s okay. Write down a few sample career goals and aspirations. Set them aside.

Now, write down a few long-term career goals and aspirations that could flow from the position. They may not match your five-year career goal plan, but that’s okay.

Next, you’re going to need to do some research on the company and the open position. Here’s what you’re looking for:

• Career Paths for the Position
• Training and Development Opportunities
• Shared Values
• Interesting Projects

Example when applying to a big corporation

Let’s use Procter and Gamble as an example.

P&G is your typical big corporation. As such, they have a dedicated career website that allows you to check out career paths.

Let’s say your dream job is to work in sales at P&G. You do want to stay there for a long time. The company boasts that they have “one of the world’s best sales training programs.”

So, you read more about the way P&G trains employees. You find out that P&G personalizes training for each employee. They also provide mentoring and networking opportunities.

Plus, you notice that the training equals real projects and assignments at an early stage. Make a list of all the things you find attractive. For example:

• Personalized Training
• Mentoring
• Networking
• Real Projects and Assignments

When you notice such a wealth of information, stick with what you find. Refer to one of the things you admire in your “where do you see yourself in five years” answer.

Now, sales qualifies as a job that might not lead to a higher position. That’s true for a lot of professionals. Other examples include teachers and therapists.

These are jobs where you work with clients and get better at what you do. In that case, your long-term career goal examples should detail improvement in your role.

Example of the right way to answer

Use the information provided by the company website to answer:

One of the reasons I want to work for P&G is because I find your personalized approach to training attractive. I’m excited about the opportunity to work with a mentor and immerse myself in learning new skills. I’m also the type of employee that likes to hit the ground running and jump into projects as soon as possible.

So, over the next five years, I see myself taking on as many complex assignments as the position would allow. By the end of that period, I want to say that I’ve built lasting client relationships. I want to say that I’m one of the best salespeople on the team. I wouldn’t mind becoming someone who could train and mentor others when the time comes as well.

The candidate’s response focuses on the research she did on P&G’s training program. Next, she answers the “where do you see yourself in five years” interview question by explaining where that training will land her in the long run.

Everything she mentions is relevant to the position, realistic, and valuable. She’s enthusiastic. She expresses a commitment to the company and the sales position.

Example of the wrong way to answer

Without doing research, you describe a specific career path that isn’t available.

I see myself becoming an established sales associate within a few months. I’m a fast learner and don’t need much training. After that, I would look at becoming a manager. At the end of five years, I want to be the sales team leader or managing director.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that it will only take five years to make significant career progress. You could set off red flags. The interviewer might assume that you’d leave if you weren’t satisfied with the pace of your progress.

Also, the candidate does not come off as prepared. P&G boasts about their training program. The candidate boasts that she doesn’t need training. The interviewer may assume that she’s not a good fit for the company.

Other ways to answer the question

Let’s say your research doesn’t turn up much. You can’t find any decent information about the company’s career paths. And you’re not sure what sort of opportunities you’ll have to grow inside the business.

Do any of the personal career goals you listed align with the position?

Let’s say they don’t. Let’s say you know this job is a stepping stone. Or maybe you just need something to make ends meet until you finish grad school.

Ask yourself:

• Is there any training I could do outside of work that would be relevant to the position?
• Are there any classes I could take that would enhance my skill set?
• Could I learn any new, handy skills from this job?
• Does the company do any projects that interest me?
• Does the company have some long-term goals that align with mine?

Be sure to keep your answer to the “where do you see yourself in five years” interview question brief and general. Talk about how you want to develop yourself as a professional in the context of the position.

For example, you want to learn an extra, relevant skill that will complement your role. Or you’re interested in taking some general leadership or writing classes. You can always mention that you want to develop your skill set.

At the same time, avoid implying that you’re preparing for something bigger and better in the future.

Right way to answer when mentioning long-term goals

Discuss long-term goals related to the company and the position.

As a marketing professional, I want to develop my skill set. At the end of the next five years, I want to know how to use software like Photoshop or InDesign. I want to have a better understanding of social media and video marketing.

Plus, I’d like to get into project management. I would like to learn on the job. Regardless, I want to look into online or evening courses. My hope is that I can apply my new skills to my job with you.

The candidate mentions a few specific skills she wants to develop. Avoid choosing skills that should already be well-developed for the role.

Wrong way to answer when mentioning long-term goals

Discuss long-term goals that have you moving on to bigger and better opportunities.

In five years, I hope to have moved on to a much larger company where I can apply the skills I’ve learned here. I need six years of experience and a developed skill set. I want to use this position as a stepping stone to prepare for a career with the big boys.

Your answer should not include information about leaving. Don’t mention owning a business, joining a band, or moving on to another job. One more thing to keep in mind is that you may be the type of job seeker that raises red flags.

For example, you’ve only spent six months at your last three jobs, or you have gaps in your career progress. It’s more likely that you’ll get the “where do you see yourself in five years” interview question or a variation of it.

Pro Tip: Some interviewers will even go for the 10-year career goal plan. So, make sure your answers are general enough to accommodate a longer period if necessary.

How to answer ‘Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ and examples of best answers

In your job hunt, you might face different scenarios — be prepared for all of the following situations.

Situation 1: No information on the company

The company doesn’t have a clear path forward for employees in my position.

Here’s how to answer the “where do you see yourself in five years” interview question when you don’t know much about the company.

Right way to answer when you have no information on the company

Stick to a response that focuses on how you want to develop a relevant skill set.

As a Chef, I want to develop my skill set. At the end of the next five years, I want to know how to prepare and present dishes for a five-star restaurant like yours. I also want to finish some specialized managerial training if possible.

To achieve this, I’ve decided to do some workshops and online training in my free time. My hope is that my new skills will help me say that I am the best at my job here at Le Bone A Petit.

Remember that you can always mention how you plan to develop a relevant skill set outside of work. Try not to go overboard. The interviewer might think you will find better things to do than your job.

Wrong way to answer when you have no information on the company

Talk about side projects that might result in you moving to your dream job.

In the next five years, I want to finish my side project. My hobby is developing games for apps. I have one in the works now that I should have done in the next year or two. That’s my real passion.

Again, be careful about bringing up personal information. Here, the candidate has let slip that she has a time-consuming side project. Her project is her passion. So, the interviewer may think that the candidate will be more interested in that than her job.

Situation 2: You’re using the position as a stepping stone

Let’s say you do know something about the company’s career paths. But you’re using the position as a stepping stone or a temporary fix. Perhaps you just need something to get you through grad school.

So, the best answer for “Where do you see yourself in five years?” should include pledges of long-term commitment.

But wait, that sounds like a lie. Now, you should never lie during an interview.

See, the goal is to find something that you can get behind even if you do end up quitting within the next five years.

Imagine that you would stay in the position for five years. Tailor your answer to reflect what you’d do if that were the case.

Right way to answer when the position is a stepping stone

If you are using the position as a stepping stone, try this approach as an answer:

I saw that you have an employee training program for young accountants. I would love to complete such a program within my first or second year working with you. Plus, one of my professional career goals is to work on a project for a non-profit. So, I would hope that at the end of five years, I would have at least a couple of such projects under my belt.

Wrong way to answer when the position is a stepping stone

This is the wrong approach to take when you plan to use a job as a stepping stone:

Well, I was laid off from my last job as an Admin Assistant, so I’ve decided to try out the corporate world. I’ve always been more attracted to startup culture. But when I saw the offer for a position at a Fortune 500 company, I thought why not? Worst case scenario I can always cross working for a corpo off my bucket list.

It’s important to show that you’re enthusiastic about the position. Here, the candidate does not show genuine interest or enthusiasm for the position or the company. She doesn’t know if she’ll like the work environment which could cause her to quit sooner rather than later.

Situation 3: You’re in the middle of switching your career

Let’s say you’re in the middle of switching your career. You don’t know where you’ll be in five years because you’re right in the middle of trying to figure that out.

The one advantage you have is that you know that you want to do the job you’re interviewing for right now. So, in your “Where do you see yourself in five years?” answer, you might mention you want to be fully situated in your new career.

Right way to answer when you’re switching careers

I’m applying for a marketing position because I want to put myself on a more creative career path. I have a background in law, so I know that I would be most effective in a law firm. I can apply my legal knowledge to inform my work. That should give me an edge that I wouldn’t have if I started over in a different industry.

At the same time, I still need to transition. So, over the next five years, I want to develop my creative skill set in this entry-level position. So, my long-term goal is to become a skillful marketing professional within your company.

As a career changer, it’s not a terrible idea to start with an explanation of the long-term goals driving you.

The candidate then switches gears. She explains what she plans to do over the next five years within the position.

Wrong way to answer when you’re switching careers

Here are three examples of the wrong way to answer this question when you are switching careers.

My biggest dream is to have opened my restaurant by that time. I’m also still trying to pass the bar exam, which I hope to pass within the next year. We’ll see. That’s why I think that taking a marketing position in a law firm is a good career goal right now. I want law to be my safety job. Just in case nothing else I want to do works out.

The candidate has aspirations beyond the position. That’s great, but you shouldn’t tell the interviewer about it.

In five years? Well, I don’t know. I’m not the forward-thinking type. I prefer to be in the moment, and that’s why I’m switching careers and trying new things. I will be 30 in five years. I could be a different person. To be honest, I have no idea where I will be in five years. I just hope that wherever I am, it’s warm!

Avoid saying “I don’t know” as a response. Also, don’t make it sound like you could be anywhere.

My five-year plan is to be CFO of a major corporation. And with the giant salary I will be given for my services, I will buy a summer home in South Carolina. After which, I will buy whatever the latest model of Mercedes-Benz is at the time. And if you think that’s impressive, you should ask about the ten-year plan.

Don’t alert the interviewer to the fact that you have long-term goals to work somewhere else. Also, be aware that if you make it obvious that you’ll outgrow their puny company in the near future, they may decide you’re not a good fit.

Pro Tip: Let’s say you’re close to retirement. This interview question may seem like an ageist tripwire. And no, it’s not a fair question. So if you plan to retire in five years, give a response that focuses on how you’ll develop your skill set within the position.

Key Takeaways

Keep these points in mind:

• No, interviewers don’t expect you to know exactly where you will be in the next five or 10 years.
• What they do expect is that you’re taking the position you’re applying for seriously.
• They expect you to stick around for a while and do good work.
• What interviewers really want to hear when they ask “Where do you see yourself in five years?” is … HERE.