Q where do you see yourself in 5 years

[LadyWithLapdog]

Job interviews: Do people still ask where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Is it acceptable to say “retired” or do I need to waffle about ambitious goals?

They are asking this to find out what your goals are, how ambitious you are and whether you are able to horizon scan. It might be best to have a stock response like, I would hope to have developed in my role, built up a great reputation and be able to grow my career within the organisation, focusing on my key skills etc…..If you say retired they may think you are saying you aren’t invested in it etc.

At internal interview recently I was the only one not asked this. I am 55. I do wish they had. I wanted to be able to say on the beach or some such thing.

Thanks, I’ll say something general like that. Even though I too would hope to be on the beach 😊

Imagine if someone was asked in 2015 what they'd be doing in 2020? I think it's safe to say any answer would have been wrong! It's a bullshit question. Nobody knows where they'll be in 5 years time, we all just have to hope for the best.

Well, it was all a pile of shite today and they’ve failed my interview.