How do you reply to interview question: where do you see yourself in five yrs time?

[bigchris]

Was thinking something along the lines of 'with enough experience to be valued as a good member of your team' or is that too blah blah

Don't know, but I have an interview this week, so I'll join you in hoping that someone knowledgable comes along to answer the question.

hmmm... depends on the job, but I would certainly flesh it out with more detail and specifics. How do you plan to grow in the job? What future career do you have in mind and how will this position lead into that? Build on current strengths, indicating how they will help achieve your future goals. HTH!

I'm being interviewed shortly, so looking to see other suggestions too

"Doing your job"

its tricky because i really want this job
i dont want to say 'well i'd love to progress up tge career ladder' because a) it's not true and b) i worry that sounds like i'd disappear if a better job comes up which is definitely not what i want

good luck to everyone else having interviews this week

i would be so happy if i get it but i know there will be loads applying in the current climate

"I'd like to see my self as a really experienced and valued member of the team"

"I'd also like to be able to look back at the six years in post and to see how I'd used my skills in X and Y to improve the quality of patient care / educational attainment of children / efficiency of the department / whatever is appropriate"

Don't do what an Australian guy I interviewed recently said, bearing in mind that we would be investing a lot of time and cash training the postholder: "Back in Oz" . Shame, because he was in the running, but I wasn't prepared to take the risk that he would depart sooner rather than later.

If you must say "doing your job" follow it up with something sensible. Ambition is good, a sense of humour is good, a threat is not!

WHen I had this question in an interview for Head of Department in a school I responded by saying something along the lines of,

"Hopefully, I see myself as being a really good Head of Department with good exam results and a successful and happy team. I would like to think I will have consolidated my existing skills and be looking how to further my career."

I got the job ...pretty useless advice if i hadn't .

In general, I suggest you answer along the lines of having made a success of the position you are being interviewed for and also show some ambition to build upon existing skills for the future.

HTH

I tend to go for something along the lines of

"I have decided that there is no point having 5 year plans as life tends to change too fast and we have to adapt, but whatever I am doing I see the common thread of continuing, and I would like to think I would be continuing to deliver significant value for "

wow that's fab guys, thanks so much
gawd i hate interviews....

Agree with Elliepac's general comments.

I would assume they want you still there in 5 years' time, so describe what the successful candidate would be doing in 5 years, whether that's doing the same thing much better, as Elliepac has described, or promoted/ on track for promotion if that's what's relevant.

I work in the law - I advise newly qualified solicitors to describe someone qualified for 5 years whom they know and respect.

Thanks from me too. All great advice.... which will go out my head the moment I'm aksed the question probably!

am getting nervous, interview is tomorrow!

Mine was today. It went OK, but now I'm thinking of more that I could have said. Didn't get asked the "5 years time" question, but got asked to describe all my good qualities! Good luck.

jeeesus, all my good qualities will fill a postage stamp unless they count mumsnet and drinking wine

what else did they ask?

are you expecting to hear tonight?

Good Luck for tomorrow bigchris, come back and tell us how you got on

Got asked how I would fit in with a team, and got asked really specific questions - ie, describe a time when you came up with a creative solution to a problem at work.

Interviewing all week, so won't hear till early next week. It's almost worth doing interviews just for the feeling of relief you get when it's over!

Good luck.

well they didnt ask the give yrs question, lol
they are interviewing all day so wont find out for a while
i thought it went well but who knows?!

Snice that's my answer to

"Why do you want this job?"

"Actually I don't want this job, I want your job, I just have to do this one first"

didnt get it
absolutely gutted
not sure how to make myself feel better
feel stuck in a rut with no end in sight
sorry to be moany

Bigchris, just remembered that you landed an interview. That is something in itself, although no consolation since you were after the job. But at least it says that your CV/application are good and get you noticed. Sorry to hear the news but I'll keep my fingers crossed that something better will come your way.

thanks

I didn't get mine either.

We can be gutted together. Hope we didn't go for the same job...