Job interviews can be stressful. Exciting and promising, yes. But stressful. When you’re called in for a job interview it means the hiring manager likes your resume and thinks you might be qualified for the job. And you probably think you are too.
But just because they called you in, doesn’t mean they’ll hire you. In fact, they probably have a bunch of other candidates lined up for interviews too. And those other candidates? They’re your competition. So, to get the job offer, you’ll have to beat them out.
That’s why today, Get A Job Fast is going to help prepare you for one of the trickiest questions you might be asked in a job interview. And if you answer it correctly, it could give you a good leg-up over the other candidates.
But before we get to this tricky interview question, you’ll need to find a job you want to interview for. And perhaps the easiest way to do that is by using our advanced job search tools on our homepage.
Simply type in the job you want, and where it is you want to work, right there in the search bar…
And a world of options will appear for you. It’s that simple.
Now, let’s assume you’ve already found a job you like using our job search technology, and you’ve been called in for an interview.
Here’s a trick questions you might be asked:
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
It seems pretty straightforward, right? It’s not, it’s a trick.
And believe it or not, there’s a good answer to this question that could make you look better than the other candidates.
You see, hiring managers are looking for you to answer this question in a certain way. They’re not simply wondering about your future; they’re wondering about your future with the company.
So… Let’s say you’ve been called in for a job interview at ABC Widgets, Inc. for an opportunity to get a job in the inventory department.
The hiring manager asks you “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
Which of the six answers below do you think would be best? – don’t worry, we’ll tell you which one is best in just a minute.
Question: “So, where do you see yourself in five years?”
#1 - “In five years from now, I see myself running ABC Widgets, and taking the company to the next level.”
#2 - “I’m probably not going to be working here in five years, but you never know.”
#3 - “Whether I stay in the widget business or not, I’m excited for the opportunity to work here.”
#4 - “I don’t think five years out. I only live for today and am looking for something short term.”
#5 - “Five years from now I see myself as department head, running an efficient and profitable team.”
#6 - “I can’t’ exactly say where I’ll be in five years, but I am deeply passionate about widgets, and I love the idea of continuing to grow both professionally and personally at a company like ABC Widgets.”
If you answered #6, you’re right!
Now, before we show you why is #6 the right answer, let’s show you why the other answers are wrong.
Ready?
Answering #1 means you may come across as arrogant and overly confident.
By answering #2, you’ll come across as not serious about sticking around.
If you answer #3, the hiring manager may think you’re “job shopping” and are just looking around for the best paycheck.
Never answer with #4. If you do, you’ll come across as flaky and undependable.
Answering #5 is a lot like answering #1. You may come across as asking for a promotion, even though you haven’t been offered the job yet.
So…
Why is answer #6 the best?
Nobody knows where they’ll be in five years, and hiring managers know this. But by offering an honest answer, while also adding that you’re passionate about the position, and want to grow with the company…
You’re telling them you’re levelheaded, love the job and want to be with the company for the long term.
That’s exactly what hiring managers are looking for.
Now, like we said earlier, you’ll need to find a job before you’re invited in for an interview. So, head over to our homepage and begin your search.
An entire world of job opportunities awaits you!