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Where do you see yourself in 5 years

2022-02-07T09:26:46.653Z


Marc is often asked about his future plans in job interviews. How honest should he answer that? Because actually he has no idea what exactly he wants to do in five years.


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I don't know where I see myself in five years, but I do know pretty much what I'll be doing in five minutes.

That's enough.

Photo: We Are/Getty Images

Marc, 34 years old, asks: »In every job interview I am asked where I see myself professionally in five years.

It's difficult for me to give a concrete answer to this, especially since making a career is not that important to me personally.

What answer do HR managers expect to this question and how honest can I be.«

Hello Marc,

Yes, this question is a standard question that puts many job changers under pressure.

Do not memorize any standard answer from the Internet, but first ask yourself what is really important to you in the next few years in your job.

If you then create clarity in the conversation with this self-confidence, then you will be able to find out whether this job and the people there suit you.

People are often warned not to fall for the nasty HR questions.

"Where do you see yourself in five years?" is definitely one of those supposedly dangerous trick questions.

It is advised to appear as ambitious and goal-oriented as possible.

But please not too much, otherwise a boss might fear that you are after his chair.

And so, as a golden application tip, an innocuous, soft-washed answer is suggested to you, which you can learn by heart and also unwind as standard.

I hope you're realizing for yourself just how absurd this all is.

Recruiters are people who are interested in you

Even if recruiters unfortunately still ask such standard questions, you as an applicant should not respond with standard answers.

Behind every question there is a real motivation.

You sit across from people who are interested in you and want to learn more about your CV.

Recruiters do a good job when they select the most suitable candidate for a position and the team.

How are they supposed to get to know you as the person behind an application and make a selection decision if you give standard answers from career guides?

I don't have a five-year plan – and that's a good thing

I can't tell you if I'll still be guest posting here in five years.

I don't know if in three years' time I will still be in my office talking to job changers about their values ​​and strengths and revising their CVs every day.

Today it gives me great pleasure, I am successful with it and this will probably also be my path in the next two or three years.

But why should I put myself in chains with a rigid goal when freedom is one of my most important personal values?

I've never been the long-term career planner.

Otherwise I would probably be sitting in the management of an insurance company with a red thread in my CV - and I would probably be quite dissatisfied.

I have a clear idea of ​​how, with whom and what I want to work on in the years to come.

But I don't have this one super ambitious five-year plan - and that feels spot on to me.

There are as many truths as there are people

What are you thinking about me at this moment?

Do you think "Cool, he knows what's important to him and goes his own way" or do you think "What a fool if he doesn't have a 5-year goal as a career coach"?

I know there are people out there who think the latter - just look at the comments on my posts.

I recently read that »whoever hasn’t made it in business becomes a career coach«.

Here someone seems to have a different understanding of values ​​and image of professional success.

That's fine with me, but I'm sure it wouldn't last long with this person as my boss.

Application is also self-protection

The job interview is not about doing justice to some unknown expectations of others with desired standard answers.

Application is also self-protection.

Use the conversations to give your counterpart a clear picture of yourself, your way of thinking, values ​​and personal goals - and to learn just as much from your conversation partners.

Anyone who cannot understand you or whose views are completely foreign to you should better not be your partner in the job in the next few years.

So, honestly, where do you see yourself in five years?

And is there anything else that speaks against talking about it openly?

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2022-02-07

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