The Best Interview Question Ever Asked, And The Correct Answer
Just like any modern person, I’ve been through plenty of job interviews for all sorts of employment opportunities. I’ve been overqualified and under qualified, and everywhere in between. At the same time I’ve observed plenty of interviewing styles, and skills be them strong or weak.
One question seems to stand out. I’ve gotten hit with it more often than not, and I find its best to just be prepared for it. It has been worded a thousand ways, and it’s the most important question, to ask or be asked, in any job interview:
Question: Where do you see yourself? What are your ultimate goals? 5 years? 10 years?
Like I said, it comes in many forms. I’ve personally been asked this question 100 different ways. If you want the job, the answer is always the same:
Answer: “Quite frankly, where you’re sitting. Running a company”
The last thing an employer wants is an unmotivated employee. No one stays with one company forever, so there is no need to pretend to be a sad-sack subservient. No one wants a “yes man”,” they offer no hope for progress.
The smartest thing a smart company can do, is hire ambitious people. Companies like Google have proven this theory by only hiring the best of the best and encouraging and in some cases paying employees to pursue side projects and ambitions.
The first step to negotiating a higher salary, is establishing yourself in the eyes of your employer as the go-getting, determined best man or woman for the job. Don’t be afraid to show a little vigor.
The next time you’re asked in an interview “Where do you see yourself in 5 years.”
Look the interviewer right in the eye and say, “I’d like to be where you are, interviewing prospective employees and running the company.”
You’ll get the job. Trust me.
Comments
July 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pmYancey from you can learn basic employee rights
Not preparing for an interview is probably the number one mistake most job interviewees make! As a job applicant, you must learn the answers to job interview questions the employer may ask. As the article points out there are two questions or some variation thereof frequently asked by job interviewers. “What are your goals?” “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
But before I offer my opinion on what the appropriate job seeker response should be, my experience shows it’s just as important to ask like kind questions of the employer. Would you like to know one of the most important of all job interview tips? The interview questions to ask the employer! This is another major consideration that many job seekers fail to properly plan for. Preparing for job interviews without asking the interviewer the appropriate questions tell him/her getting the job isn’t important.
When preparing for a job interview spend time investigating the business. Learn about the company’s history and what it does for the industry. I would be looking at how well it treated its employees with things like salaries, benefits and promotional opportunities. Ask the interviewer “What are the company’s goals?” Where does the company see itself in five, ten years?” Try to find out how well the company is doing financially. It would be to the job interviewee’s advantage to know if the company is going to be around for a while.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
This is another one of my favorites. Personally, I think it is idiotic however; many employers place a lot of importance on this question. They use it to judge whether this job is just a stepping-stone and measure your level of commitment to it.
It is like guaranteeing the future. Who knows where they will be in five years. Again, stay focused on the qualifications you have for the job and your willingness to stay.
What are your goals?
This is another one of my favorites. I told the interviewer who was also the department director, “My goal is to end up on a beach in Tahiti”. After I was hired, the director told me that was the most honest answer he had heard in all the interviews for the position.
I’m not recommending you respond with an answer like that. That answer could have just as easily backfired on me. But, I remained focused on showing why my qualifications were the best match for the position based on my knowledge and experience.
Many employers put heavy emphasis on setting goals. So be prepared to demonstrate your goals for your job, life, family, etc. Remember to keep the focus on how your goals show you to be an asset for the needs of the interviewer.
In my opinion there are no “right” answers to these two job interview questions. Without properly preparing for an interview the responses given could certainly cost you the job.
October 18th, 2008 at 11:02 amestella
very good i like it