Some aspects of job interviews are highly predictable. Closed-door offices. Button-down shirts. Handshakes. And a few standard interview questions that make their way into almost every meeting. Like this one: What do you want to be doing in five years?
Plenty of hiring managers ask if you have a five-year plan because it helps determine if your personality and objectives are compatible with the company’s current needs. But many job hunters don’t grasp the importance of this question.
If you don’t have a five-year plan, take some time to consider your short-term goals before your next interview. Ask yourself what type of position would be ideal for you right now. Then imagine how you would like your career to unfold in the coming years. Are you interested in fast-paced growth? More responsibility? Higher pay? Or would you rather work in a stable, long-lasting position that provides a consistent schedule and reliable paycheck for years into the future?
There is no right answer. Everyone is different. The key is to be honest about your response, even if it costs you the job. That’s right; sometimes it’s best to walk away from a good position. Here’s why: When you lie about your personal and professional goals, it does more than sacrifice your integrity. It guarantees that you won’t be happy in your new job. In a few short weeks or months, it will be obvious that you aren’t a good match for the organization and you’ll either leave or stay in an ill-fitting position. If you choose to search for another job, you’ll have to deal with a new trouble spot on your resumé (a short-term position that doesn’t align with your career goals).
On the other hand, when you give a forthright answer, you develop an honest relationship with the hiring manager. If you aren’t perfect for the present job opening, the employer may contact you when a better opportunity opens up.
Here is an example: Let’s say that you want to climb to the top level of a corporation over the course of your career. To achieve this dream, the next few years should give you significant chances to prove yourself. In five years, you should hold a position with greater responsibility and room for growth.
In a job interview, the employer tells you that the role supports multiple departments in meeting their deadlines. You ask about the last person who held this position, wondering if he or she was promoted. The hiring manager smiles and says the position sees very little growth, although it is pivotal to the success of the business. The last employee served in the job until retirement.
Rather than pretending that a slow-growing position interests you, tell the truth about your career goals. Show your enthusiasm for learning new skills and improving the business as you rise up the corporate ladder. Let the employer see who you are.
Yes, it’s true that you will probably lose the support job. But you just created something much more valuable: A new referral source with excellent contacts in the industry, someone who will think of you when a more suitable position comes available.
Eve.GetAJob@gmail.com
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
