"Where do you see yourself in 5 years"?

[Anonymous]

What is the appropriate response to this question? and for the HR folks out there, do I get dinged on how I answer?

I had an interview last week that I thought the HR manager may have been trying to play gotcha with me. I am an Executive Assistant and obviously, tenure is important to my job. My tenure so far at 3 different companies are 4 years, 11 months, 4 years. She harped on the 11 months job with statements like "you weren't there for a year, what happened"? And for previous jobs, she said things like "you were only there for a couple of years"...um, 4 years is not a 'couple' the last I checked. She then proceeded to ask me where I see myself in 5 years.

Needless to say it was off putting and I stumbled on my answer, and now I'm paranoid about it.

[Anonymous]

"Why, doing your job, of course!"

[Anonymous]

I can see why the position you interviewed for became available. You can't "win" in a question like this, if you say you want to be in the same position in 5 years it can be seen as not having motivation to move up, if you say you want to be in another position, it looks like you aren't going to stay as the Executive Assistant.

[Anonymous]

You don't say what field you are interviewing in, but that could matter. While most people ask that (completely boring and predictable) question to see if you are entreprenurial, the law firm HR manager, for example, probably doesn't want to hear how you hope to be soon running your own cupcake store. By that I mean that it is unlikely that she's interested in hiring, training, and paying you while you plan your Next Big Thing. You need to strike a balance between being ambitious and having one foot out the door. She wants you to say that you would like to be doing whatever is the next natural step in the field where you are an Executive Assistant.

I do think it is odd that she described 4 years as "a couple," but I don't think it's at all unusual that she asked you about the 11 months tenure. Even today when frequent job changes aren't looked at as the deal-killers they once were, less than a year still isn't good. Unless you had a reason like, "I supported three attorneys and they switched firms, so I followed them." or "I had to quit because the HR manager was a cranky old bitch who asked too many 'questions' about my 'attendance'" or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can see why the position you interviewed for became available. You can't "win" in a question like this, if you say you want to be in the same position in 5 years it can be seen as not having motivation to move up, if you say you want to be in another position, it looks like you aren't going to stay as the Executive Assistant.

thank you! you nailed it exactly.

[Anonymous]

Rehab.

[Anonymous]

Fat, depressed, divorced--oh, you meant in my career!

[Anonymous]

At the same company. In a position that is higher than where you start, but not unrealistic growth in that period.

[Anonymous]

Steadily progressing in my position, increasing my efficiency and productivity.

[Anonymous]

I hate this kind of question. It's like something right out of a cheesy manual. Right up there with "tell me about a time you were a leader" or "tell me your greatest weakness."

[Anonymous]

Good thing I'm not looking for a job. My answer is "widowed and struggling, thus sitting at my same desk doing my same job." Not what anyone is looking to hear.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think your interviewer was looking for a good reason why you left those jobs after just 4 years (and especially the 11 month one) and wanted reassurance that the same thing wouldn't happen if you got hired.

For example, did you move cities because you were following a spouse's relocation and is that likely to happen again? If not, that was your opening to explain: " My spouse was relocated twice but now he has a new job and we expect to stay here and put down roots. My parents live here and this is where we plan to settle permanently."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your interviewer was looking for a good reason why you left those jobs after just 4 years (and especially the 11 month one) and wanted reassurance that the same thing wouldn't happen if you got hired.

For example, did you move cities because you were following a spouse's relocation and is that likely to happen again? If not, that was your opening to explain: " My spouse was relocated twice but now he has a new job and we expect to stay here and put down roots. My parents live here and this is where we plan to settle permanently."

OP here, I explained why I left the 11 month job to her but 4 year jobs don't need explanations in my opinion. That is a sufficient time to stay in an administrative support position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your interviewer was looking for a good reason why you left those jobs after just 4 years (and especially the 11 month one) and wanted reassurance that the same thing wouldn't happen if you got hired.

For example, did you move cities because you were following a spouse's relocation and is that likely to happen again? If not, that was your opening to explain: " My spouse was relocated twice but now he has a new job and we expect to stay here and put down roots. My parents live here and this is where we plan to settle permanently."

OP here, I explained why I left the 11 month job to her but 4 year jobs don't need explanations in my opinion. That is a sufficient time to stay in an administrative support position.

Agree with you OP. And I don't think it only applies to admins either. I am a professional and would not ask that on an interview (if I was interviewing someone), nor would I expect to need to explain "only" 4 years on my own resume. I have several jobs that lasted 3 years (the first one being my first job out of college), and I have only been asked about that once, and I've interviewed a LOT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your interviewer was looking for a good reason why you left those jobs after just 4 years (and especially the 11 month one) and wanted reassurance that the same thing wouldn't happen if you got hired.

For example, did you move cities because you were following a spouse's relocation and is that likely to happen again? If not, that was your opening to explain: " My spouse was relocated twice but now he has a new job and we expect to stay here and put down roots. My parents live here and this is where we plan to settle permanently."

OP here, I explained why I left the 11 month job to her but 4 year jobs don't need explanations in my opinion. That is a sufficient time to stay in an administrative support position.

I agree, in this climate, we think anyone who stays more than 3 years as a long time.

Loyalty went out the door along with pensions.