That Dreaded Interview Question
Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?
That Dreaded Interview Question: “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”
The interview was going well. Kola had answered the questions with confidence and clarity… until the interviewer leaned forward and asked the dreaded one:
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
From the interviewer’s perspective, this question is harmless enough. It helps them gauge whether the candidate’s ambitions align with the role and the company’s long-term vision. It also hints at how long the candidate might be willing to stay.
But from the candidate’s perspective? It often feels invasive, outdated, and unrealistic.
Why This Question Still Feels Out of Place
In today’s career landscape, the “five years” question feels more like a relic than a useful tool. Millennials and Gen Z (now forming a huge chunk of the workforce) tend to embrace non-linear careers, career pivots, and multiple interests. They thrive on flexibility rather than rigid five-year blueprints.
As a result, many modern hiring managers are phasing this question out. Yet, among older millennials and Gen X interviewers, it remains a fixture.
Kola’s Experience
For Kola, it had been years since he last heard that question in an interview. It wasn’t that he lacked ambition, it was that he had not prepared to neatly package his evolving career goals into a tidy five-year box.
At this stage of his life, he was exploring several career paths. The role he was interviewing for was one he had never played before, but it had the potential to shape his direction and give him clarity for the journey ahead.
