Answer this: Where Do You See Yourself 5 Years From Now? Job interview tips for engineers!
This question can be tricky to answer, especially if you’re a new graduate engineer and not entirely sure what you want to do with your life.
A good way to approach this question is to think about the skills and experience you hope to gain in the next five years and how you can relate that back to the job you’re interviewing for.
Job interview questions are often difficult, especially when you are a fresh graduate engineer.
With the pressure to answer them correctly and to the best of your abilities, they are designed to measure your thinking capacity and communication skills.
They are an also effective means to get to know potential engineering employees.
But there are difficult interview questions that might leave you dumbfounded once they are asked by hiring managers.
That’s because you have not yet figured out the answer to them yet – there are questions that cannot be answered on the spot, requiring deep thinking – or they never passed your mind that such questions will be asked.
Like, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
This is a common question during job interviews, and yet it is still a perplexing one.
Engineers who are confronted with this question in job interviews should always be prepared to answer this every time, so they have a higher chance of getting the job.
That is what job interviews are for after all.
So how should that interview question be answered?
For a start, you should be as honest as possible.
Do you still see yourself in the job you are applying for five years later?
If yes, start with that.
Think about where that engineering position will take you in your career and how it aligns with your professional goals.
You can say, As a civil engineer, I see myself in your company as someone in a stable position with ample construction management experience.
This job I am applying for will give me opportunities to grow as I take on more responsibilities as an engineer.
I am excited to find myself in 5 years to have handled several projects under your firm and worked with your best managers and engineers.
Otherwise, if you do not feel that you will still be in that same job after 5 years, you can answer by saying how uncertain the future is with regard to your career.
But you are hoping that having the job it will be a huge stepping stone in achieving your dreams as an engineer.
Trick question
Every job interview has at least one question that is meant to trip you up.
The interviewer wants to know how you think on your feet and how you will respond under pressure.
One such question is, “Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?”
This question can be difficult to answer, but with a little preparation, you can give a response that will impress the interviewer.
One option is to say that you are not sure and would like to take the opportunity to learn more about the company and the position.
This indicates that you are proactive and willing to take on new challenges.
Another option is to have a specific plan in mind.
For example, you might say that you want to be promoted to a manager or director position within the company.
Whatever your plan may be, make sure it is realistic and achievable.
Engineer’s Options
Why recruitment managers ask this question?
This question helps the interviewer get a sense of your long-term goals and helps the interviewer decide if you would be a good fit for the job.
There are many ways to answer this question, so make sure that you come up with something that shows that you have thought about what you want and that you are dedicated to achieving your goals.
It’s not easy to answer this job interview question, but it’s important to give yourself a positive outlook and think about how you want your career to look in 5 years.
Describe your skills, experience and goals for the next five years, and make sure you focus on why you would be a good fit for the position.
Make sure you’re enthusiastic and genuine when answering this question.
Remember that when engineering managers and interviewers ask this question, they are looking to see if you have ambition and how well you can articulate your goals.
Here are three tips for answering this question:
1. Be realistic.
Don’t say you want to be CEO of a company if you have no experience in management.
When it comes to setting goals, it’s important to be realistic.
Saying you want to be CEO of a company if you have no experience in management is not realistic and will only set you up for disappointment.
Think about what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing. Consider your skills and experience, and then set goals that are achievable based on those things.
Dream big, but make sure your dreams are grounded in reality.
Aim high, but be reasonable with your goals and expectations.
That way, you’ll be more likely to achieve them and be happier along the way.
2. Stay positive.
Don’t talk about how you may want to leave the company in five years or how you don’t know what you’ll be doing in five years.
3. Be specific.
Saying that you want to “be successful” doesn’t really tell the interviewer anything.
Talk about what kind of position or career you see yourself in, and what steps you are taking to get there.
More Job Interview Tips
Most Difficult Engineering Interview Questions From Top Companies
Interview Questions Bosses Like Elon Musk Ask Job Candidates
Source: The Muse
