| This open-ended question, and others like; "Where do | | | | persons who let life happen as it comes along, you will |
| you see yourself in five years?" throw most | | | | probably not have a smooth answer without some |
| candidates off balance. The object of the question is | | | | forethought. |
| to check for your self-awareness and communication | | | | * What are your goals? - The best answers will come |
| skills. | | | | from you thinking about what you want. Most |
| Dan Harrison is the staffing manager for Wesco | | | | successful business people will tell you that a key |
| Corporation and is about to interview three candidates | | | | success factor is the ability to set and achieve goals. |
| for a project manager position. He is looking for | | | | Begin by setting short-term goals. Right now your goal |
| someone with planning and long-range vision skills. | | | | may be "to get a job". But, what kind of job? And, |
| Phil Holmes describes his goal - "To be a Marketing | | | | where do you go from there? |
| Manager within five years, and have a hand picked | | | | * Be employer-centered - The employer is looking for |
| team reporting to him." | | | | someone to come in and solve problems. Since |
| This is a very specific and narrow goal, which may not | | | | planning is a key factor in this job, think of examples |
| be an option at this company. The "hand picked" team | | | | where your planning has made a difference in results. |
| demonstrates a lack of flexibility. Best to stay away | | | | Scripting |
| from too specific a goal. | | | | After giving some thought to where you want to go |
| Shawna Green answers - "I have been so busy with | | | | and how you can help the employer achieve results, |
| my responsibilities and achieving company goals, that I | | | | try scripting your answer to focus. |
| have not focused on personal long-term goals. | | | | I have learned that long-term goals are best achieved |
| While a strong work ethic is certainly desirable, this | | | | when I break them into shorter goals. My short-term |
| answer does not demonstrate vision or planning. | | | | goal is to find a position that will place me in a |
| Marsha Severson states- "I plan to return to school to | | | | forward-moving company with solid performance and |
| earn my MBA, and have my own consulting business | | | | future projections. As part of a team, I want to add |
| one day. | | | | value and continue to grow the company. My |
| While it pays to be honest, this answer could turn the | | | | long-term goal will depend on where the company |
| interview in the wrong direction very quickly. The | | | | goes. My plan is to move into a position of responsibility |
| employer is looking for someone to stick around for | | | | where I can lead a team. |
| the long run, not to stop over on the way to a new | | | | No one can tell you exactly how to answer this |
| career. | | | | question - it will come from what is important to you. |
| Focus - Exercise | | | | However, the more and focused and employer |
| If you are the type of person who prefers an | | | | centered you can be about your goal, the better your |
| organized way of life, you may find this question a | | | | chances will be of steering the interview in the right |
| "piece of cake". But, if you are among the majority of | | | | direction. |