When an interviewer asks this question, s/he is trying to find out about your future plans and whether you fit into this job. The interviewer is also trying to discover how ambitious you are – will you be satisfied with this job? Is this job challenging enough for you? Are you someone who could be promoted in the future? Or are you just looking to get a job because you need a salary without any real future ambitions? Your answer will also show whether you are a good planner who has given clear thought to your future career.
當面試官問這個問題，他是想知道你未來的`規劃，以及你是否適合這份工作。同時面試官也想試探你的野心 - 你是否會滿足於這份工作?這份工作對你來說是否足夠挑戰?將來可否對你委以重任?或者你對並沒有真正的雄心壯志，單單爲了薪水謀一份工作。你的答案也會顯示出你對自己有沒有清晰的職業規劃。
回答策略:
1. To answer this question well you need to demonstrate how this job fits into your future career plans. You should focus on showing how this job will help you develop the skills you need for your future plans. For example, if you have worked in sales and now you are applying for a sales supervisor position your future plans should involve higher level sales jobs such as a sales manager, or a sales director.
2. It’s also important to find a good balance with ambition. If you are too ambitious, the interviewer may think you want this job to learn as much as you can so you can get a better job in one year or start up your own company. You won’t be hired. However, if you don’t express any ambition, the interviewer won’t be impressed and will think you just want a salary.
3. Make sure to show your enthusiasm for staying and growing in this company. You are ambitious and want to work your way to the top in this new company.
4. Another important strategy is to focus on the skills you want to learn in the next five years. Point out to the interviewer that you’d like to join this company because of the skills you can learn in developing your career so that in five years you are a better – manager, sales person, supervisor – with improved skills.
5. DON’T – say something that will eliminate you from the job. For example, if you say you that in five years you want to be living in another country and working in a different industry, the interviewer may not consider you.
回答樣例:
Five years from now I’d like to be in a senior management position with this company. I want to remain in this industry because I see great potential for growth so I want to use the next five years to become an expert in this industry. In five years I’d like to have more responsibility and have a more challenging job. Therefore my focus over the next five years will be on gaining valuable work experience and increasing my management skills so that I’ll be ready for higher level management. The key point here is to learn, grow and improve my skills over the next five years.