How To Answer Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

Where Do You See
Yourself In 5 Years?
( L e a r n h o w t o a n s w e r t h i s j o b i n t e r v i e w
q u e s t i o n)

Where do you see
yourself in 5
years?1

What a stupid
question to ask!

“First things first,
let me introduce
myself. Deniz Sasal
PwC Consulting Manager
MBA, PMP, PMI-RMP, CMA
Do you want to get a job with a multinational company? Then, join my exclusive 3-day FREE training!
Watch The Videos Now!

Here are what not to dos
Don’t try to be funny! Not a place for your jokes
Don’t talk about your future ambitions. Start
from today
Don’t talk about your life story. Be realistic

-Deniz Sasal
Let me now share with you the best ways
to answer “where do you see yourself in 5
years” job interview question“

First, I will share with you the
conventional safe approach. Once, this is
out of the way, I will share with you my
way.
“

“the first approach is
the safest one. It’s
what everybody uses
and it is what I call
“bullshit approach”
Deniz Sasal

“your BS answer may
tick the box and prevent
you from taking risks.
But, at the end of the
day, it’s BS”
Deniz Sasal

Here is a good example of a BS Answer
I am really determined to achieve my and company’s goals. I’d like
to deliver to the best of my abilities while learning from the best.
Having said that, I see myself 5 years down the road growing into a
managerial role and demonstrating my leadership capabilities

Or Another One…
I am really looking forward to spending the next five years in an
organization where I feel I share all of its values, especially when it
comes to [some values]. I would love to have the opportunity to
demonstrate my leadership capabilities when the time is right,
hopefully within 5 years and contribute to its growing success.

Alright, they are safe
answers but not
necessarily
something I would
say.

“and I didn’t. When I
was asked this question
5 years ago at my PwC
Consulting interviews, I
said…”
Deniz Sasal

I said…
PwC Consulting Partner (Interviewer): Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Me: Hmm. Let me gather my thoughts for a second… [Yes, I literally took my time to think. You
should try it too…] Judging by the fact that where I saw myself in the past and where I ended up,
it’s really hard to say where I will be. The only way I can see the future is by looking at my past,
right?
And if you asked this question to me almost 8 years ago when I was working at Standard &
Poor’s as a financial analyst, I’d tell you I wanted to be an investment banker, then 5 years later
I was a project management consultant, then sustainability consultant, and now here I am
interviewing for a management consulting role which I can confidently do very well.
So, as you see, where I wanted to be almost never happened and it’s really hard to say now
where I will be in 5 years.
But I guarantee you this. I will do my best in this role and try my best to have a wonderful career
at PwC with your team and with your leadership. And when the times comes, I will assume more
leadership roles, hopefully easing some of your intense work load.

When I gave this answer,
something incredible happened...
Partner was definitely shocked
hearing my answer and I could
tell he wasn’t expecting this.
“

And after that, he started to
pat me in the back, saying
“Son, it’s okay. It’s very normal
going through things like this
at your 20s, we don’t always
get to have the career we
want. But don’t worry things
will be a lot more clear for you
moving forward with us.”
“

He was completely engaged for the
rest of the interview, conversing with
me, giving details about the way
they work, and telling me that he’d
love to have a talent like me in the
team.
Then, he asked how soon I can
join…
“

“I couldn’t ask for
a better interview
for sure! What
worked was simple;
honesty!
Deniz Sasal

I was probably one of the few people who took the path
less traveled. I was someone who had the courage to
choose a less than perfect answer instead of lying and
bullshitting.“

“next time you are
asked this
question, can you
do the same thing?
Deniz Sasal

“I have 1 more
awesomeness for
you today! Deniz Sasal

If you want to take your career to the next
level and find jobs with multinationals,
then you should definitely join my
advanced 3-day training program called
Landing Interviews Guaranteed .
Oh, it’s free!
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Click
here to
learn
more!

How To Answer Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

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