How To Answer 'Where Do You See Yourself In 10 Years?' - Glassdoor

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Table of Contents

Why do employers ask 'where do you see yourself in 10 years?' in interviews?Steps to prepare for the interview question 'Where do you see yourself in 10 years'Tips to keep in mind when answering 'Where do you see yourself in 10 years' in an interviewExample answersJob Search & HiringHow to Answer ‘Where Do You See Yourself in 10 Years?’

Glassdoor Team

Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | Dec 1, 2020

Answering 'Where do you see yourself in 10 years' in an interview

There are several questions to consider when preparing for a job interview. One frequently asked question is 'Where do you see yourself in 10 years?' Taking time to come up with an answer or answers to this question before an interview will ensure you aren't stumped and allow you to come off as prepared and confident to the hiring manager. Here we explore why interviewers ask this type of interview question, steps you can take to prepare your answer for this question, tips to keep in mind when answering 'Where do you see yourself in 10 years?', and several example answers.

Why do employers ask 'where do you see yourself in 10 years?' in interviews?

Most hiring managers will pose the question ‘Where do you see yourself in 10 years?’ to get a better understanding of your willingness to grow within their organization. Your answer to this question will provide insight as to whether your long-term career goals are a match for the company, and, if so, if you’re willing to devote the next 10 years of your life to the organization.

While planning for the next 10 years of your life career-wise can feel overwhelming, this is an important question for organizations to ask their candidates. Individuals who stay with companies long-term are considered better investments and cost the company less overall to hire and keep employed.

Showing the interviewer that you’re committed to gaining more experience in the position and that you’d like to grow within the company can help set you apart from other candidates. It also demonstrates to hiring managers that it would be worth their while to invest in your skills and abilities for the overall good of the organization.

Steps to prepare for the interview question 'Where do you see yourself in 10 years'

There are a few key steps you should take to prepare for this interview question. These steps include:

1. Research the company. Take some time before the interview to research the company. See if you can determine their long-term goals and the types of skills and talent they value. The more you know about the organization, the better you’ll be able to align your goals with the company’s goals.
2. Brainstorm your own goals for your professional future. You should also spend time brainstorming about your specific professional goals over the next 10 years. For example, do you want to be in a management position? Do you want to have any specific certifications or trainings under your belt in 10 years? To make it easier, break your goals down into one year, five years, and 10 years. This will also ensure you’re prepared in the event that the interviewer asks a variation of the ‘Where do you see yourself in 10 years?’ question.
3. Tie your answer in with the position you’re applying for. To show you’re interested in growing with the company, make sure your 10-year professional goals correlate with the job. For example, if you’re applying for a position as a marketing assistant, you could say that within 10 years you hope to be head of the marketing department.
4. Don’t be afraid to tell the interviewer what you really want. While you certainly want to align your career goals with the position, you should also be honest about your long-term goals. Even if your goals aren’t an exact match for the position, if the hiring manager believes you’re the right candidate, they may customize the role to better suit your wants and needs. For example, if you’re applying for a marketing assistant position and want to eventually transition into a graphic design position, the hiring manager could incorporate time where you can sit in on graphic design meetings and work with a graphic designer for a few hours each month.
5. Follow up on your answer with a question. Asking the interviewer questions shows you are truly interested and excited about the job. After you answer the interview question about your career goals over the next 10 years, consider asking the interviewer what the organization’s goals are both in the short and long term. You can also inquire about the specific goals for the particular position you’re applying for.

Tips to keep in mind when answering 'Where do you see yourself in 10 years' in an interview

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when providing your answer for this type of interview question:

• Ensure your answer is realistic. While you certainly want to be ambitious, you also want to be realistic. Providing an answer that is unrealistic could come off as unprofessional or inexperienced. For example, saying that you want to be the next President of the United States, or even the next CEO of the company, within the next 10 years are likely unrealistic answers unless you know for sure that these are actual possibilities.
• Be prepared for variations of this interview question. While some interviewers may ask about your career goals over the next 10 years, others may ask about your goals for the next three or five years. Being prepared to answer variations of ‘Where do you see yourself in 10 years?’ will ensure you aren’t caught off guard and can professionally and effectively answer whatever question they ask.
• Avoid too-vague answers. Being too vague with what you want to do with your career could come off as unprofessional or could leave the impression that you have no ambition or passion for your career. It can also signal that you probably won’t stick around for long in the position, which is usually considered a red flag by hiring managers.

Example answers

Here are a few examples of how you could answer this interview question:

• In the next 10 years, I would like to be in a leadership position within the marketing department of this organization.
• In 10 years, I hope to advance within this role and continue to learn and grow in this industry.
• My 10-year career goals are to make a positive impact in this organization and to hold a management position in the human resources department.
• My goals over the next 10 years include to play an integral role in the organization’s marketing department and to eventually lead a team of marketing professionals.

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Glassdoor Team

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