Impossible Interviews

Another thought (back on the original subject of this thread) - I'm surprised no-one's brought up the infamous question "Where do you see yourself in five years' time?" (Apologies if someone did and I missed it!!!) This is actually a really, really good question provided the interviewer and interviewee approach it sensibly - although personally I tended to use "three years' time". For some jobs you want someone ambitious and for other jobs you don't, and sometimes - typically when you are recruiting 2-3 staff at once - you don't care which attitude an individual has but you do want a good mix in the group you recruit. Personally I think it's best answering this very honestly (but then personally I think it's worth answering all interview questions very honestly!) If you're looking at this job as a stepping stone to higher things then it's best to say so otherwise you could very bored and frustrated, and if you're looking at this job as a way of funding your evenings in the pubs playing darts you may not want the stress of additional responsibility being thrust on you after a year or so - and yes I am thinking of a real person I worked with many many years ago here! From the recruiters' side you will - if you're any good - be planning into the future, and either be looking for people who will take on additional responsibilites or move into new technical areas, or, sometimes, be looking for someone who can provide solid expertise in a single area way into the future.


So if you're not asked this question, it might be worth asking them "where do you see this position going in three years' time?" But, of course be prepared for them to turn it right back as "where would you like it to go?"  


My favourite example is of a friend of mine, Lee. Lee's answer to this question was to ask the interviewer "well, what do you do?" When the interviewing manager told him what he did Lee replied "that sounds good, in five years I'd like to be doing that job!" Not only did Lee get the job he was being interviewed for, he did indeed get the interviewing managers' job several years later. Which 24 years after that interview he is still doing, very successfully.


Cheers,


Andy

Another thought (back on the original subject of this thread) - I'm surprised no-one's brought up the infamous question "Where do you see yourself in five years' time?" (Apologies if someone did and I missed it!!!) This is actually a really, really good question provided the interviewer and interviewee approach it sensibly - although personally I tended to use "three years' time". For some jobs you want someone ambitious and for other jobs you don't, and sometimes - typically when you are recruiting 2-3 staff at once - you don't care which attitude an individual has but you do want a good mix in the group you recruit. Personally I think it's best answering this very honestly (but then personally I think it's worth answering all interview questions very honestly!) If you're looking at this job as a stepping stone to higher things then it's best to say so otherwise you could very bored and frustrated, and if you're looking at this job as a way of funding your evenings in the pubs playing darts you may not want the stress of additional responsibility being thrust on you after a year or so - and yes I am thinking of a real person I worked with many many years ago here! From the recruiters' side you will - if you're any good - be planning into the future, and either be looking for people who will take on additional responsibilites or move into new technical areas, or, sometimes, be looking for someone who can provide solid expertise in a single area way into the future.


So if you're not asked this question, it might be worth asking them "where do you see this position going in three years' time?" But, of course be prepared for them to turn it right back as "where would you like it to go?"  


My favourite example is of a friend of mine, Lee. Lee's answer to this question was to ask the interviewer "well, what do you do?" When the interviewing manager told him what he did Lee replied "that sounds good, in five years I'd like to be doing that job!" Not only did Lee get the job he was being interviewed for, he did indeed get the interviewing managers' job several years later. Which 24 years after that interview he is still doing, very successfully.


Cheers,


Andy