Loud Thinking March 29, 2013 at 02:18PM

Reframe a Tough Interview Question

You’ve probably been asked this perennial, annoying question: “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Your interviewer will often use it to get at several pieces of information at once. So before responding, try to determine what they really want to know. Look for subtext in other questions they’ve asked or in comments they’ve made. For instance, has the hiring manager mentioned that you’d be replacing someone who left the company after just six months? Maybe he wants to find out how long you’ll stick around, since the cost of turnover is so high. Or did he raise the question right after asking you to describe your ideal job? Perhaps he’s trying to get at whether the position is a good match for you and how long you’ll enjoy doing it. After you’ve replied, follow up with something like, “Did that answer your question?”

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Getting the Right Job.

Tags: My Views