Re: Interviews: Where do you see yourself in 5 years

[Anne -dot- Robotti -at- radisys -dot- com]

I've never gone wrong saying, "In five years I'd like to 
think I'll still be here, but with some skills and 
experience under my belt that I don't have now. For 
example..." and then I just list the skills and experience 
that I think I'll be acquiring on this job. If the job is 
tool-heavy, I'll say that I'm excited about the opportunity 
to learn to use the toolset they have (with specifics) to 
achieve the output they're looking for (with specifics.) 
If it's a technology I haven't documented before, I say 
that I've always been interested in software design or 
telecommunications or pharmaceuticals. If it's some kind of
dream job where I'd be building solid new tech writing skills
like XML or something, I talk about that. 

Now, on the occassions that I'm doing some kind of exploratory
interview, and I don't *need* to get the job, there's some reason
I'm sitting in the room, you know? Either it's a technology I want
to learn about, or there's a management opportunity there, or I'll
get to flex my design muscles or whatever, and I talk about that.

Either one of these things gets me more jobs than the truth probably
would - "Well, I'd like to think that by that time my novel will be
published and that question will be moot."   :-)

A recruiter once told me that you can never go wrong turning this
question around, by saying something like, "That brings me to a 
point I'd like to discuss with you. What opportunities do you see
for me here over the next few years?" To me, that can make you 
seem a little wishy-washy, but it is a suggestion I've heard.

I think it's a big mistake to say things like, "I see myself in
your job." To me, that comes across as cocky. But your mileage
may vary, of course.

*My* least favorite interview question is "tell me a little about
yourself." Whatever I say always sounds stupid, and I've settled for
"Well, I think the main thing you need to know about me is that I'm
excited to be here" for the past five years.

Anne




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