Re: Where do you see yourself in 5 years

[Steve Martin <stpats -at- storm -dot- ca>]

J Bailey wrote:
 
> This and "what are your long term goals" are my least favourite
> questions. My impulse is to say-living, gainfully employed, or
> something equally facetious such as Ruler of the Free World.
 
> Does anyone else have trouble with this question, either at an
> initial interview or during a performance review?  If so, what do
> you answer at an initial interview?  Do you stick with a 
> professional goals (problem being how would I know where I want to
> be if I don't know what the opportunities are) or personal goals

I don't know about being facetious, but, as far as your comments apply
to the 5-year question, I tend to agree with you. Another peevish
question for me is, "Why do you want to work here?"

I understand that the interviewer is asking about my long-term goals,
and wants to see that I'm a team-player who is dedicated to furthering
the interests of the company, but my inner child really, really wants to
answer completely truthfully, honestly, and bluntly:

"I want to work here because this is the only company that's currently
offering me the possibility of a job.  I've got bills to pay, exspensive
hobbies, a three-year-old child who seems addicted to eating at least
three meals a day (even if he does only want to eat KD for breakfast,
lunch and dinner (not that we let him do that, mind you)), and I'd like
to be able to keep a roof over my family's head.  You're going to pay
me, and I want a steady and reliable paycheque."

I'm sorry if anyone gets their knickers in a twist about it, but it's
the truth.  I'm not really picky about who employs me, I don't even
really care how much I'm being paid, just as long as *somebody* does so,
and I'm able to provide for my family.  On the otherhand, if I suddenly
became a multi-millionaire and never had to worry about money again, I'd
still work as a tech writer for the sheer enjoyment of doing so.

Regardless, I kick my inner child in the ribs to shut him up, and tell
the interviewer about how I'm excited about whatever area the company is
focused and how it meshes with my own personal interests.  For example,
I live and breathe anything to do with TCP/IP networks and
communications, so the Voice over Internet Protocol project that I was
hired by Nortel to work on was a perfect fit.

Five years down the road, with about two decades of tech writing under
my belt, I hope to see myself in more of a management role, still doing
grunt work, perhaps, but also directing 2 - 5 other writers.

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