Anyone else hate the question "So where will you be in 5, 10, 20 years?"

[Luvz2travel]

Who knows where I will be. 10 years ago I would never in my wildest dreams imagine that I would have had half the experiences I have had or anticipate having. I can only say what I would hope to happen…like moving to CO or CA, being free of certain obligations…

 

[Immacolata]

I do as well. When put on the spot, all of the knowledge in my brain “whooshes” out and I can’t think of a single word so I start rambling.

 

[anp1215]

The only time I’ve ever been asked that is in college classes. I just say “teaching an elementary class, I guess.” Well, that was my major, so what did they think I would say?

 

[laircy]

I do as well. When put on the spot, all of the knowledge in my brain “whooshes” out and I can’t think of a single word so I start rambling.

Haha, almost exactly my problem. When put on the spot for anything that happens. Except I can’t even ramble, so I just say “Uh… I don’t know.”

My life now is so different from how it was ONE year ago, and even far more so from two years ago; how am I supposed to know what it will be like in that long?

 

[cviolette]

It is a great question to discuss with the person I love but not just anyone. I certainly have a 5 year plan. Not quite a 10 year plan. I have to survive the next 2 1/2 years first.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

I hate it the most in job interviews. If I say I want to move up and blah blah blah I’m essentially saying “I’m out for your job”. If I don’t say that, I’m saying “I’m lazy, complacent, and unmotivated”.

 

[jmcrae]

I think the point of the question is to see whether you have a definite plan for your life, which would signify that you are goal-oriented, and that you are well-organized; also, whether you are the sort of person to whom things happen, or are you in control of your circumstances.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

I think the point of the question is to see whether you have a definite plan for your life, which would signify that you are goal-oriented, and that you are well-organized; also, whether you are the sort of person to whom things happen, or are you in control of your circumstances.

Oh I know, I’ve interviewed plenty of people myself. But lets face it, there are a lot of very competitive immature people out there who will turn someone down for a job because they feel like that person could eventually be a threat.

 

[The_Reginator]

I think the point of the question is to see whether you have a definite plan for your life, which would signify that you are goal-oriented, and that you are well-organized; also, whether you are the sort of person to whom things happen, or are you in control of your circumstances.

THAT is why I hate the question.

 

[jmcrae]

Oh I know, I’ve interviewed plenty of people myself. But lets face it, there are a lot of very competitive immature people out there who will turn someone down for a job because they feel like that person could eventually be a threat.

Any answer you would give in the context of a job interview would have to be purely speculative, anyway - assuming I get this job, and assuming I pass probation, and assuming nothing attacks the company from outer space, and assuming all the right people either die or get fired, I’ll be in the corner office, telling you what to do.

Or, if I don’t get the job, I might be in some warm country somewhere, painting beautiful pictures and selling them to tourists on the beach.

 

[faithfully]

Oh I know, I’ve interviewed plenty of people myself. But lets face it, there are a lot of very competitive immature people out there who will turn someone down for a job because they feel like that person could eventually be a threat.

I’m so glad to be out of the recruiting business. It’s true there are many an immature hiring manager. And while I get how a person is bummed not to get a job in the immediate time frame, I truly believe one should be grateful for not being hired by such an immature person who will then spend an amazing amount of time making that person miserable.

When a person tells you by words or actions they are immature and basically horrible to work for, believe them and move on. Knowing you dodged a bullet.

Having accepted a job from such a nut who was good at hiding her scary manager demeanor, I can tell you missing out on working for her would not have been a lost opportunity. Short of yet another lesson on how to work for an idiot.

 

[3DOCTORS]

I LOATHE it! It’s stupid! Especially on job interviews. There’s no way to answer it without sounding like an idiot.

Ways I have answered it, aside from the lame stumbly attempts of trying to outsmart the interviewer, which never worked:

• Wherever God leads me.

Ways I’d like to answer it, when in a particularly snarky mood:

• Excuse me for a moment while I time-travel and I’ll get back to you.
• Oh, dear. I seem to have left my crystal ball at home. Next question?
• In a galaxy far, far away.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

I’m so glad to be out of the recruiting business. It’s true there are many an immature hiring manager. And while I get how a person is bummed not to get a job in the immediate time frame, I truly believe one should be grateful for not being hired by such an immature person who will then spend an amazing amount of time making that person miserable.

When a person tells you by words or actions they are immature and basically horrible to work for, believe them and move on. Knowing you dodged a bullet.

Having accepted a job from such a nut who was good at hiding her scary manager demeanor, I can tell you missing out on working for her would not have been a lost opportunity. Short of yet another lesson on how to work for an idiot.

I certainly believe in Karma. Not in a supernatural sense, but in the sense that you cannot live your live being cruel, manipulative, and downright awful without word getting around and people treating you poorly in return.

I worked for one of the worst people in the world. He was manipulative, self-serving, did downright illegal things, and even mocked mentally disabled children. He said some of the ugliest things I’ve ever heard when he found out that I had an autistic niece. But everyone loved him, and no matter what he did his boss wouldn’t hear a word against him. Our customers (who he was screwing over) the company (who’s reputation and legal standing he was risking) and even our coworkers (who he manipulated and took advantage of) all adored him. Well, I left that job because I couldn’t take his verbal abuse anymore (cussing me out and calling me names) and started working for a lovely woman whom I became good friends with. When that company went under she went to work for my old company. I filled her in on everything that this guy was doing, she tipped off the higher ups who then kept and eye on him. He was fired in 3 weeks. It was even worse than I thought, in addition to everything that I knew about he was stealing money!

I ran into him not too long ago, and while I didn’t tell him that I got him fired I did say that I heard that the job didn’t work out for him from some friends that I have in the company. I think he got the point.

 

[LegoGE1947]

I LOATHE it! It’s stupid! Especially on job interviews. There’s no way to answer it without sounding like an idiot.

Ways I have answered it, aside from the lame stumbly attempts of trying to outsmart the interviewer, which never worked:

• Wherever God leads me.

Ways I’d like to answer it, when in a particularly snarky mood:

• Excuse me for a moment while I time-travel and I’ll get back to you.
• Oh, dear. I seem to have left my crystal ball at home. Next question?
• In a galaxy far, far away.

My crystal ball’s picture tube went out recently so I can’t really say what I will be doing or even if I’ll be alive in 10 years! Also it depends on whether or not you hire me for this job. I could be working here and making a decent living or I could be spending my evenings sleeping under a bridge or the local homeless shelter.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I hate it the most in job interviews. If I say I want to move up and blah blah blah I’m essentially saying “I’m out for your job”. If I don’t say that, I’m saying “I’m lazy, complacent, and unmotivated”.

We people of faith really get shafted if we answer from our hearts.

“Following God’s plan for my life.”

Next candidate, please.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I think the point of the question is to see whether you have a definite plan for your life, which would signify that you are goal-oriented, and that you are well-organized; also, whether you are the sort of person to whom things happen, or are you in control of your circumstances.

I’ve learned to not have a definitive plan for my life. Every time I’ve had a plan and started out on it, something out of my control comes along and forces me to make a new plan. It’s starting to get expensive.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I’ve learned to not have a definitive plan for my life. Every time I’ve had a plan and started out on it, something out of my control comes along and forces me to make a new plan. It’s starting to get expensive.

Yep, me too. I am trying to just stay nimble and wait for God’s leading. But if I state that during a job interview, pretty sure I would NOT get the job…

 

[Sarcelle]

Yep, me too. I am trying to just stay nimble and wait for God’s leading. But if I state that during a job interview, pretty sure I would NOT get the job…

At times I am tempted to give the following answer,

“Since the last three jobs I’ve had has seen me laid-off, I will probably be laid-off again.”

 

[chevalier]

It’s probably legitimate, especially from any ladies probing with the obvious intent, but I don’t particularly like that question. On the other hand, it serves as a nice filter.

Prospective employers? Well. If the question is part of a “smart” system invented by a corporate shaman, I’m out of there. Don’t want to work for people who generate useless checklists, procedures and paperwork without having a clue about what they’re doing. Otherwise, I just might say, “earning a decent salary, inside the promotion chain, and not having an idiot for a boss.” I refuse to engage in the diversity-policy-mission-statement-our-big-family ####.

 

[ahollars]

I hate it the most in job interviews. If I say I want to move up and blah blah blah I’m essentially saying “I’m out for your job”. If I don’t say that, I’m saying “I’m lazy, complacent, and unmotivated”.

… This!

I’ve actually answered the question with, “Well, we can’t all be astronauts when we grow up. If I had a 5-year plan, that would mean that I plan on quitting this job here. Still want to hire me? My plans didn’t include 6 kids, but they are here, and I have adapted just fine.”

It’s a loaded question. Only an idiot would base a hiring decision on a question like that. Come to think of it, I did get the job. I turned it down. I bet the manager was fired shortly afterwards.