I've done better interviews

[redbird]

I'm somewhat out of practice at this, and hadn't any answer ready for the bog-standard "What do you see yourself doing in five years?" I fumbled and said I'd been doing the freelance stuff and not really focused on the long term, and then talked a bit about wanting to be in a job where I could do the work (editorial) rather than worrying about what the next project will be.

I didn't shine, but I may have done well enough: when we were done, the interviewer gave me her business card, in case I have any further questions, which I figure means she hasn't ruled me out.

She said there's one more candidate she needs to talk to, and that I should hear either tomorrow afternoon or first thing Tuesday. She said "Monday" at first, but when I asked Monday or Tuesday, she said they would be closed for the holiday, so Tuesday.

Comments

Job Interview

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

"...and hadn't any answer ready for the bog-standard 'What do you see yourself doing in five years?'"

Feh. That's a question you ask recent college grads.

B

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I hate the "where do you see yourself in five years" question. It seems designed for interviewing people just starting out in the job world to find out if they're either ambitious enough or too ambitious. At my age, if I were asked that question, I'd be inclined to answer "I hope I'm right here, doing what I'm doing now, and healthy enough to enjoy it." Which is not what interviewers like to hear.

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

the canned is about what the job is unless the job would be a springboard type. When you do a lot of interviews, you don't want a canned response. You want what you gave. Especially if what you want is to try to get the best fit between what you have and the people applying.

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

I never have an answer to the bog-standard question. And why do they care? Can they possibly expect an interviewee to say, "I should have moved on to some respectable company"?

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

I don't like that question. For one thing if I'm just entering a company I don't know what the ooportunities within it are. Even if I'm familiar with it, who knows what the inevitable regorganizations may bring? If I'd always wanted to be a CEO it would be easy and I'd have a plan to get there, but I don't. (I hate the idea of having to have a life that's *all* about my job.)

So instead I use the question to talk about the parameters of the kind of job I'd like - new things to learn, contact with people instead of working entirely alone, multiple things to do instead of one huge task, etc.

[janetmk.livejournal.com]

I think you gave a reasonable answer. I hope you get the job.