How To Answer "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

llg, PhD, RN · May 18, 2015

Say that you are not sure ... that you are at the beginning of your career still exploring the possibilities. Say that you hope to be happy in "this" specialty and that you will want to remain in that specialty. Say that for the moment, you are focusing on beginning your career in a positive workplace that will get your career off to a good start (saying something nice about the place where you are interview) ... and on getting your BSN. After that, you will reassess your options.

In other words. Don't give them a definite answer ... but rather ... express hope that working for their facility will be such a positive experience that you will want to stay. Tell them your focus is not on the long-term yet ... but rather ... on some mid-term goals that are consistent with what their facility has to offer.

klone, MSN, RN · May 18, 2015

I always tell them "I hope to be in your job." :)

Mavrick, BSN, RN · May 18, 2015

It's an unimaginative boilerplate question. They don't really want to know. You don't really have to tell them. Make up something plausible that you think they would like to hear and be done with it.

klone, MSN, RN · May 19, 2015

Mavrick said:

It's an unimaginative boilerplate question. They don't really want to know.

I disagree. I'm someone who puts importance on education and advancement. I want to know if someone is planning on going back to school, getting an advanced degree, wants to climb the ladder.

And I can tell you that in my current job, telling her that I wanted her job when asked that question is one of the reasons I was hired. For the past two years she's been grooming me to take over her job when she retires.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · May 19, 2015

klone said:

I disagree. I'm someone who puts importance on education and advancement. I want to know if someone is planning on going back to school, getting an advanced degree, wants to climb the ladder.
And I can tell you that in my current job, telling her that I wanted her job when asked that question is one of the reasons I was hired. For the past two years she's been grooming me to take over her job when she retires.

I believe OP was referring to applying to a SNF where she does not want to be climbing the ladder five years hence. I also doubt a SNF will put much emphasis on a new employee's desire to return to school or get an advanced degree.

They want a warm body that will take on impossible patient loads for the minimal amount of money they can "competitively" get away with.

No disrespect to you, klone, just repeating what I hear about the SNF market.

klone, MSN, RN · May 19, 2015

I get that it doesn't necessarily pertain to the OP's situation. I was just responding to your statement that hiring managers in general don't really care what your answer is and just ask the question because it's expected of them. When I conduct interviews, I never ask questions that I don't care what the answer is, and that question specifically is one I like to ask because I think it provides a lot of insight into the candidate's motivations and future goals.

And just because I may disagree with you does not mean I feel disrespected. :)

In the case of the OP, I might lie a bit. Or at least, not let on that I don't want to be there any longer than necessary.

RNmamabear · May 20, 2015

Thanks for all of your input everyone! This gave me an idea, or at least a place to start. I really appreciate it :) I don't want to be climbing the ladder in this setting and a SNF if not my long term goal. I am just afraid of their reaction if I do include that I hope to be in acute care in 5 years, say in the OB setting, I do not want that to look bad on my part. I think I am going to go with speaking about the experience I hope to get there and that I want to make a positive impact on their patient population... and go from there lol.

Thanks again!! :)

dah doh, BSN, RN · May 20, 2015

To the OP: As a frequent interview panelist, my opinion is do not mention leaving to do acute care before they even hire you! It's good to emphasize eventually obtaining your BSN...it looks like a goal but it's neutral and doesn't interfere with your job. It's also ok to mention moving up to charge nurse or preceptor since those are also neutral.

cocoa_puff · May 22, 2015

You could say, "In 5 years, I see myself eating the new young nurses for breakfast"

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 24, 2015

Yeah, isn't that just kind of a trick question? Answer something that clearly indicates you have no intention of still being employed there in five years and that sure doesn't look good. Answer that you're just starting out and don't know where your career is heading yet and you look like you have no long term goals. Tough to answer truthfully either way.

enkwanta · May 25, 2015

It maybe a trick question but the interviewee must take charge of the conversation and show some confidence. They know that it is not very easy to project what will happen in five years. I believe what they are looking for is short term and long term goals. Depends on whether you are a new graduate or an experienced nurse, as well as the type of position you are looking for. I would say that after 90 days I hope to be about 80 percent acquainted with routines and learning the culture of the organization. Because if orientation in whatever format is approximately six weeks. Then I would go on to say in 6 months to a year, I would be fully comfortable with routines, policies and procedure. Perhaps, thereafter, my goal would be a preceptor or mentor and would seek training in that area to be effective. there is no need to worry about five years because you said some buzz words: policies and procedures, preceptor, mentor and organizational culture.

It is good to read up about the organization and some of the programs that they have, so when you get to those questions it will be a breeze, you will be able to zoom into something that they are doing. They will like that. Because I will say something like - I see that you have a an effective mentoring program here and that your retention rate is high (if it is) I would love being on such program in the future.