What is the right answer to "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

[*4!#6]

I have an idea of where I see myself in five years, but also, I have been involved in experiences that I weren't my initial interest and found out I had a passion for them. Therefore I am pretty open. Would it be better to answer with a straight-forward response, or should I go with "sometimes life leads you on unexpected paths but when you arrive you realize that you ended up in the right place all along, even if it wasn't what you originally planned."

[llg, PhD, RN]

Yeah I can understand that, but at the same time you may potentially be turning away awesome candidates because they aren't necessarily giving you the exact answer you are looking for. XYZ specialty maybe their dream job and very well be where they wanna be at but after starting at ABC (your hospital) things may not be a fit for them. They may want to pursue greener pastures elsewhere in the same specialty or type of work.

If you ask me that question I would probably sounds confused or uncertain about where I see myself in the next 5 yrs.

Afterall, your place of employment may not be all that or how you present it in the interview. Goes both ways.

Very true. But when I am doing the hiring, I am going to choose the applicants that best fulfills my needs for an employee worth the investment of training -- and that processes is facilitated by getting a feel for what the applicant wants to do with their career. I'm not going to ignore that in a hiring process.

[*4!#6]

So here is what I came up with. This is my dream job I am interviewing for!:

My goals for five years would be:

-To become an expert in the field I am working in

-To remain at the facility I am interviewing for

-To become an efficient, effective, and outstanding nurse

-To be able to go "above and beyond" routine nursing care and make a difference for my patients

-To be in at a point in my development that I can teach others about what I am doing

-To be a preceptor/mentor to newer nurses (I love teaching and this is my ultimate goal!)

-To be able to manage a charge nurse role every so often

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

So here is what I came up with. This is my dream job I am interviewing for!:

My goals for five years would be:

-To become an expert in the field I am working in

-To remain at the facility I am interviewing for

-To become an efficient, effective, and outstanding nurse

-To be able to go "above and beyond" routine nursing care and make a difference for my patients

-To be in at a point in my development that I can teach others about what I am doing

-To be a preceptor/mentor to newer nurses (I love teaching and this is my ultimate goal!)

-To be able to manage a charge nurse role every so often

I think you're answering a different question than is usually asked. "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" is not the same as "what are your 5 year professional goals?"

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

I think you're answering a different question than is usually asked. "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" is not the same as "what are your 5 year professional goals?"

To the interviewer, they may be the same thing. They don't want to hear you say you are going to be an awesome guitar player or raising circus ponies, although that may be true on your days off.

[Gem0607]

I think they are one in the same as well.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

I've formulated an answer with Benner's Novice to Expert theory baked in. I will basically mention the theory says it takes about 5 years for a novice nurse to become an expert in their specialty, and that is what I want to be. In those 5 years I hope to become an expert in my field with more experience, and certification. This is the truth of course. It's more true if I were to get into my chosen area off the bat, maybe not so much if I don't.

[Pat2012]

I just had this question today! I said that I would expect to remain at this job because it's the area I love working in... which is the truth. So, I hope that they liked it... x_x