Nowadays, the questions asked in the interviews are different from what they used to be a few years ago. Including “tell me about yourself” or “what are your weaknesses?” which are common, a question which can leave you in a dilemma is “where do you see yourself in five years?”. The reasons behind asking this particular question and possible answers to this question could be:

Honesty: The interviewer seeks a genuine answer to this. Cajoling policy would not work here. The question is asked to know if you have a general plan for your career for the next few years. Also, they want to know whether your perspectives align with the required job role. If you are honest, the company can assign you tasks according to your potential. Lying at this moment is completely wastage of time for both the employee and the company.

**Long-term commitment: **It is not an easy task to spend and hire the right candidate for a job. The interviewer wants to know whether spending time and money to find an employee is worth or not. They try to find out if you are a regular job hopper, or you are just willing to take this job to make a few bucks for your another career plan. If you work for a good tenure in a company, it creates a good reputation. Career hopping is not bad but it should not be done frequently say after every 6 months.

**There is no shortcut to success: **Avoid replying that you want to be the CEO of the company or see yourself at the place of the interviewer. If you don’t know how to reach that dream position, then this reply can certainly raise the red flag. Confidence is good, but don’t be overconfident. Remember, you can achieve a position with step by step process. You may refer to it as “using a ladder rather than a direct landing is the key to reach the destination”.

Constant learning and growth: Show that you always like to learn new skills whether personal or technical. Tell that you like to work with others and enjoy working as a team and thus you can see yourself towards a leadership role. Also, tell that if you get this job, despite being a dilettante if the company sees the potential in you after a few years, you can achieve the leadership role.

**How you could establish yourself in the job: **The interviewer wants to know if you actually need that job or you have applied just for timepass. Tell that you will work hard, learn continuously, seek mentorship, get incremental promotions, develop leadership qualities, etc. and ultimately reach a position better than the present. This shows your keen interest in the job offered.

Thus, keeping these points in mind, you can crack the interview by replying accordingly. You can frame your answer according to your potential and requirements of the job. Smart reply makes you out of the crowd and gives the employer a green signal that you are the right candidate.