Where DO you see yourself in 5 years?

I know that sounds like a flippant answer, but it's not. Just tell the truth.

You don't know if the person on the other side of the table is a lifer, or plans to move onwards and upwards. You can't guess. You just have to base your answer on what you do know, which is what you want.

Imagine you end up in that job and

1. you want a promotion, but it's largely deadman's shoes
2. you want to stay in the job you're doing forever, but it's one of those companies that believes everyone should be ambitious
3. you want to leave after a few years, but they value long-standing employees

You are going to be unhappy and so will they. So what could possibly be the benefit of lying?

Where DO you see yourself in 5 years?

I know that sounds like a flippant answer, but it's not. Just tell the truth.

You don't know if the person on the other side of the table is a lifer, or plans to move onwards and upwards. You can't guess. You just have to base your answer on what you do know, which is what you want.

Imagine you end up in that job and

1. you want a promotion, but it's largely deadman's shoes
2. you want to stay in the job you're doing forever, but it's one of those companies that believes everyone should be ambitious
3. you want to leave after a few years, but they value long-standing employees

You are going to be unhappy and so will they. So what could possibly be the benefit of lying?