HI- How do you answer a question about where you see yourself in 10 years?

small consultancy
New answer on Dec 24, 2020
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Anonymous A asked on Nov 22, 2020

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Pankaj
Expert
replied on Nov 23, 2020
Bain Manager and Ex- Accenture | >5 years of coaching experience | Experienced Interviewer | Personalised coaching

In my experience of giving these interviews myself, and coaching applicants, I believe honesty has worked well. A lot of us don't know 10 years where we see ourselves 10 years down the line - so what i have seen work is that you tell the interviewer that you see your career has 5 year stints. And more importantly, you focus on skills vs actual job titles.

  • The first 5 years - you would like to establish your foundation skills. Example - problem solving, working in a team, stakeholder management. Consulting gives you the perfect platform to acquire these.
  • The next 5 years - you would like to go deep into your areas of interest and develop expertise. This is where your consulting stint really helps you by exposing you to diverse industries.

Was this helpful? Happy to connect further to discuss more.

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Anonymous A on Nov 23, 2020

Thank you for the very helpful response

Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 23, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

Honestly, for this question you can be pretty honest!

Now, of course you should shy away from things that have nothing at all to do with strategy consulting (i.e. "I want to be hanging out on the beach" or "staying at home with my family" or "Back in university doing my PhD"). That being said, as long as it's ambitious and going into strategy consutling is a clear/logical pathway to this, that's a perfectly acceptable answer (for example, it could be CEO of a fortune 500 company, or leading an NGO in x etc. etc.)

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Anonymous A on Nov 23, 2020

Thank you - that really helps

Vlad
Expert
replied on Nov 23, 2020
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

You should answer honestly. I guess there are two options:

  1. I would like to grow to the Partner specializing in industry X / Function Y
  2. For the next 5 years, I would like to stay in consulting growing my capabilities at indsutry X / function Y and expanding my network. Later, if I manage to build good relationships with the client - I might join the internal strategic / ops / abc roles

Best

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Anonymous A on Nov 23, 2020

Thanks Vlad - would you refer to being a partner in the company you are interviewing with ?

Gaurav
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 24, 2020
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

It's a little but tricky question. But you have to be honest while still telling them what they really want to know.

This question is designed to test you for the following:

- Do you have realistic expectations for your career?

- Are you ambitious?

- And does this particular position align with your growth and goals overall?

Does it make sense to you?

GB

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Anonymous A on Nov 24, 2020

Thanks Gaurav - makes complete sense. Would the response need to be consultancy related?

Adi
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 23, 2020
Accenture, Deloitte | Precision Case Prep | Experienced Interviewer & Career Coach | 15 years professional experience

To be honest this question has become irrelevant in current times. Who knows whats going to happen in one year let alone 10! haha...but if it comes up in interviews, structure as follows:

  • Short-term (2 years): be very open & adaptable, settle in role, learn about industry and business as much as possible quickly
  • Mid-Term (3-5 years): take on more resonsibilities , become poeple manager, start building expertise in a function or industry, pursue more education & training (Masters/MBA) if needed
  • Long-term (5 yrs+): established expert, ready to adapt, take some risks as a mid-senior/senior professional. Depending on career track and situations, venture into innovation, entrerprenurship or running a business area in a firm etc

The answer must be personal to you and come from a place of honesty and above strructure can help you personalise.

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Anonymous A on Nov 23, 2020

Thanks Adi- I agree it's irrelevant but useful to have a response in case you get asked

Anonymous replied on Dec 24, 2020

Hi,

Personally I always answer these type of questions with "I do not know" as I review my life year on year. However, I told them that in the end of my career I would want to be able to achieve XXX (e.g. Top executive in a fortune 500, etc). Everything I do in between will be toward that goal.

Bottom line is honesty with some logic will works well.

Best,
Iman

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Pankaj gave the best answer

Pankaj

Bain Manager and Ex- Accenture | >5 years of coaching experience | Experienced Interviewer | Personalised coaching
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