Where do you see yourself in five years?

I think this is quite an unoriginal question and also rather outdated, but apparently, some consultants keep asking it (not really reflective of the times either).

I generally believe honesty is the best policy, and for someone at the start of their career whilst you may have a view of where you want to get to in 5 years, it is unrealistic to expect either

a) you know specifically what exactly you will be doing in 5 years

b) that you won't change your perspective along the way 

Having interviewed 50+ candidates both in and outside consulting, I would be skeptical of anyone who gave an answer that was too specific or tailored for consulting as being either ungrounded or disingenious e.g. saying they want to be a partner (yes I've heard this before!), principal or thought leader.

At the same time, you don't want to be too broad or unclear e.g. saying you have no idea, as that wouldn't send a great signal either.

A good middle ground might look like something like:

• You don't really know what the world will look like in 5 years so couldn't say specifically (good, signals honesty and realistic)
• But you want to work in consulting to apply your current skills (tailor this), develop new skills and also figure out what sectors / types of work you are good at and enjoy (good, signals you are giving and also taking)
• That said, you have had an ambition to be a business leader or thinker... (tailor this)

Increasingly, firms are more open to an honest exchange to maintain the appeal of consulting vs. big tech to grads. MBBs highlighting the alumni network, exposure/training for 2/3 yers, the exit opps into tech/politics/industry etc.). 

The best answers I heard when interviewing Associate Consultants at Strategy& balanced a humbleness (wanting to deliver / learn / work hard), honesty (consulting being a great first career) and ambition.

Hi,

This is a tricky question. The safe response is that you say that you see yourself working as a project leader/principal at the office of your application. If you already have a specific interest, you can elaborate on which functional topics and industries you plan to specialize in the future.

Surely, in order to be honest with the interviewers, you can also say that you see their company as a platform to better understand how you want to shape your career. However, I would refrain from saying things such as "I see myself in working in the industry after working at your company for 2-3 years". With this question, they want to test your commitment, thus you need to further elaborate on that.

Best,

Deniz 

Dear A,

With this question employers are likely looking for a few key pieces of information:

• Do your expectations align with what the employer can provide?
  Employers want to know that your goals fit with the job they’re offering.

  Employers may also use this question to gauge whether you are over- or under-qualified for the position.

• Do you see yourself at the company in five years? The length of time people with the same company varies based on age and industry.  They will listen closely for clues that you could potentially see yourself here for several years.
• Do you have a sense of ambition or drive? Employers will also be listening for your sense of ambition during your answer. While it can be difficult to know or even plan for what you will be doing in five years, employers want to hire candidates who have a clear sense of how they want to grow and progress.
• What are your interests? Finally, employers might simply be curious about your interests. This could include nearly anything, from seeking to be an industry expert in a certain topic, taking on leadership and management roles or incorporating some other areas of interest into your role. Understanding your passions and interests can be helpful for employers to see where you might fit in the team both short and long term.

Hope it helps you,

Best,

André

I think there is no right or wrong here; my personal answer at the time was:

For sure in consulting, giving that in each career step you learn a completely different skillset I would like to at least get to engagement manager. 

i see myself in a thoughtleadership position, devising strategies where the business, department or institute should be going forward. this could be either in consulting roles or in a business. in those five years, i would like to have developed leadership skills, gaining experience managing teams and working abroad.

Hi

Some interviewers keep asking this question which is actually not interesting at all on my opinion. Consulting is a fast moving world, where nobody knows exactly how the next years will look like!

However, in case you have to answer this question, I suggest to tell that in 5 years you expect to have developed yourself on following areas:

- Ability to manage a project on your own

- Increase of sectorial or functional expertise (financial services, agile or whatever you like)

- Capacity to interact with C-level stakeholders 

- Strong track record of projects with tangible value added delivered

Best,

David

Hello!

On top of the insights already shared in the post, next week will be pusblished in PrepLounge´s Shop material related. 

In concrete, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB". It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally,  as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.

Hope you find it useful!

Руководитель. Счастливый человек. Любящий и любимый!

Considering I am a bit later in my career and applying to consultancies without up-or-out and where you stay on a level for a while, I would probably use something around the following:

I see company X as a platform for a long-term commitment in consulting. I have seen a number of businesses in my time and want to choose the next one on the basis of personal fit to establish a strong foundation and specialise in [capability]. Within the next years, I also would want to find an area for myself, leveraging my experience and capabilities, to build out and become the go-to-person within the business.

Supporting multiple clients Simulaniously bridging the gap between the real and digital worlds.

Inspiring teams to leverage our accessible resources towards that.

Closer support in setting the tone and the story around our new offerings.

Working further on my spike: Strategy and Innovation.

In five years i see myself working for a company that makes me happy and gives me opportunities to improve myself.

I see myself having financial freedom to invest in other things i have interest in 

i honestly see myself working where i am challenged daily with real life problems. as much as i love my subject, i really want to help the world out there by bringing impact through solving the problems. i see myself succeeded in what im aiming for

doing good for this company

I see myself a leading partner at the firm, Helping Our client's adopt disrupting technologies and digital transformations.

Managerial position in the consulting firm, owing my own small business on side.

In 5 years time, I aspire to be in a higher role with more responsibilities having proven my ability at the firm.

I tried to start a crowdfunding platform in the second year of my graduation, but soon I got to know that I need a lot of things before I am prepared to run a business and only motivation won't do.

So I decided, at the age of 27, i.e. 5 years from now, I will open a business. Although I am not so sure about the future, but for now, I only think of learning as much as I can for my entrepreneurial adventure.

I see myself working as a principal of the firm, not just leading a group of projects on an specific geography but also selling new projects to the clients along with the firms' partners. I plan to reach this point by exceeding the goals as a consultant and gaining significant experience leading teams as an engagement manager.

I want to take over more and more management tasks and in five years I wand to be Senior Consultant in your company.

Working in a inspiring Team and still being able to say I am excited to go to work everyday. 

Hi Anonymous,

One fundamental flaw about most answers here is that they completely neglect the customer-focused/customer-centric idea of consulting.

You will be in a service business. And itt's not primarily about you. It's about making other people successful. They will be in the spotlight and enjoy their big bonus for which you was working hard. You need a passion for that, and you need to accept that you have your small nice little paycheck compared to the big guys out there succeeding with your help.

So a strong answer will take this into consideration and focus on what you can do and achieve for your clients in that future. And you need to clearly connect this trait to your experience and background, otherwise it's generic and I won't really believe your story.

Hope that helps - if so, please be so kind to give it a thumbs-up with the green upvote button below!

Robert

In five years, I'd like to continue to be challenged.  I see myself leading teams on complex projects that delivery tangible, high-impact results.  My hope is that in five years, I have continually expanded on my knowledge base and used my solid foundational principles of humility and open-mindedness to become a good leader.

I see myself in Private Equity developing financially inclusive products

i see myself within a great team in a joung and dynamik company, whitch contributes to be a better working world.

Manager di Bain

i hope to stay at the firm and nailing good and higher positions where i will be an added value for them 

I dont have a specific plan but I do have a couple options. I want to be able to choose what I want to do by then. 

Either I want to be a senior at accenture to get fullfilled with responsibilities and more complex tasks. 

Or, since I have so many business ideas, I want to start my own business. Using the knowledge I gained at accenture. 

Honestly, whatever I have had in mind till now did not really happen, so there's no way i can predict where I will be in the next 5 years. But one thing is for sure, I do not see a single reason why I will leave your company if I get Hired. I want to work as hard as possible for the next years and learn as much as possible and your company is the best platform for the same.

Well, right now for me is trully difficult to predict where I will be in five years but I hope I have an stable job where I can enjoy most of the time and above all a job where I have learnt a lot, I also hope I have lived another international experience by living in other countrie and having the possibility of having new experiences in different cultures and from the personal point of view I hope I till can play football (joke)

In five years, I would become sure a professional in my working field, namely in consulting. and improve my grade.  And, to improve my skillsets participate to trainings and become my best version. I would say that McKInsey is the best place to pursue in carrier and to achieve these objectives. For now, I would focus on my work and the missions that would be given to me. And do my best to deliver the best ratoin of quality/time.  

In the next 5 years, I see myself progressing through the ranks to occupy a leadership position where I am able to influence business outcomes and mentor the junior staff because my most rewarding experiences have been ones where I have had good mentors. I want to have found my niche and be able to meaningfully apply my skills and entrepreneurial spirit to create meaningful impact.

Managing a larger portfolio of clients globally making an impact in their decision making

in einer Führungsebene mit Team und Budget Verantwortung 

My future goal is to head a insitution or organisations working to make impact on the regions or areas it works. i would be interested to work with youth, women or social/entrepreneurs in africa and its diaspora. And in term of industry,  i am particularly attracted by ICT, education, innovation, climate mitigation solutions, human right

Another great question to show the interviewers how your values align with those of the company, whether you are a good fit and whether you have a plan for your career. In addition to all the great suggestions the others wrote here, I'd like to say: if you're applying to this company, there must be at least good reason. Think about it and about the future that this company / position can possibly give youand structure your answer in a clear and honest way :) 

In five years I will be done with my master studies and entered consulting. I will be happy with my decision and be hard working 

I five years I see myself having created my own company and using all the expertise I acquired through my different professionnal experiences in order to make my business thrive. 

Experienced strategy manager

In 5 years I see me as an experienced consultant who left this consultancy to found my own start-up, which creates an IT-product for a more sustainable world and if the dream with the start-up is not going to be real I see me in the corporate strategy of a company.

I want to be in a more leadership role, supporting junior staaff in their personal development and teaching them what I have learned in my 5 years as consultant

Over the last five years, I have seen things evolve so much about me, I was initially planning to work in mathematics then I discovered economics and decided to make a switch, therefore I am not 100% sure of where I will be : 

I like innovation, I am passionate about the healthcare sector and I always wanted to deeply research a subject so I might start my company in biotech, but again, not sure what tomorrow is made of and which sectors I could discover.

Managing my own team, traveling frequently and meeting regularly with clients with whom I have developed rapport along the years.

Senior consultant looking for opportunities to gain responsibility

Preferably working at this company, promoted to a new function and having done a project abroad

Der finanziellen Freiheit näher gekommen. In einem Unternehmen, welches mir Führungsqualitäten vermittelt

Working as a consultant still and helping companies navigate the changing landscapes of the economy.

As a part of an exciting management consulting team with a lot of daily challenges and learning.

I see myself as a senior consultant or a principal and can visit to various clients for business meetings

In the next fife years I see myself as part of the fundament of BCG. I want me to be seen as an institution. 

Great questions to which the answer is indeed tricky. I personally don't believe that one can plan ahead five years, which has clearly been on my track record too (whether it relates to studies, countries, or firms). So I tend to answer this question taking that in mind and then sharing what my vision is.  A vision can be generic of a firm, but is powerful and unique at the same time. 

Coming back from an MBA and starting another chapter of my consulting career 

In a private equity fund.

I see myself as a future empathatic team lead that has gather through diverse consulting projects a profound expertise and is willing to share his knowledge with his team in order to further push the company to new innovative ideas and thus, projects

In five years I see myself in mentally and physically stable position. Enjoying life and work, with people around me I obtain happiness from.

bcg

Bei McK

C-level eines Start ups mit Personal und Monetärer Verantwortung 

i think i'll be more developed and may have my own business

would like to joing MBB and explore various cases on different streams to upskill myself to take up senior management roles

I'm not really sure, but what I know is that in 5 years I will be working in a consulting firm where there's a steap learning curve and the challenges keep me going. My ambition in 5 years is being a business leader in the field of healthcare. I would see myself climbing the leadership ladder in this consulting firm   

I'm targeted to the Assisiate Partner position at McKinsey in five years meaning that in 2 years I would get the senior Implementation Manager position.

working at everywhere

As a consultant working in this office.

in 5 years, i see myself in the process of starting an IoT software (and eventually hardware) company that is dedicated to capturing a portion of the multi-trillion dollar spend on climate-change mitigation through providing easy-to-use solutions that can be combined to create systems that increase operational efficiency and resource consumption across any industry

In five years I want to see myself as a leading consultant, one who understands business dynamics, helping organisations and their clients dealing with ethical dilemmas and come up with a possible win-win solution for both.

A subject Matter Expert. I aspire to become the person consultants and clients turn to when faced with a new challenge that requires special expertise in this subject.

Strategic management manager and owner of a company

In 5 year I see myself in a leadig position in consulting. 

My objective is to shape organizations to become successfull in the future. Moreover, I am able to motivate and instruct people in a supportive manner.

To analyze challenging economic and organizational problems is what makes this occupation so interesting for me.

In a progressively responsible profile, where I can contribute to the firm by not only delivering engagement outcomes, but also as a mentor to those within the engagement team

Führung eines Sektorteams in Ihrem Unternehmen 

I want to become a subject matter expert in the clean energy re projects that helps organizations get through the critical regulatory bottlenecks as well as produce the most advanced and economically viable products

I see myself in a more elevated position at a respected firm, where my inputs will be heard and respected, and my problem-solving skills will be put to best use. Additionally, I will have gained a broad background in business, and refined my skillset to be even better at leadership, management, and business strategy.

As my passion is in sustainability (anything from financial inclusion to environmental measures), I would love that in 5 years I am transitioned to a functional practice in this area. Currently I don't have an interest in a particular sector, so I would also love to become an expert by inching in on the intersection of sustainability and a sector of choice. I would love to be one of the go-to people in the company for projects related to sustainability and my sector of choice.

Learn a lot in the short term, building a strong career in the long term

having completed my degree, working towards being a senior concultant with a consulting qualification

In 5 years I see myself still in a consulting firm but with a lot of experience. I will be a senior manager after working very hard for 5 years. I will able to make decisions, manage a team, conduct a team project, and sign contracts. 

Advising top clients on key startegies, all while working remotely and having the time to pursue my hobbies (opening a boxing gym)

I would see myself in consulting as I like to work on complex projects shaping the future of the society. 

Actually this is the reason why I am currently applying in a position at McKinsey. 

Verschillende carrière hypotheses:

- Consultancy: goed in relatiemanagement (c-level communication), team ontwikkelen (Randstad) & business sense (verberpotentieel)

- Corporate: klant gevoel meer impact & leercurve te kunnen maken. 

- Politiek: Net zoals Silvio Erkens. Intrinsieke motivatie om samenleving te verbeteren. Hoop dat bij BCG te doen, maar kan ook

Hopefully not at the dressing room dying my white hair! I can actually see myself doing a lot of things, however, probabily my most prefered future is to see myself travelling around, working for consulting and having a masters from a renown university. 

I see myself highly qualified in the sector 

Me veo trabajando en Creara, si consigo realizar esta entrevista bien. Me veo en un proyecto sobre energías que me interese, trabjando en Madrid. Me gustaría también tener algun titulo más de idiomas, he tocado muchos a lo largo de mi vida, y me gustaría darle otro empujón al francés o al italiano. Es cierto que aunque me apetecería verme en Madrid trabajando, igual porque llevo ya mucho tiempo fuera viviendo, tampoco me importaría estar en otra ciudad de aquí a 5 años.Me encantaría también haber crecido profesionalmente en la empresa, ganando responsabilidades y aprendiendo de mis compañeros. Me veo habiendo hecho algun proyecto que haya tenido un impacto positivo en el medio ambiente, que es una de mis aspiraciones, trabajar para una empresa en la que mi trabajo sirva para crear un mundo mejor. 

asd

KOL

associate

in a plane for business trip to visit client.

Consultant

Outside my country doing a MBA

Ideally in a decision position in the public sector

Helped at least two companies come from a crisis and perfectly leading one of them

A senior consult, pursuing MBA

google

see answer

Company owner who running various industry 

senior consultant

donkt know

Professionally, I'd like to make it to principal/engagement manger in the firm. Personally, I want to continue to work on my fitness and run multiple full-marathons.

founder and CEO of a small consulting firm

I want to work in a strategic context.

w

i see myself working in as a consultant with a much greated knowledge in various industries to take my one step closer in fulfulling my dream of starting a new business

I see myself as the product lead or product head of a really amzoing company

i hope to be an expert in my field at that point in time. One of my big goals with job xy is to further narrow down the topics and industries i am interested in and develop accordingly.

It's important to strike a balance between ambition and realism.

1. Show alignment with the company: Express your desire to grow within the company and contribute to its success. Emphasize your enthusiasm for the industry and how you see yourself making a meaningful impact in your role.

2. Demonstrate a growth mindset: Highlight your eagerness to learn and develop new skills. Discuss your interest in taking on additional responsibilities or tackling more complex projects as you progress in your career.

3. Be specific and focused: While it's difficult to predict exactly where you'll be in 5 years, provide a general direction or goal you aim to achieve. This could include reaching a specific position, taking on leadership roles, or becoming an expert in a particular area.

4. Showcase your commitment: Express your long-term commitment to personal and professional growth. Mention your willingness to invest in continuous learning, whether through training programs, certifications, or further education.

5. Maintain flexibility: Acknowledge that plans can change and that you're open to exploring new opportunities that may arise. Demonstrate your adaptability and willingness to take on challenges outside of your initial expectations.

Remember to tailor your response to the specific company and role you're interviewing for. Research the organization's culture, values, and career progression opportunities to align your answer accordingly.

This article offers insights and advice on answering the question "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" during interviews. It can be a useful reference for understanding different approaches and preparing your own response.

Being a project manager. I will learn through actual job positions, by going through different projects, challenging tasks, and working with a team learning from each other.