Why I Detest the ‘Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?’ Interview Question

By tapanakorn from Canva

Let me preface this by saying that I’ve worked in HR and Recruitment for several years now. I am by no means an expert in the field, but I have certainly had more interview practice than most. In our current cause-and-effect interpretation of the world, I understand how judging someone’s past may give us a good indicator of future potential performance.

Time and resources are limited. Recruiting for an employee in a tough market through an external recruitment agency is a costly endeavour and so, recruitment specialists rely on our current skills-based interrogation setup as the most efficient method to source good talent.

Over time, with the help of technology, we have tried to automate the process, with psychometric and cognitive ability testing, but by and large, the final say is down to the applicant’s mastering of the STAR Interview Response Method — Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Let me set the scene.

The already bored, exhausted, and often inexperienced recruiter greets you with a wide smile as they do their best to appear professional while failing miserably. After a brief introduction, they try their best to reassure you that they care more about you than the company they’re attempting to match you with. It’s a lie. You don’t pay…