How to bring up your long-term career goals in an interview

You’re in an interview, and everything’s going smoothly—until you get hit with the classic question: “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” This can either solidify your commitment to the role or reveal that you’re already thinking about leaving, which could hurt your chances. Should you be fully honest about your future goals, even if they don’t align with the company’s vision? Should you tell them what you think they want to hear?

Finding the right balance between honesty and strategy can be tricky, especially when your long-term goals don’t match what the recruiter expects. So, how can you navigate this question, share your career goals, and avoid ending up in a role that’s a poor fit—while still protecting your growth and integrity?

To be honest…

Not everyone actually knows where they want to be in 5 years, and many of us aren’t where we thought we’d be 5 years ago… So, don’t feel the need to take this so seriously, you aren’t signing a binding contract. It’s ok to answer without being fully committed to your 5-year plan, or fully clear about what it can be. It’s also ok to make it clear in your response that you are open to change. In fact, this shows that you are flexible - a highly sought-after trait that you’ll be able to highlight to your interviewer.

Alex Cohen, Senior Recruitment Director at Piper Maddox, shares that “If there is a logical path to your long-term career goals that involves this opportunity giving you additional skills to do it while having your full engagement over the short and medium term, you should be sharing that roadmap with your potential leader.”

If you are someone who has a clear vision and knows where you want to be in 5 years, then don’t be shy to share. Especially if you connect that vision to the role, employer, or company mission you are interviewing for. Don’t be afraid to let people know you have multiple interests in an organization, especially when these roles and the skills you would develop in them are complementary. Many companies move people around different teams and find it an advantage to do so. It also shows ambition and commitment, which most recruiters appreciate.

Balance your honesty with strategy, though, and be intentional when talking about your 5-year goals and the company’s growth. You want to share your goals, of course, but do so in a way that signals your contribution to the organization. For example, if you dream of having your own business one day and are working towards that, communicate less about your future business and more about what skills and contributions you would like to make to the company hiring you to set yourself up for success. “I value innovation and creativity and want to be part of a team, develop my leadership skills, and see the development of projects through from start to finish.” This reframe shows your ability to filter relevant information and allows you to still share your values and desires from a work role, to ensure you do find a good fit.

The problem with faking it

It’s tempting to tell the recruiter exactly what they want to hear, but remember: you’re the one who will be on the job every day, doing the work. If you’re not honest about what you really want, you could quickly regret getting hired and find yourself back on the job hunt sooner than expected.

When you hide or downplay your true long-term goals, you risk ending up in a role that doesn’t help you grow and develop for your long-term goals, or a job that leaves you feeling disconnected and unfulfilled, ultimately impacting your own ambition and drive. While it may seem easier to please the interviewer in the moment, remember that you’ll be the one living with the consequences every day if the job isn’t right for you.

Connecting the job to your goals

It’s completely normal if your long-term goals don’t perfectly align with the job you’re interviewing for. A good recruiter isn’t expecting a perfect match. What they really want is someone who can contribute value, stick around for at least one year, and be a good fit for the team.

Both you and the recruiter are looking for the same thing—a successful hire. This is why it’s important to be strategically honest. Share your goals, but frame them in a way that’s relevant to the job and the company. For instance, if your five-year dream is to open a goat farm in Chile, that’s not something the recruiter needs to know. However, if you’re open to work travel or exploring new opportunities, that’s worth mentioning.

The key to connecting your goals with the role is to focus on the skills you want to develop. This gives you flexibility in your future vision while also being clear about what you expect and hope to gain from the job. Cohen believes that “Being flexible to paths that you are good at and enjoy can allow you to find a career that is even more fulfilling than the one you’d originally planned.”

When should you bend the truth?

As a general rule: don’t. You don’t want to fake it, or fake too much, because you will pay the price. Job interviews are two-way conversations and an opportunity for you to evaluate if the role and organization are a good fit for you, too. Of course, there are times when financial worries kick in and we are more tempted or even forced to take work that we’re not interested in. Just know that there is a price to doing this, and it’s not paid only by the company you work for.

“Always be wary of being dishonest in an interview. Even if you get the job, if later your manager finds out you were being dishonest, it also erodes trust,” Cohen shares. Often, the benefits of honesty outweigh the cons. However, there is a difference between faking it and omitting information, and the latter can still be strategic and honest. Instead of “faking” it, look for the ways that the role does fit into your trajectory and focus on them.

Key takeaway

Your work life is a journey full of twists and turns, just like everyone else’s. You’re not required to sign a 5-year commitment or stay working anywhere you don’t want to… even if you said you would in the interview process.

In this conversation, just like many career conversations, the best thing you can do is balance honesty with strategic relevance. Genuinely find the connections between this job and your long-term goals, mainly for yourself as well as being able to communicate them to a recruiter.

This connection doesn’t have to be rigid, look beyond the job title into the skills and growth opportunities, company values, and company growth plan. Be honest about why you want this job and how you see yourself fitting in, as well as the job fitting into your long-term plans. As Cohen says, “Every employer wants to hire someone that has clear motivation to succeed in the role, even if that means in 2+ years they may grow out of the role as it is today.”

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