How to Answer: Where would you like to take your career in the next five years?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an EY job interview.
8. Where would you like to take your career in the next five years?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question will help your interviewer understand whether you have a clear direction where you're taking your career or if you are simply cruising along, looking for a stable job, and happy with the status quo. It also aims to determine whether you see working with EY as a long-term fit, and if their value propositions pertaining to further career opportunities had anything to do with you pursuing this opportunity. "Your bold ambition is just the beginning. Harness our global scale, our tech, our teams and our culture to realize your potential. Learn from the best, surround yourself with the curious, ask better questions to seek better answers and build a better working world."
Written by Samantha Brown on November 28th, 2023
How to Answer
Use this as an opportunity to highlight the initiative you've taken to improve professionally, where you've envisioned you want to take your career in the next five years, and the next major goals you hope to accomplish to get there. Ultimately, you want to showcase that you see a clear path ahead in a career with them.
Written by Samantha Brown on November 28th, 2023
Experienced Example
"I am a lifelong learner and look forward to how technology will evolve. So, although I have taken great care in crafting my career goals for the next five years, it is critical to remain flexible, especially pertaining to how the latest technological advancements may change the field. The more I learn, the more I am fine-tuning where I want to go. For example, the more I learned about Ernst & Young, the more I realized I wanted to work here. I have a bold and ambitious five-year career plan, and I truly believe the best path forward is with EY."
Written by Samantha Brown on November 28th, 2023