What are your professional goals in the next five years?
The interviewer asks this question for two reasons. They want to see if you have professional goals and a plan to achieve them. When you set goals to improve and grow professionally, it shows that you are motivated and dedicated to your profession. The interviewer also wants to see if your goals include working for the company. Companies invest a lot of money and time to hire and train employees, and the interviewer wants to know that you will be a long-term employee if hired.
Focus on describing exactly what professional goals you have planned for the next five years and how you will achieve them. If you are new to the industry, you might want to concentrate on gaining experience and take continuing education courses. If you have been working as an SIU investigator for some time, you may plan on pursuing higher education or an administrative role. Be sure to highlight that you see yourself with the company in the next five years.
You want to avoid saying you have not planned out that far in advance, that you want to go into private practice, or that you see yourself with another company in five years. If you do not have professional goals, the interviewer will determine that you are not motivated and inspired to grow as an SIU investigator. If your goal is to start your own practice or move onto another company, the interviewer may not want to invest time hiring and training a short-term employee.
"Since I am new to this field, my professional goals in the next five years are to get hired by your company and gain experience. I appreciate that your company offers on-the-job training, which is one reason I applied to your reputable organization. I want to gain experience in civil litigation and investigations by working with your seasoned investigators, attending industry conferences, and working on my continuing education hours."
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