How to Answer: What are your future career aspirations and where do you see yourself in five years?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an University Administrator job interview.
15. What are your future career aspirations and where do you see yourself in five years?
How to Prep
Preparing for this question is a common and valuable activity as this question, or an alternate form of it, comes up frequently in job interviews. In fact, it ranks as the #3 most searched questions here at MockQuestions.com.
The key to successful preparation is to identify a five-year plan that sounds feasible, shows ambition, and demonstrates that you've invested time in planning for your future.
Written by Samantha Brown on October 22nd, 2023
How to Answer
Begin by describing your short-term plans in a way that aligns directly with the role you're interviewing for. This will help your interviewer gain confidence that you are willing to stay in the university administrator role for a while after you're hired. Next, describe an option or two that demonstrates growth and/or ambition along a specific path. This might include plans to educate yourself further, get promoted to a more senior level within university administration, take on a leadership role, or explore options in another industry you're excited about. Five years can go by fairly quickly, so be sure to limit your response to a path you can reasonably achieve within the given time frame.
Written by Samantha Brown on October 22nd, 2023
Answer Example
"I understand from the job description that there is a specialist position of X or Administration Manager. I would like to gain valuable experience through multiple job roles within the university which would help build the foundation and depth of knowledge in order to help me achieve this position. During this time, I see myself being mentored by the current post holder as I would communicate these aspirations through meetings with yourself (assuming current manager interviewing) in order to help facilitate this."
Written by Samantha Brown on October 22nd, 2023
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