"Where do you see yourself in five years?" answer template (A2, B1, B2)
How to use this template
Choose the level that fits your English and fill every blank with a true detail from your own work, in 3 parts: Here first, Next step and Link back. Plan your example on the STAR worksheet, tick the checklist, then say the answer out loud.
A2 template: simple English
Short sentences, one idea in each. Good if your English is basic or you feel nervous.
- Here first: First, I want to do this job well. I want to learn ________ (one skill).
- Next step: Later, I want to ________ (next step).
- Link back: I want to grow here, at ________ (company).
B1 template: linked sentences
Joins your ideas with because, and, then and so. Good for most interviews.
- Here first: In the first year, I want to do this job well and build my skills in ________ (skill).
- Next step: After that, I would like to ________ (realistic next step, such as more responsibility or a qualification).
- Link back: I hope to do that here, because ________ (company) ________ (reason, for example trains or promotes staff).
B2 template: fuller answer
Adds a reason, a result and a little more detail. Use it if you can say it without reading.
- Here first: My priority is to become fully confident in this role, especially in ________ (skill or area).
- Next step: Within a few years, I would like to move towards ________ (realistic next step), perhaps by ________ (qualification or experience).
- Link back: I can see that path here, since ________ (what you know about progression at this employer).
STAR worksheet: plan your example
Your answer needs one true example. Plan it here in notes, not full sentences, then use it in the "Next step" part of the template.
Situation
Where you learned about this employer or role: the advert, the website, a visit, a person.
Task
What you want from your next job, in one honest line.
Action
What you have already done that prepares you for it.
Result
What you will bring, and what you hope to learn there.
Checklist before you say it
Tick each point when it is true for your answer.
- Here first: Show that you plan to do this job well first.
- Next step: Name one realistic next step, such as more responsibility, a qualification or a senior role.
- Link back: Connect your plan to this employer.
- Avoided: Saying "I want your job" or "I want to run my own business." It can sound like you will not stay.
- Out loud: I said the whole answer out loud, with only true details, in about one minute or less.
A finished answer to compare
This is one way a barista might answer. Compare it with your template: the same parts, with real details. Do not copy it.
Barista answer
In five years I would like to be a shift lead or a trainer for new baristas. Right now I want to get very consistent on your menu and learn more about coffee, like dialling in the grinder each morning. Later I would enjoy helping new staff learn the bar, because I like explaining things clearly.
Learn more about this question
- How to answer "Where do you see yourself in five years?" — the short answer, the steps, mistakes and phrases
- Template: Why do you want this job?
- Template: Why did you leave your last job?
- Template: What motivates you?
- All answer templates
- Example answers for your job: Care Worker · Hospitality Staff · Kitchen Porter · Barista · Hotel Receptionist · Retail Assistant · Warehouse Operative · Delivery Driver · Customer Service Advisor
Questions people ask
Should I learn the template answer by heart?
No. Learn the order of the 3 parts (Here first, Next step and Link back) and your own details, then say it in your own words. A memorised answer can sound flat, and an interviewer may ask a follow-up question.
Which level should I use for "Where do you see yourself in five years?"?
Use the level you can say without reading. If you are not sure, start with A2, say it out loud twice, and move to B1 when it feels easy. A short, clear answer is better than a long one that is hard to follow.
How do I print this template?
Use the Print or save as PDF button near the top of the page, or your browser's print menu. Only the template is printed, without the menus and buttons.
Practise this answer aloud
Say your answer to "Where do you see yourself in five years?" out loud or type it, and see what an interviewer may notice and what to fix first. Free to start, no card needed.