Gazing into the crystal ball: Creating a five-year plan for your career path

When interviewing for a new job (and career), one of the questions that you may get asked consistently in interviews is: "What are your plans for the next five years?" or "Where do you intend to be five years from now?" It seems that as far as careers go, five years seems to be a kind of median in terms of time frame for career advancement. If you have not progressed to the next level or two above where you started within five years, or do not personally feel fulfilled with where you are, perhaps you ought to seriously consider changing careers, or at the very least your professional focus. For those starting out in new careers or already in one, a five-year plan may be an effective personal tool to take stock of how much you have developed and/or where you would like to be. In your five-year plan, make a note of your professional objective(s) and current or possible areas of focus upon. If possible, review these with your supervisor or manager to come to a consensus about your career track. And finally, revisit your plan regularly if only to check off objectives you may have achieved, and to keep in mind your intentions along your career path.