Your retirement will be there when you are ready.
Last week I posted a blog that answered 2 typical job search questions. At the bottom, I invited people to ask questions for me to answer. There was one question that I found interesting, and I would like to answer here.
The person asked what is the best way to answer where do you see yourself in five to ten years from now. It’s a typical question but how does a baby boomer answer this question when retirement is within that time frame. The person’s answer is ideally “relaxing in the south of France for three months.” But that answer isn’t going to get anyone a job.
So what is the answer? Before I give my answer, I would put the matter in perspective. Since the economic downturn of 2008, many people have lost their jobs. Most of the people having difficulty finding a job are baby boomers. Their long-term unemployment forced them to use their savings and retirement funds to pay for everyday expenses. Or your retirement investments have not yielded the results you were hoping for causing you to work longer to get them where you want them to be.
Another reason to consider is the age at which people can collect their full Social Security benefit. Currently there is a scale that determines that age. For people born from 1943 to 1954, the age is 66. People born from 1955 to 1959 can add 2, 4, 6 or 8 months to age 66. People born in 1960 and later will have to wait until they are 67 to retire with full Social Security benefits.
If you are a baby boomer that falls into either or both groups, retirement isn’t in your near future. Fortunately baby boomers have had the benefit of healthcare and are healthy. Working later into life is possible.
Now to the answer the question. I think you should answer it honestly. Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years? Depending on your financial situation, working may be your answer. While you don’t have to explain your situation, tell them of your interest in using your skills and experience to meet the company’s goals. You could mention that you are healthy and capable of giving your full attention to the job. You may have other reasons to continue working that should be mentioned.
This answer to this question is by circumstances beyond your control. Relaxing in the south of France or something similar may have been your plan until issues changed it. Your answer should reflect the realities of your life. Hang in there, you will reach your retirement dreams. It may take a little longer than you thought, but you’ll get there.
Saying that I’m interested in using my skills and experience to help meet the company’s goals is a nice answer, but I’ve already established that by applying for the job. I wouldn’t even want to volunteer any information about the state of my health, because it’s none of the company’s business. All they should care about is whether I can carry out the physical demands of the job, such as lifting, sitting, etc. I would answer those questions only if they asked, but certainly wouldn’t bring up the fact that I think my good health is an asset. It’s not, really — and good health won’t make me any more desirable than a healthy young person.
When I was asked where I saw myself in five years, I turned the question back to the interviewer and said, “I’m much more interested in where your company plans to be in five or ten years.” I emphasized that I had kept up with trends and developments in my field, continuously acquired technical skills, and wanted a long-term job with a company that wasn’t going to go out of business in two years. In other words, I wasn’t some old lady who didn’t know how to boot up a computer, and if they hired me they wouldn’t have to worry that I’d leave in a couple of years — unless, of course, they went out of business. I also got the job offer.