In Five Years

A few days ago was our batch’s 9th anniversary with THE company. By “batch”, I mean the group of employees that were taken in and trained for a particular post together. There were more than 10 of us then and, now, after 9 years, 3 of us are still left standing. We’re such troopers. Or maybe just too lazy to look anywhere else or breathe any other kind of air. We’re getting old. It is getting old. But what can you do? Well, I suppose a lot of things, but let’s focus on the lazy. With the world in recession, it’s not as if I can say I’m done and start reading on trading signals and enter something I have no idea about. I know people who really understand business and money; I am not one of them that even if I hire a trading signal service to provide trading advisory, I will still know squat about the business scene.  

When I think about it, it’s really not the lack of initiative. You can deduce by now that the position I’m in is not the best in the world because if it is, why do I have to explain why I’m stucked with it? Anyway, enough with the useless ranting. I was just wondering why they always ask you “Where do you see yourself in five years?” during job interviews? I mean, obviously, it’s to see your “vision”, whatever that means. But why five? Why not four? Or six? Useless question, I know, but I remembered that when I was interviewed my answer was hilariously typical. I see myself as someone holding a position that is well above my entry level because I’m hardworking and dedicated and all that blah. Of course, those were not the exact words but it’s a wonder anybody took  me in. I was such a spaz that I probably swallowed a lot more comprehensible words than I’ve managed to spill out.

Not five, but nine years later, I am nowhere where I thought myself would be. But then again through time, my own vision changed and the things that seem appealing to a neophyte corporate rat doesn’t appeal to me anymore. This is not a race I want to run. There’s no ladder here that I’m interested to climb. The current may lead me some place I do not expect but as long as I haven’t figured out a plan, I’m OK with being stucked. I’m patient that way.