Dan: “One thing I’m often asked is where do you see yourself in three to five years down the road and you know I can’t honestly answer that because the three to five years down the road I’m probably I’m not gonna be working there anymore.”

Mark: “Yeah it’s a common one I got a second level interview last week and I think that’s what cost me the opportunity was I was asked the same question. I’m 60, so my honest answer was will I be here in 10 years probably not but I’ll certainly be here in five with more responsibility and that’s I’m pretty sure that was the one that killed it for me.”

Matt: “Yeah. You know what I mean, let’s face it- there’s a lot of gray beards in the crowd and you know it is what it is I will tell you that I think with two things you know especially as an at will employee, a lot of companies have a hard time hiring people North of 60 just because of the whole medical piece, hiring somebody and terminating somebody, etc… it’s a pain in the ass.”

“What I would do though I wouldn’t have I try to not define stuff I’d say: ‘Hey, I my plan is to work as long as I’m creating value for people and and I’m enjoying it. I’m not even thinking about retirement at the stage of the game, I think I have a lot to bring to table…’ You know, you frame it as you see fit. Mr. Bamford- just say, ‘Hey I’m gonna work as as long as I’m enjoying it and creating value and that could be several years.” and try to kind of leave it ethereal, leave it undefined. The other issue is when they start talking to us senior, experienced people, they’re seeing dollar signs, right? And I just come around and say: ‘Hey, I’m open to suggestion. I’ve come to the stage of my life I still enjoy work and I realized it’s not about the money. If you’re interested in my skill set please make an offer and we’ll have the discussion from there.’

Kind of always leave it open-ended. I have said that it’s not all about the money- that phrase you know, that theme is kind of what I would suggest with with the folks that have the north of 60 crowd or around 60. I would just say, ‘Hey, I enjoy it and I derive a lot of satisfaction out of it.’, ‘I have to work!’ like if you went through a divorce or something, and you just let them know that you’re  hungry and if you see the value in what I bring to the market, make an offer and we can talk about it.'”

Mark: “Okay thank you.”

Walt: “Okay, one there’s a couple of motives that I see behind that question. One is ‘do you have growth mindset?’, ‘Are you looking for future positions?’ So maybe that’s to a younger generation-type motive. And then the other one is: ‘Where do you see yourself- as like are you going to be here long?’

“So amongst the suggestions that are offered which you have to tailor to is the option of saying the motive behind it may be that you’re going to leave- and so one option would you say ‘I’ve come to this job and this company and I am fully committed to this role and to this company’- which says ‘I’m not going to leave soon’. You don’t have to mention years so that’s one option for you. And then there’s the comedic answer that says: ‘Five years ago, did you know that you would be here where you are today?'”

Matt: “Hey Walt, I got a question for you. What about the these folks with all this experience? what about saying something along the lines of ‘looking forward to sharing my experiences mentoring people over the next several years’? Is that a track or a trap?

Walt: It’s another option and sure, that might be something you say something- but think of why they’re asking the question what’s the motive behind it and if we can discern what that motive is, then we can talk about ‘Yeah, I enjoy doing this job this is what I want to do this is what I’m committed to doing.’ Something that says that. And you can say it in several ways is I love this job, I like mentoring people- using whatever it might be but the idea is is to answer the motive. If you can discern what that is, that would be the primary response in my vote.”