Most interviewers ask this question, thinking it provides a window into a candidate’s intentions. Does it? Most candidates dread the question because they aren’t really prepared to answer with any certainty. Why?

US News and World Report blogger Alison Green writes that it may stem from a fundamental misunderstanding on both sides. What information is really desired and how to convey your intentions professionally will go a long way to defusing a potentially dangerous question. This is a concise roadmap to ensure that you know where you’ll be in five years.