How to Develop Career Goals
Successful people who are happy with their career often recommend that others set and achieve goals. Although you might be happy with your job right now, there is always room for improvement. You can make improvements by setting specific, reasonable career goals. Many people want to see improvement, but they do nothing to earn these improvements for themselves. By setting career goals, listing steps that will help you achieve these goals and working hard, you are determining your own destiny.
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Instructions
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Imagine the "big picture" of where you want to head with your career. For example, you may dream of being a working surgeon within 15 years. This "big picture" will serve as your long-term goal. Pick more than one long-term goal if you desire, but it's best not to have more than two at one time.
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Ensure that your long-term goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART). If a long-term goal is not SMART, edit it or trash it in favor of another long-term goal. For example, you may want to get a job as a high school art teacher within ten years.
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Create a list of tasks that you must accomplish before you can meet your long-term goal. This list will serve as your short-term goals, which are there to help you achieve your "big picture." For example, if you want to get a job as a computer engineer, you're going to have to go to college. Ensure that these short-term goals are also SMART.
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Make a list of benefits for achieving each short-term goal. For example, if you get a degree, you are creating opportunities for yourself to make more money. Keep this list in a place where you will see it often.
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Work on achieving at least one of your short-term goals at a time. Visit your list of short-term goals often, so you can cross out goals as you achieve them. Don't be afraid to revise short-term and long-term goals.
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References
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