Setting career goals can be intimidating, especially if there’s uncertainty surrounding what you want. It is important to take the time to figure out what you want out of your career so that you can make meaningful progress toward your goals.
Goals are an essential part of successful people. They keep you focused on what is ahead, help you make decisions, and prevent you from drifting aimlessly from one idea to the next. Setting career goals is a lot like setting personal goals, but with a few added steps.
Step 1. Identify your weaknesses
Goal setting is vital to career success, and many people struggle in this area. Many people may not know where to start, or if they do, they may struggle to identify what areas to focus their efforts on. Luckily, setting career goals can be a fairly straightforward process.
Step 2. Take an inventory of your skills
Setting career goals is an important part of your life. Without this, it can be extremely easy to wander aimlessly through a career and not know where you’re headed. The key to setting and achieving your goals is to create a list of them and then make a plan based on them.
Step 3. Identify expected skills
It is important to be prepared, so before you jump headfirst into changing careers, it is important to start brainstorming all of the skills you have and the skills you want to gain. Look through your past work and internship experience and take note of the skills you learnt and now excel at. Then evaluate your future goals and consider which skills you will need to make the transition.
Step 4. Identify desired skills
Setting career goals is a wonderful way to start thinking about what you really want to do with your life. It can be both exciting and scary because deciding what you want out of your career is important. It is just the first step in setting goals that will help you reach where you want to be.
Step 5. Set realistic goals
In order to set realistic career goals, you must first know how you want to proceed. An action plan will help you stay on track and keep you motivated. It is recommended you align your goals with your daily, weekly, and monthly activities.
Step 6. Set career goals that fit with your life
The first step in setting career goals is to figure out exactly what you want to do career-wise. There are, of course, plenty of options for a career; however, it is important to pick something that is a good fit for you. Take a quick inventory of your interests and skills, then explore careers that might be a good fit.
Step 7. Identify your options
Taking the time to turn your career dreams into plans now can help you establish a professional identity, set goals for yourself, and, perhaps most importantly, prevent your career from taking over your life.
Step 8. Set goals within 3-6 months
Managing your career is something you may need to do often. From a change in job to starting your own business, you need to set goals that will guide you through your career. Set goals within 3-6 months in order to keep yourself on a tight schedule with your career goals.
Step 9. Build on yourself
Then, take time to look at yourself in the mirror and see your character—what are you passionate about? What makes you happy? (This is important!) After you have established that, make a list of the skills you have that could benefit your workplace.
It is never easy knowing where to start, especially when it comes to planning your career. From figuring out what you want to do, to applying for internships, to landing that perfect job; it is tough to know what steps to take and how best to achieve them. However, there are many steps you can take to set yourself on the path to getting the job you want. The first step to setting career goals is to know yourself, your passions, your strengths, and what motivates you.