Tips on Career Goal Setting

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Tips on Career Goal Setting

• By Clarke Cagingin,
• SOSC 125W student

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What is a Career Goal?

• A goal in general is a result one wants to
  achieve.
• Goals require varying amounts of effort,
  depending on how much work is to be done and how
  much time there is to do it.
• Career goals pertain to ones career and
  improvement in its quality.

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Components of an Effective Goal

• Goals must be specific, measurable, and
  realistic.- Specific means that the conditions
  are concretely defined. For example, I want to
  sell more product isnt specific enough, but I
  want to sell at least 25 more product this month
  than last month is much better.

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Components of an Effective Goal (Continued)

• Measurable means that there is a way to measure
  your progress. In the example stated in the
  previous slide, the salesperson can see how much
  they sold (20 more cell phones, for example) by
  keeping track on something like a document.

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Components of an Effective Goal (Continued)

• Realistic means that the goal is attainable
  within ones abilities, position in the
  workplace, and time.
• An unrealistic goal would definitely be I want
  to be CEO in three months by a new, low level
  employee. There are too many things to do in so
  little time for that to happen.
• A more realistic goal would be I want to get the
  promotion one week early by an employee whos
  been there a while and has been consistently
  doing great work.

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Goal Scope

• There are long-term goals and there are
  short-term goals.
• Long-term goals tend to take a year or more
  (maybe even a decade) to complete. These goals
  are major.
• Short-term goals take about a month or less to
  complete, and mainly consist of minor tasks.
• Some long-term goals can be broken up into
  several short-term goals.

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Goal Priorities

• There are different levels of priority in goal
  setting.
• Some goals are classified as must complete,
  where there are highly negative ramifications for
  not completing them. Usually they relate to
  overall finances or retention of a job,
  especially a good one.
• Other goals are not as important, and vary in
  importance. The less important ones could be
  unfinished and not negatively affect ones career
  much, if at all.

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Goal Updating

• You should check on your goal progress regularly.
  At least once a week or two weeks is good for
  most medium-sized goals.
• Checking on your goals allows you to make small
  changes if you need to, or perhaps its not the
  right goal for you, so you can also cancel (as
  long as there arent any consequences that are
  too negative).

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Why are Career Goals Important?

• Career goals allow you to find opportunities to
  push yourself and advance your position in your
  career.
• Successfully completing goals can lead to more
  work enjoyment, allowing you to do a better job
  because you feel good about it.
• Without goals, you could be stuck in the place
  youre in. Perhaps it could be fine if you really
  like it and you can make enough to support the
  people you need to support (like family), but
  its good to try to become better.

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Ways to Stay on Track

• Remember the reasons why you set the goal, and
  the positive effects it will have. Perhaps you
  want more respect from working harder.
• Share some of your goals with friends and family.
  They can remind you about your goals and help put
  you in the right direction.
• Overcome temptation to procrastinate and become
  distracted. Physically separate yourself from
  distractions if you have to.