Setting Career Goals

The first step in achieving your career goals is setting and defining your goals. Begin by brainstorming. You can do this by yourself, with your spouse or with a career coach or consultant. To help you begin setting your career goals, answer the following questions.

• Am I happy in my current career?
• Am I really looking for a new career or just a new position?
• Do I want to make more money or is money even a priority?
• What am I passionate about?
• What is my dream job?
• Why am I still working here and what is stopping me from leaving?

You can also take self assessment tests to help you set your career goals. These evaluations will help you define your values and interests. After you have set a list of goals, break them into two groups - those you can achieve within a year and those you can achieve within five years.

Take each list and rank the goals in terms of priority and urgency. Which goals do you want to work on first?

On a notepad or your computer, set up a page for each career goal. Break the page into six columns or sections - goal, benefits, steps, deadlines, resources and outcome.

Goal
Write down the goal and define it clearly.

Benefits
List the benefits of achieving each of the goals. This will serve as motivation.

Steps
Break down the key steps you need to take to achieve each goal. If you are having trouble defining the steps, work backward from the goal.

Deadlines
Give yourself a reasonable deadline for accomplishing each step.

Resources
List what you need to achieve each goal - training, support, money, time, etc.

Outcome
Did you achieve the goal? If not, what were the stumbling blocks?

Starting with your first goal, work on the steps each week to try to achieve the goal. If you are having problems achieving the steps, talk with a mentor or career coach. Remember that achieving your goals is a methodical process. Don't be frustrated if you don't reach your goals overnight. With planning and determination you will soon be on the road to career success.