Defining Career Goals
Defining Career Development Goals
"Our real problem is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow." - Calvin Coolidge
When planning their career goals, career seekers may automatically turn to "The Big Four":
- Make more money
- Move up in an organization or own their own business
- Have more responsibility or power
- Retire early so they can do what they really want to do full time
And these can be great long term goals. But there are smaller career development goals that career seekers can pursue now that will help them achieve the Big Four, and also expand their definition of career success and enrich their lives at the same time.
Goal #1: Career Stability
Having a "three legged stool" when it comes to a career can give an individual a safety net during times of transition. Rather than choosing one career path, career seekers may wish to consider three complementary career paths. For example, a website developer might also seek training and experience as a project manager, Web content writer, information designer, technical writer, business analyst, usability expert, e-learning specialist, website tester, graphic designer, or Flash developer. Having complementary skills allows the website developer to stand out as unique in the marketplace, therefore qualifying for more, different, and harder to fill jobs than other developers. For more examples of complementary career paths, read Creating Career Stability: Choosing Complementary Career Paths
Another way to add stability is to diversify. Rather than just trading hours for dollars, there are ways to supplement income by generating "mailbox money" -- money that comes in even when one is not working. Investments in stocks or real estate, inventions or crafts, published books, e-commerce websites, network marketing, and recording and selling video or animated trainings are some of the more common pursuits.
Goal #2: Financial Launching Pad
More than likely, when job hunting a a career seeker looks for a job that pays the best. His or her objectives are probably to save as much as possible for retirement, or save up for big ticket purchases like a home, major home improvements, or new car. However, when planning how to allocate expendable income, they might want to consider budgeting for experiences. Going to school, travelling, or trying different jobs (even if they're lower paying) can offer tremendous insight into individual interests and capabilities.
If a career seeker is one of a growing number of workers who are seeking more meaning in their work, and would rather get paid less if it means he or she can make a greater impact on their community or the environment, they may struggle to see the justification in pursuing higher income. It may seem shallow to put emphasis on accumulating wealth -- but not if it can establish a launching pad from which they can start a non-profit, take a year to volunteer in the Peace Corps or with a mission, or make sizeable donations to their preferred cause. The more money an individual can earn, the more impact they'll be able to have -- now, and later in life.
Having enough expendable income to train for that marathon, bring food and hope to those who have little, live in the south of France while writing that novel, or become a research scientist to discover a cure (all the while accumulating a reasonable nest egg for retirement), is the ultimate goal.
Goal #3: Flexibility
Along with establishing a financial launching pad, finding a job that provides flexibility is important. If an individual is spending a lot of time commuting or working overtime, he or she may find they don't have enough energy or time to actively pursue their career development goals. (However, listening to audio books while going back and forth to work is a great way to expand horizons and learn new skills.) Some jobs that provide a decent level of flexibility include teacher, flight attendant, camp counselor, ski instructor, writer, photographer, and jobs in the trades.
Finding work that doesn't consume all available free time, pays well enough, and provides enough vacation time to explore interests and focus on career development is the ultimate goal.
Goal #4: Competency
Becoming a subject matter expert in their field is a smart strategy for career seekers. They can take advantage of opportunities to enhance their understanding: going to conferences, subscribing to magazines, attending refresher courses, writing journal articles, posting on blogs, and talking shop at lunch. Developing skills specific to the kind of work they want to do through reading, watching videos, practicing, participating in workshops, going to trade school or college, receiving mentorship or apprenticeship, etc. results in mastery -- which is the ultimate goal.
Goal #5: Resilience
Resilience is the ability to adapt to difficult circumstances by finding the necessary inner strength or capability. Knowing that they can apply the right problem-solving skills to rise above will provide a career seeker with the confidence needed to take calculated risks.
Some people are more resilient than others. If individuals find themselves easily discouraged or stuck in negative patterns, they might need some new problem-solving tools. Counseling, support groups and spiritual growth are often good sources for these tools. The ultimate goal is the freedom to fall without being defeated.
Goal #6: Relationships
Career seekers are well served to create lasting relationships with co-workers, family and friends that support and contribute to their vision of success. "Who you know" does make a difference when it comes to finding opportunities and gaining insight into different fields. Expanding a circle of friends, colleagues and acquaintances in specific areas of interest, while developing an inner circle of people who are valuable partners in career seeker's success, is the ultimate goal.
Goal #7: Leadership
No matter if an individual is a natural leader, or prefers to be a follower, developing good leadership skills takes learning, practice, focus and experience. Whether a career seeker ends up leading an international organization, a local church group or tennis team, a rally for awareness on a community issue, or his or her children through life, they'll find the confidence, professionalism, discipline, time management, and rapport that leadership skills give them to be essential.
Considering how people like President Obama, Mother Theresa, the Pope, Oprah, Rudy Giuliani, Ellen DeGeneres, Donald Trump, and other famous leaders -- and leaders in their own lives -- use their skills in leadership can be inspiring and informative for career seekers. Knowing that they can count on themselves to take the helm competently when necessary is the ultimate goal.
Goal #8: Health
How much success a career seeker is able to accomplish is dependent largely on how well they feel. If an individual struggles with frequent or ongoing disabling medical symptoms, psychological burdens or extraordinary stressors, his or her career development will naturally be compromised. Part of anyone's professional life is taking good care of themselves, saying no to stressful situations, and making sure they have good health coverage. It's their responsibility to themselves, their employer, or their clients / customers that they are able to work competently. Having the freedom to focus on the other goals in this list, because their quality of life is the best it can be, is the ultimate goal.
Goal #9: Challenge
Savvy career seekers frequently challenge themselves by going out of their way to get different perspectives, try things that are outside of their comfort zone, and develop better methods for positive results. Failure is not of major concern to them, because simply by trying and learning from their efforts they've succeeded. The real learning is in the process, not the outcome. The ultimate goal is to fulfill the potential they perhaps didn't even know they had -- and find the meaning in it.
Goal #10: Timing
If an individual happens to get laid off or let go, he or she may become acutely aware that they are now in a position to make a big change in their life. They may be tempted to try working from home, start their own catering company, or change to a completely different career. Although making a choice like this can be in support of larger career goals, it may not be the right time. Career seekers should not let disappointment with previous employers or discouragement from job market conditions compel them to take side trips when they're not properly prepared. In most cases it's a better plan to find employment, even if only for six months or a year, and think through the next step while the money is still coming in.
That being said, sometimes a great opportunity comes along when an individual has time to slow down, willingness to consider new possibilities, room in their life for new experiences, and freedom from demands and destractions to focus on the bigger picture. In that way, being unemployed can be one of the best opportunities any career seeker has to make big changes in the direction of their dreams.
The ultimate goal is to have a solid platform for a well-timed transition, regardless of current circumstances.
SMART Career Goals
SMART is an acronym for:
- Specific - When writing down goals, include details such as degree names, company names, job titles, salaries, etc. The details can always change - but specifics help create a clear vision.
- Measurable - Career seekers should consider how they will measure their success. It should be readily apparent when a goal is met -- for self-congratulatory purposes, if nothing else!
- Achievable - Good goals motivate and focus effort. Career seekers who set lofty goals may end up comparing their progress against their expectations and come up short time and again. Modest goals feel more achievable and offer rewards more frequently.
- Realistic - Career development goals should be set within the career seeker's sphere of influence. For example, a clerk who sets a goal of being store manager in a year at a large department store may have little say when it comes to who gets a promotion no matter how hard they work. However, in a small store, this may be a reasonable goal.
- Timely - Some people work well under pressure, and setting a deadline motivates them to keep working towards their goals. Others work better when steady work propels progress without the pressure of a fierce deadline. Good goals keep things moving forward at a decent pace, in a style that suits the individual career seeker.