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Everything You Need to Know About Creating and Achieving Career Goals

  • Writer: Donna
    Donna
  • Sep 22, 2022
  • 3 min read

According to Indeed, creating career goals encourages skill development. Mapping out clear steps and the objectives of your career will ultimately lead to success. Many successful professionals have a clearly defined set of goals that keeps them motivated to work and deliver. Below, we will show you how to create and achieve career goals.

What Is a Career Goal?

A career goal is a specific target that you want to achieve in your career. It may include where you want to be in your career, what you intend to accomplish, or what kind of impact you aim to make. It provides focus and direction for your professional development.


A career goal should be specific and measurable, and it should be something you can reasonably achieve, given your current situation. Many people have multiple career goals, and it's important to prioritize them so you can stay focused on what's most important to you.

What Is a Short-Term Career Goal?

A short-term career goal is a specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goal that you can achieve in two years or less. For instance, if you want a career in data science, your short-term goal may be to get accepted into university for a computer science degree.

What Is a Long-Term Career Goal?

A long-term career goal is an objective you set for yourself to achieve over the course of your career. It is different from a short-term goal in that it considers your long-term plans and dreams. For instance, if you are currently working as a salesperson, your long-term goal may be to become a sales manager.

What Is the Difference Between Short-Term and Long-Term Career Goals?

There are multiple differences between short-term and long-term goals. Below, you will find a list to help you identify a short-term goal from a long-term goal:


  • Timeline. One of the main differences between a short-term and a long-term goal is the amount of time you will take to achieve it. A short-term goal will take a relatively short period of one year or less. You can achieve a long-term goal in two years or more.

  • Scope. Short-term goals tend to be much smaller compared to long-term goals. This is why they take a relatively short period.

  • Easier to achieve. It is much easier to complete a short-term goal than a long-term goal. You will require more effort, resources, and time to complete a long-term goal.

  • The number of goals. You will tend to have more short-term goals than long-term goals. Often, short-term goals help in achieving long-term goals.

Tips for Setting Achievable Career Goals

You can use numerous tips to ensure your career goals are achievable. Below, we narrowed down the list to ensure you are prepared to set off on a career journey that will lead to success.


  1. Define your goals. Often, one of the most difficult parts of advancing in your career is determining what exactly you are aiming for. Many people settle on a long-term goal before identifying short-term goals to help them get there.

  2. Do your research. Take some time to learn about the different options available to you. Talk to people already working in the field you're interested in, and find out what they like and don't like about their jobs. This will help you narrow down your options and make sure you're making an informed decision.

  3. Get experience. One of the best ways to achieve your goals is to get experience in the field that interests you. Try volunteering or taking on additional responsibilities at your current job. The more experience you have, the better prepared you'll be to achieve your goals.

  4. Go back to school. The experience you get will help you determine the skills you need to acquire. Today, you do not have to sit through four years to learn new skills. You should consider attending online

bootcamps like App Academy or Thinkful, or signing up for Massive Open Online Courses.

  1. Set a timeline. Once you've defined your goals and done your research, it's time to set a timeline for achieving them. Be realistic in setting deadlines, and don't be afraid to adjust them if need be. A timeline will help keep you focused and motivated as you work towards your goals.

  2. Believe in yourself. One of the most important things to remember as you set and work towards your career goals is that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and are willing to put in the hard work required to achieve them.

Conclusion

It’s crucial to have clearly-defined career goals if you want to be successful in any field. Keeping in mind the tips outlined above, you can easily develop your own measurable goals to ensure you are always on track. According to Forbes, one of the most indispensable aspects of career goal setting is visualizing success. You cannot achieve your career goals if you don’t believe in yourself.


 
 
 

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