How to Set Career Goals

Whether you’re looking to improve your skills or climb the career ladder, setting goals is essential for career growth. Working in your career without goals will make it harder for you to advance and could leave you running in circles, staying in the same position far longer than you wanted. Clearly defining your goals will allow you to plan on how to achieve them.

The easiest way to start is by visualizing what you want. Imagine yourself where you want to be and succeed in getting there. While it may feel slightly odd to do so, it will give you the confidence you need to get started.

Once you have visualized your future, start writing down the concrete overall goals you’d like to achieve in your career. These should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) goals, which will help manage your long-term success.

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When your overall goals have been defined, break them down into short-term goals that will help meet the long-term. Consider what tasks or activities will propel you forward, but also can be incorporated into your routine.

Perhaps one of the most critical aspects of setting and achieving your goals is accountability. Writing down your goals, sharing them with peers or friends, or even hiring a career coach will help push accountability.

Remember, dreaming of where you’d like to be is a great start to achieving your career goals, but goal setting will help you get there.