Setting Career Goals
Why Identifying Specific Job Objectives Matters in Career Planning
Jun 12, 2009
Each individual engaged in a job search, career transition or career development should consider the following key questions: “What is my specific goal?” and “Why is this the best goal for me?”
Most people’s resumes contain a career objective that goes something like this: “to obtain a challenging position that offers an opportunity for growth in a profitable organization.” Clearly, the reader of such a statement has little idea of what the individual’s goal is. It could be anything, a sales manager, computer programmer, accountant, or CEO.
This career objective is too generic. Instead it is much more effective to use this space as a career summary that positions the individual for a specific job and career niche that is appealing to a potential employer. Read more about how to "Play to Your Career Strength –How to Write Great Resumes and Get Your Dream Job Now!"
When identifying a career goal, the emphasis should be on specifying and articulating clear and specific objectives based on career values, skills and interests which position the job seeker to sell his or her skills to a potential hiring manager.
Define Career Goals With Help from Others
A job seeker or individual seeking a career change should be clear about how ideal career achievement and personal relationships are defined and what it means to him. An effective method of focusing on one’s career or job goal is to enlist the assistance of friends, coworkers and past employers. Asking others about their perceptions of one’s strengths, career values and work style can be very useful in the self-discovery process. One can identify possible gaps and strengths that can pave the way to a detailed plan.
Listing some primary goals in the areas of career, relationships, and personal development are the next step. Often job seekers forget about their personal goals and how career choices may impact or conflict with their career choice. Writing them down and setting priorities are crucial, eliminating stress later in the process.
How to Sharpen Career Focus
The next step is to prioritize the identified goals and explore appropriate career options that best represents a match with his or her values, interests, skills and work style. It is important to note that in the beginning of this exercise, one should not be concerned about how realistic specific career goals are, only that the goal be clearly specified and articulated. It is best to resist placing emphasis on being realistic, as this has the potential to extinguish or limit the individual’s creativity.
Why is This the Best Career Goal?
Once the individual has laid out his or her goals, it is time to challenge himself and ask for compelling evidence why the identified career choice is the most appropriate option. Providing evidence means specifying which of the individual’s career values and goals are consistent with the selected option. Further, which of the individual’s motivated skills are needed to be successful in this career and how compatible is the individual’s preferred work or management style with requirements of the selected option. Read more about how "Plan Your Next Career Move – Creating the Professional Future You Want" and the process of identifying career values, skills and work style.
It is highly recommended that each person seeking a job or in a career transition go through the process of justifying that the option he or she selected as a career focus is the best choice. Friends, family or a career coach can be a great audience to present evidence on why the chosen option is the best choice, as it provides the job seeker with the answer to the question: “Is this the right career for me?”
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