How do you set clear career goals to help you find your desired job? In this mselect article, we want to help you establish that so that you can work these into your job search strategy.
Below, you'll find tips on how to set your goals, with career goal examples, and whether you should add them to your CV. Most of all, we want our guide to help you feel confident about setting a clear direction for your career objectives.
Let's begin.
What are career goals and aspirations?
Career goals and aspirations refer to your long-term objectives and ambitions when it comes to work. These goals can be personal or professional, and they may involve acquiring new skills, advancing in your career, or finding a job that aligns with your values and passions.
Let's look at an example.
Nadia is a customer service representative for a big telecoms company, but she aspires to one day manage the office where she works. That aspiration becomes her professional goal.
Let's look at a second example.
Razul is a marketing executive with his current company. He wants to progress to the C-suite level and become a chief marketing officer (CMO). To do that, he will need to switch companies. His vocational objective is to find the right company with a CMO position available.
The types of goals you can set
You can set various professional goals, such as aspirational, experimental, job-relevant or learning-based goals.
Here are some examples to get you started:
Performance goals - Improving your rate of performance at aspects of your job
Industry or job research - Learn more about the job or industry you want to work in.
Vocational training - Tackling new skills to develop your work.
Earn certifications - To add to your CV and professional development.
Develop transferable skills - So you can show how you can step into a new job, either above your pay grade or in a different industry.
Building your network - To help you develop more connections in your desired career.
Learn from your team - To help you develop your input and performance or switch jobs.
Learn new leadership or communication skills - To help you get a promotion.
Learn about a new industry or job-based technologies - A great talking point about innovation.
Find a mentor - Great for helping you manage your career journey.
Why you should set career goals
Career goals can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, explore new opportunities, and make informed decisions about your future.
They can also enhance self-awareness, boost confidence, and improve performance, which can help you work towards your goals.
Think of professional goals as a flexible roadmap - a path you can adapt and follow throughout your work to help you achieve greater job satisfaction, financial stability, and personal growth.
Is it okay not to have career goals?
Many people feel pressure to set specific professional goals; if you are still figuring out what industry or job you want, it's okay to feel unsure.
Instead of setting specific job-related goals, try to set broader goals that align with your values, such as continuous learning, helping others, or creating something meaningful.
Remember, your career path is never set in stone, and changing course or exploring different options is perfectly normal. Ultimately, what matters most is finding fulfilment and purpose in your work and life.
How to set clear professional goals
If you haven't set goals for your career before, then this is where we recommend starting.
● Start by looking at your current job - Is there a natural progression path in your department, or is that something you don't want? If you don't want that, which transferable skills do you need to develop to get the job you want?
● Decide what your steps towards that next job are - you might need to learn how to manage people, or if you want to switch careers, you may need to learn new skills.
● Map out those steps into achievable actions. Remember to goal-plan in small actionable steps to help keep you focused and on track while you continue working. That means considering your next job as the long-term career goal and incremental professional development steps as short-term career goals.
Why you should think about your career goals five years ahead
Whether you've decided on job-specific or broader goals, it's a good idea to think of your career ambitions in five-year blocks. By setting long-term goals for your career, you can seek clarity on what you want to achieve and work towards it more focused and efficiently. It can also help you identify potential obstacles and proactively avoid them.
Additionally, having a five-year plan can help you stay motivated and committed to your career journey, even if that feels challenging.
Should you put your goals in your resume (CV)?
There are differing opinions when it comes to including your goals in your resume (CV). Some experts suggest that including your career goals can help to show your focus and direction, while others argue that it can come across as limiting or too specific.
We recommend using your goals in your interviews as talking points when asked, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Ensure that your answer aligns with what you and the interviewer want. Otherwise, you could risk your promotion or career switch by being too self-focused.
Career services: Now that you've set clear career goals, what's next?
Career goal setting is about defining what you want from your professional career. Once you have coupled that with identifying your skills, it's time to update your CV.
In our following guide, we will help you update and optimise your CV and cover letter to have a better chance at getting your next job.