Everyone has certain career goals that we want to achieve. These are your goals that pertain to your career and your future. Your goal may be to climb the corporate ladder or to get that promotion you have been aiming at. Whatever it maybe, make sure it is a concrete, achievable and realistic goal.
Career planning questions
The most important thing about career goal setting is to know where you are headed and where you are going before you get there. Plan your short term and long-term career goals wisely. This can be done by asking your self the right questions.
. Ask your self what you are truly passionate about career-wise. What is it that you would enjoy doing every single day? Is your current career or job challenging you appropriately? Is it fulfilling?
. Are you happy doing what you are doing at the moment? Would you rather be doing something else?
. Do you enjoy the environment you are working in and are you satisfied monetarily?
. Is your current career allowing you to satisfy your dreams and objective in life?
These questions should help you identify your career goals better and more effectively. They will help you identify and segregate your dreams into long term and short term goals.
Career goal setting tips
. Realistic goals- the key to setting career goals is to set goals that are realistic and achievable. If you dream of taking over your company, that may be slightly unrealistic. A goal like becoming the CEO of the company is attainable and realistic. When you set yourself attainable and realistic goals and when you achieve them, you will feel good about yourself. It will give you the confidence to work harder.
. Manageably small goals- Ever heard of 'dont bite off more than you can chew'? Same goes for your career goals. Make sure that the goal you have outlined for your career is manageable. Do this by dividing your main goal into smaller goals that are easier to achieve and take you towards the main goal.
. Work at the goals systematically- Work on your goals one at a time and in a systematic manner. Do not be rushed and disorganized. This will only confuse you and put you off working towards your goals.
. Small changes- Make small changes in your work habits. If you think a particular thing you are doing and one you could do better could improve your chances of getting that promotion, or getting a raise in salary or will help you climb the corporate ladder faster; then do it! What is stopping you?
. Roadmap your career- A roadmap is a guide to direct you in the right direction. Plan and create a road map that will make your career all the more challenging and rewarding and will enhance your chances of achieving your career goals.
. Focus- Nothing better than to stay focused on your career goals and plans. This will help you concentrate on where you are heading in your career.
Some may see this as a problem, and some may see this as an opportunity. The difference is in the way you choose to perceive it! Consider this: if you were alive a hundred years ago, your life would have been different. Your career path would be chosen for you even before you were born and your future would be charted out for you by your parents. You would have little or no say in the matter, and believe it or not, you could do nothing about it!
Now you live in a world where your options are limitless. Whatever your passion may be, you can make it your profession. But what do you do if you have more than one passion or preference? What do you do if you want to choose more than one career goal?
Back to Basics: Resumes
One of the most important things to do when you have more than one career goals is to write your resume and write it well. A well written, objective and goal-defining resume is always a great asset. Now, if you are someone who has different career goals, you need to have more than one resume. This is because you are competing with people who have a particular career or goal as their primary career, and have modeled their lives, education and resume around it.
In this case, it won't do you any good to have a resume that is generic and doesn't stand out from the rest. You need a specialized resume - one that is going to make a good impression. This is called targeted resume writing and is done by most people at least once in their lives.
Build Your Network
If you are trying your hand at pursuing multiple careers, then you need to build a network - and fast. Your network will help you with identifying opportunities. Most people worry about how to go about networking. Networking is not as difficult as it sounds; it is quite a simple task. You network or form a network of like-minded individuals. These could be people who you meet anywhere and everywhere, in the coffee shop, in the bank or at a career fair or trade show.
It is all right to have more than one career goal. It may not be the smartest move you make, because it is bound to confuse you a bit and complicate things, but it is not wrong. The key is that you need to be smart about how you plan to handle your multiple career goals.
One of the first things you need to do is be aware of the fact that you need to address more than one career goal. By addressing it, you are taking the first step towards your success.
Both Kris Koonar & Tony Jacowski are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.