When setting goals for your career, it can be easy to focus on the near future. However, the most effective goals are ones that look far ahead in your ideal career path and give you an actionable plan to get there. Whether you're at the start of your career journey or decades in, setting and working toward goals can lead you to long-term career success.
Short-term vs. long-term career goals
A short-term career goal is one you can achieve in a few days, weeks, or months. They're often relatively easy to accomplish and can impact your work life positively. Some examples of short-term goals include:
- Improving a skill.
- Finishing tasks quicker.
- Making more sales.
- Finishing a project.
Conversely, a long-term career goal is an over-arching dream for your career. Long-term goals can take multiple years to achieve and involve lengthier plans made up of short-term goals. The right long-term goal can guide your career decision-making, helping you focus on what truly matters. While success looks different for everyone, a few common long-term career objectives are:
- Earning a new degree.
- Switching careers.
- Getting a promotion.
- Starting a business.
How to set long-term SMART career goals
Setting long-term goals can be a successful career planning strategy. However, your goals need to be SMART to work. Follow the steps below to learn more about SMART goals and how to use them to your advantage.
1. Understand the SMART framework
Established goal frameworks help you make goals realistic and can increase your chance of achieving them. A popular option that works for many people is the SMART framework. SMART stands for:
- Specific: Add details to your goal regarding what you want to accomplish and what steps you need to take.
- Measurable: Figure out how to quantify goal progress and completion.
- Achievable: Determine if you have the resources and skills to realistically achieve your goals.
- Relevant: Ensure your goal aligns with your personal values and dreams.
- Time-bound: Give your goal an exact date or timeline.
2. Decide what matters to you
Before creating your own SMART goals, it can help to reflect. Look inward to discover your values, dreams, passions, and interests. This process is even more important if you are starting your career or looking to change careers. Knowing what's important to you and what will give you purpose can help you choose a fulfilling, engaging career path.
3. Choose a long-term goal
Once you've done some self-reflection, you should have a good idea of what things you want to prioritize in your career. Now, you need to pick one long-term goal that aligns with your career dreams. To narrow your choices, imagine your future self in 10 or 20 years. What does your life look like?
With the end goal in mind, you can reanalyze your list of long-term goals and dreams. Which one of your goal options do you think will get you to your ideal future scenario? While it can be hard to choose just one, remember that you can always change your mind later. Pick the one that feels good to you in the moment.
4. Break it up into smaller goals
With your long-term goal in mind, you can start creating smaller, short-term SMART goals. These goals can act as milestones as you work toward your long-term goal. They'll help you visualize your progress, which can keep you motivated.
To help you come up with relevant SMART goals, start with your long-term goal and work backward. What do you need to do to make your long-term goal a reality? For example, imagine your long-term goal is to become a lead engineer at your company in five years. Some short-term goals you could focus on are understanding promotion requirements, meeting with other lead engineers, completing a leadership course, and earning a new engineering certificate.
5. Turn your goals into a plan
To make your goals a reality, you must create an actionable plan with steps you can follow. You might develop a broad strategy with your short-term goals as the milestones. For each short-term goal, you can create a list of tasks you need to complete. Your plan should have daily, weekly, and monthly steps with deadlines so you can assess your progress as you go.
Tips for achieving long-term career goals
Some long-term goals can span more than 10 years. Over such a long time, it can be hard to focus and see how far you've come. Use the tips below to stay on track and ensure you achieve your professional goals.
- Expect challenges: Most people run into challenges along their career journeys. When you expect them and make proactive plans to overcome them through career goal setting, you'll be better equipped to handle any setbacks that come your way.
- Track your progress: Follow the plan and milestones you create for yourself and frequently review them to see how far you've come. Knowing that you're progressing can make your goals feel more attainable.
- Celebrate the wins: Keep yourself motivated as you work toward your main goal by celebrating the small accomplishments. No matter how small the task is, completing it takes you one step closer to your dream, and that's worth acknowledging.
- Reassess your goals: Remember that you can always change your goals when they no longer serve you. Periodically assess your feelings toward your current goals and be willing to adapt.
- Make adjustments: When your values and passions shift, and your goals no longer align with them, it's time to make some changes. From small tweaks to full redos, do what you need to stay happy with your career and life.
Start your dream career at Intuitive
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