How to Set, Achieve, and Present Career Goals (with Examples)

What Is a Career Goal?

Career goals are specific, measurable objectives that individuals set for themselves to achieve in their professional lives. They are milestones, targets, ideal situations, and anything else you find motivating in your professional journey.

These goals can be short-term, such as improving a particular skill, or long-term, such as attaining a leadership position within an organization. They can also describe the final state of your career, such as running your own business.

Why Are Career Goals So Important?

Career goals are important because they boost your morale and keep you motivated and driven. They give you hope that your professional life will improve, whether this means doing something you like to do, acquiring a new skill, getting a promotion, or getting your dream job. Goals give you something to work towards, but also small steps that get you there. They are achievable, measurable, and idealistic at the same time. They encourage you to dream and teach you how to achieve your dreams.

Furthermore, people other than you will want to know about your career goals. ‘What are your career goals?’ is a common interview question because people want to know where you see yourself in a few years, how you imagine your professional journey, and your aspirations. They want to see how committed you are and how well you fit with the company's long-term goals.

Potential employers are not the only ones interested in your career goals. Your current employer will want to know them at some point, too. You may be asked about them during periodic evaluations, performance reviews, and career consultations with the HR team.  The employer will use this information to assess your future promotions and work satisfaction levels.

Related: HR Career Path.

How to Set Career Goals?

Like with setting any goals, think SMART when setting your career goals. SMART means Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and with a Timeline. However, before transforming them into SMART objectives, you need to know your career goals.

So, start by identifying what you want to achieve professionally. At this stage, you are allowed to dream big. List obvious short-term goals, such as completing your studies, attending a certain training program, earning more money, or improving your time management skills. But list also long-term and ideal goals, such as attending the top conference in your field, becoming a manager, or starting your own business.

Then, adapt your goals using the SMART method. For example, you can add a timeline for short-term goals, such as completing your education in two years, enrolling in that special training program next spring, and implementing a new time management software this month. Or you can divide major goals into smaller ones to make them attainable. Or get practical and transform ideal situations into relevant goals.

Try to come up with clear measurements to avoid getting lost in the process. You want to be able to track your progress at any given moment, spot patterns, and take action to avoid delays.

Related: Best Career Aptitude Tests

How to Achieve Career Goals?

Now that’s a big question with no easy answer. But remember that your career goals are achievable if rightly set up. Setting goals correctly involves continuous effort, strategic planning, and adaptability. Most of the time, we believe it’s hard, yet as you do it more often, and achieve your ambitions, you will see that it is a process you enjoy.

Experts recommend these essential steps to help you on this goal-setting journey:

1. Start with an action plan: Break down your SMART goals into actionable steps. Outline what tasks or milestones you must accomplish and set realistic deadlines for each.
2. Include skills and knowledge amongst your career goals: Invest in yourself by learning new skills relevant to your field. This might include attending workshops, obtaining certifications, or pursuing further education. This type of goal is always relevant and relatively easy to achieve.
3. Connect: Connect with professionals in your industry who can provide guidance, share experiences, and offer support. Attending industry events and joining professional organizations can expand your network. You never know where your next professional opportunity comes from.
   
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4. Be flexible: As you progress, be prepared to adjust your goals and plans. The job market and industry trends can change, so adaptability will help you stay on course. The career goal list you start with may not necessarily be the one you end up with.
5. Monitor progress: Like counting your steps every day, regularly review your progress towards your career goals. Celebrate your achievements and identify any areas where you need to improve or make changes.
6. Enjoy it: “Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Whether it was Confucius or Mark Twain who said it, it’s true. We recommend that you stay motivated and maintain an optimistic outlook, even when confronted with challenges. Confidence and resilience will help you overcome obstacles. Doing something you like will help you enjoy the journey.

How to Answer, ‘What Are Your Career Goals?’ in an Interview

Like with any other interview questions, you should answer honestly. At the same time, your answer should be relevant to the position and company you are applying to. Discard your list of personal goals for a second and present only those that fit the job description. For example, speak about getting the certifications relevant to the job offering. Yet, here are some extra tips:

• It’s better to start small and grow from there. Start with short-term career goals or, even better, with the ones you’ve already put in motion. This will show the interviewer that you are committed to achieving your goals, have a good plan in this regard, and mean business.
• Move from short-term goals to long-term goals. Do not forget to detail your action plan and potential steps. For instance, if your end goal is to become a CEO but you are applying for a junior position, mention being promoted to a senior position as a first goal, then getting a leadership position, and so on.
• Remember to remain relevant. Attention, if there is nowhere else to go with this company, mentioning your plan to get into a leadership position may not be a good strategy.

Bonus: Common Mistakes to Avoid

While you should prepare your answer to the ‘What Are Your Career Goals?’ question in advance, you should also prepare for what not to say. A few mistakes tend to appear in interviews, and they are truly red flags for the interviewers. Stay away from the following:

• Saying you have no goals: It may be true at some stages in your career, but it’s never a good answer. If you don’t have hard skills you want to improve or acquire, or job titles you want to achieve, focus on soft skills and situations. For instance, you may say you want to work for a company that aligns with your values (e.g., environmentally friendly).
• Saying too much: A couple of career goals are enough for an interview. Don’t launch into a detailed story about your life and your dreams. Oversharing is as bad as not sharing anything.
• Being greedy: Career goals are not about money, although we all know we want a good salary. However, money talk is another part of the interview. So, focus on professional achievements rather than material ones.
• Being unrealistic: It’s good to have dreams, and most of the biggest humankind accomplishments came from people who dreamed big. However, the interviewer wants to know your realistic goals, action plans, and steps to get you there. So, be relevant and practical while keeping on dreaming.

Related: Examples of Strengths and Weaknesses for Job Interviews

Career Goals Examples

Let’s divide career goals into four large categories and come up with short-term and long-term examples for each of them. The four common career goal categories are:

• 1. Improving education
• 2. Professional advancement
• 3. Leadership positions
• 4. Personal advancement.

Let's see the concrete career goal examples:

Final Thoughts

Understanding the importance of career goals and knowing how to set and achieve them is crucial for success. Career goals provide direction and purpose and serve as a roadmap for professional development. By setting career goals, individuals can identify the steps they need to take to reach their desired outcomes, monitor their progress, and stay motivated along the way.

At the same time, having clear career goals helps you advance at your current job (e.g., do better in a performance review) or make a good impression in an interview. Remember that other people are interested in knowing your career goals and preparing to present them.

FAQ

How can short-term goals best lead towards accomplishing long-term career goals?

Short-term goals are specific, clear, and easier to achieve. Reaching them boosts your morale and motivates you. At the same time, short-term goals are usually part of long-term goals, and reaching them means you are on the way to reaching the long-term ones. For instance, a short-term goal may be acquiring a new skill, which, in the long term, will help you get a leadership position.

How can a professional association help you reach your career goals?

Professional associations are a source of direct and indirect opportunities through peers and networking. They also help you stay relevant in your career, identify what’s required for reaching your goals, and stay updated with the latest innovations and changes in your field.