Why You Need to Write Down Your Career Goals
Whilst most may think career goals are simply defined by the position or job they want to have, the actual goals are the steps you should take to reach that end result. This means setting both short-term and long-term goals which will direct you down the necessary path and lead where you want to be.
Once you determine your desired career aspirations, whether it’s as a manager, project mangement, executive or business owner, it will be much easier for you to recognize the stepping stones to end up in that role. Essentially, the idea is to break down large goals into smaller achievable short term goals.
It is important that you have the right mindset to accomplish your goals. However, I believe if you don't develop or map our your goals properly, it will be so much harder to achieve your goals.
Recommended reading: 5 Reasons You're Not Achieving Your Career Goals
What are Career Goals?
A career goal is a clearly defined statement that outlines the ultimate profession or role you aspire to throughout the course of your career. A career goal must be defined clearly as this allows you to then set yourself an action plan, or personal development plan, to work towards to achieve your professional ambitions.
A career goal is something that you want to achieve in your professional life. It might be something like becoming a CEO of a company, earning 6 figures, or getting promoted to your dream job. Whatever it is, it should be something that you are passionate about and that you really want to achieve. Having a career goal is important because it can help you stay focused on what you want to achieve and it can motivate you to keep working towards your goal. If you don't have a career goal, it can be difficult to stay motivated and focused on your professional life. So, if you are thinking about setting a career goal, make sure that it is something that you really want to achieve and that you are passionate about.
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The Benefit of Career Journaling
Journaling is a powerful tool for proactive career management when strategizing your path to career success. I believe that career journaling is helpful for keeping record of career-related experiences and achievements, keep track of your action lists, learn to understand career missteps, and record your progress.
In fact, research shows that people who write down their goals are more likely to achieve them than those who do not write down their goals. When you write down your goals, you can experience a certain level of accountability for making sure you achieve your defined goals. You'll now know what you're working toward, how to meet your goals and in what time-line.
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Career Journaling Prompts
Here are a few goals setting prompts to help get you started:
What are your top three career goals?
What does success look like in your current role?
What are you known for today? What do you want to be known for in the future?
When you say you want to grow your career, what does that mean for you?
What about growing your career is most important?
What job title do you want to have in one year or three years?
What roles and responsibilities would you like to have?
What credentials would you need to achieve?
What compensation goals do you have?
By when do you want to achieve your goals?
Why are these goals important to you?
How are you going to ensure that you stick to your goals?
How do you know your goals are on track?
Related: 5 Tips for Sticking to Your Goals
Career journaling is a great way to stay motivated and focused on your career goals. It can also help you track your progress and identify what steps you need to take to achieve your goal. By writing down your thoughts and reflections on your career journey, you can gain a better understanding of what works for you and what doesn't. This process can also help you to troubleshoot any problems you might be having with your career. Overall, career journaling is a great way to stay on track with your career goals and make sure that you are making progress.
I can recommend the below career journal to help get you started with achieving your career goals and abitions. Click the link to get your career journal.
Daily and Weekly Career Planner
Recommended reading: 5 Ways to Ensure You Have Clarity in Your Job Search
By following these tips, you will be well on your way to achieving your goals. Just remember to be patient, stay focused, and stay positive! You can achieve anything you set your mind to.
What goals are you currently working on? Let us know in the comments.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.