How to set smart goals for career success – 10 Easy steps

This article covers everything you need to know on how to set smart goals for career success. The 10 steps are as important as your career itself.

Career goals are specific milestones that one can use to achieve success in ones profession to aid  professional development. The milestones that you have set must align with ones chosen profession.

SMART goals are a helpful way to build the career you want by setting a clear example of how you will reach your intended target. SMART is an acronym that stands for SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, RELEVANT and TIME-BASED.

This SMART framework is used to create clear  goals that are carefully planned, and trackable.

Most times, when goals fail, It is because those goals are not properly planned. Working towards a poorly crafted goal can be challenging and unachievable, as such it  becomes harmful to your career.

Creating SMART goals can help solve these problems. Whether you’re setting personal or professional goals, using the SMART goal framework can establish a strong foundation for achieving success.

There are several aspects to establishing a strong and better career goal.

How to set smart goals for career success – the 10 tips

Before we proceed to how to set smart goals for career success, you might want to check out this article on HOW TO CREATE AND ACHIEVE WORK LIFE HARMONY – 5 tips.

1. MAKE SPECIFIC GOALS:

When establishing a strong SMART career goals, it is very important to consider the type of goal you want to achieve. Also, when setting these goals, Be transparent enough with what you want to achieve. Use specific titles and terms when creating your goals. Also, Consider if you want to make something, improve something, save something or reduce something. Make Analysis of your goals in such a way that can help you to achieve exactly what you want to achieve.

2. SET RELEVANT GOALS:

When trying to set a strong smart career goal, consider the ones that apply to your career and needs.  Setting relevant goals aid successful results. Have it in mind that every action you take should move you closer to your goals. Setting relevant goals directly reduce expenses.

Such goals must align with ones values and long-term objectives to avoid spending time on unworthy tasks. Ask yourself why the goal you’ve set is important to you, how achieving it will help you and how it will contribute towards your long-term ambitions.

Also, the reasons for setting your goal should be examined, this might help to remind you how these goals will be of benefit to you along the line.

3. SET AN ACHIEVABLE GOAL:

By setting an achievable goal, one can both inspire and increase the likelihood of  setting another SMART goal in the future. Also, having a goal that one is capable of accomplishing within a certain timeframe can keep one motivated and focused.

Actually, Some goals may require learning a new skill or possessing some certain credentials, which is a good reason to consider in deciding whether a goal is attainable and achievable.

So, Before you setting any goal or even begin working towards the goal, make sure any additional steps or requirements you take  are realistic within your timeline.

4. LET YOUR GOALS BE MEASURABLE:

By setting measurable goals means  taking into account the actions an individual would need to implement goals which helps to further ones progress toward an individuals goal.

By Measuring goals, this means tracking of time to complete an action or meeting a milestone.
Therefore, you can Decide the type of evidence you will provide to prove you are making progress towards achieving  your goal. Think of ways that will help to determine if you are on your way towards achieving your goal or if you have been distracted and need to re-evaluate.

5. BEING TIME CONSCIOUS:

A time conscious goal has a specific time deadline. This will  determine if such goal is a short-term or long-term goal or a combination of both goals. After which one can set a time frame. This time frame will help and set a schedule to meet deadlines and accomplish ones objective.

A timeline should also be realistic and give one the freedom and opportunity to make adjustments to ones goal regarding its relevance, specificity and attainable achievements.

6. BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN ONES FIELD:

Becoming a Professional in ones field is a typical and common example of a career goal that is  worth of striving for, and which has both long- and short-term achievements.

This goal will motivate one to continue learning and to pursue learning opportunities. This mindset is also beneficial in helping to achieve some professional goals. It also aids collaboration among people.

7. LEARNING A NEW TECHNOLOGY:

Learning a new technology is also essential in setting of career goals. It gives one a competitive edge over ones peers and makes one to be seen as an asset to ones organization.

Learning these new set of technologies will help ones current or desired position.The advancement in technology will produce a number of innovative tools that many organizations will  rely on to deliver higher efficiency and productivity at work.

Ones ability to gain mastery of these tools will put one in a better position than others and also  create a positive impact on ones work productivity.

8. NETWORKING WITH PROFESSIONALS:

Networking with professionals will help to facilitate a large number of individuals personal and career goals.

Also, being a member of professional associations with experts in ones field will enable one to get the support one need as one work towards achieving career goals and professional growth.

However, one can gain new professional contacts by joining conferences, attending training sessions or workshops, and participating in industry-related forums. Also, taking advantage of  ones professional contacts to utilize new learning opportunities or get references for potential work.

9. BEING PROFESSIONALLY CERTIFIED:

Being professionally certified works  for those who set career goals for themselves. The purpose of earning this certificate is to showcase ones skills and capabilities to a future or potential employer.

This will show an individuals expertise in their  chosen career path.

10. IMPROVING TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS:

By improving time management skills, it means the ability to optimize ones use of time which can be invaluable in ones quest to advance ones career. So, Time is the only resource that one cannot recover back. Once it is gone, it is gone. So, it is advisable that one Makes good use of ones time by acquiring new skills and maximizing productivity.