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Career Tip: Goal Setting

Career Goal Setting

No matter what your New Years Eve plans were, at the stroke of midnight 2007, millions of people made New Year resolutions.  From loosing weight to getting out of debt, the New Year is a great time to set goals...especially for your career.  Goal setting sounds easy enough, but if not done correctly it can become another "I meant to get around to that."  Experts vary on the best way to set goals, but I say take the old fashion approach - just roll up your sleeves and START!   

S - Specific - The first and most important step is to identify what your specific goals are.  Take a few minutes (hours, days, etc.) to daydream and imagine where you want to be in the next 2, 3, 5, and 10 years.  Think through the details - down to the color of the carpet in your 1st office.  Once you have an idea, verbalize it and be SPECIFIC.  To say that by the time you get out of college you want to have a great job is too vague.  Instead, try "When I graduate, I want to obtain a career in journalism with a large newspaper in the Dallas, TX area." 

T -  Trackable.-  Just like Aunt Eloise's award-winning Jell-O mold recipe, you must go through certain "steps" to reach the specific goals you set.  With your specific goal in mind, figure out what you must do to reach that goal.  Will it require a certain major? additional training? a graduate degree?  a geographical change in location?   Make a chart and track your progress. 

A - Achievable - I've never told anyone this before, but being a university administrator was not my 1st career goal.  I would kill to be a country music star!  After 7 years of vocal training and singing my way through college, I realized that my goal of being the next "Tim McGraw" probably wasn't going to happen...truth be told...I wasn't that good!  While I do encourage students to "reach for the stars," you have to be realistic about the situation.  Setting unrealistic goals only set you up for failure.  While your ultimate goal may be to become the first Mississippian to become President of the United States, understand what you must go through to reach that goal.  

 R - wRitable -  Drawing from the "3 R's" - be sure to write your goals down.  Putting your thoughts on paper can be a great way to set your mind to it - physically.  Also, looking at your written goals on a daily basis is an effective way to stay on track.  You don't have to have special paper or a certain form, just grab what is available - my "to do list before I die" is actually on a post it!  Post them in a place that you will see every day - on the fridge, in your bathroom, in your planner, as your screen saver...whatever it takes!  Click HERE to download a worksheet that will help. 

T - Timely - Over the past 5 years I have been "working" on writing 2 books and starting 3 businesses on the side.  My Mom always says "You are gonna take over the world one day when you get around to it."  So true!  My point is that a goal without a timeline is like a Brittany Spears marriage...it's not going to last!  Putting a deadline on your goals is essential to keep you on track and insure that your dreams become realities.

Many think that goal setting can be daunting.  I encourage students to look at it as a great way to stay focused.  For more information on goal setting, feel free to stop by the Career Center.

 

Source: Jason Umfress, 2006