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3.1 SET GOALS |
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What to Do |
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It is difficult to make decisions about which goals to pursue if you do not know what your goals are or how you want your career to progress. Your goals must be SMART:
Specific
Measurable
Adaptable
Realistic
Trackable
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1. Specific |
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If your goal is not specific you may not have a firm idea of how to get that job. |
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| EXAMPLE: I want a good paying, daytime job so I can continue my education. |
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This job goal is not specific enough to suggest where to start looking for this kind of employment. Your job search will not be focused. You may find a job, but it will probably not be the most appropriate one. |
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| EXAMPLE: I want a job in warehousing because I already have military experience doing this type of work. It needs to be part-time and at night so I can use my military education fund to attend school during the day which will enable me to change my career. The position must pay at least $7.00 per hour and have a minimum of pressure so I can concentrate on my studies. |
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This employment goal is specific enough to suggest where to start looking for this kind of employment. |
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2. Measurable |
| Make a realistic, daily/weekly time table. This allows you to measure whether or not you are consistent in your employment search efforts. |
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| EXAMPLE: I will contact 3 employers per day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Monday and Friday, I will answer newspaper ads and send resumes. |
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Setting up a time table avoids procrastination. |
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3. Adaptable |
| Setting an employment goal is like using a road map with optional routes. If your search is not getting results, try an alternative route to your destination. |
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EXAMPLE: I have been looking for a $9.00 per hour, part-time, evening warehouse job so I can go to school during the daytime.
I have not had any results. I will begin looking for a $8.00 per hour, daytime warehouse job and will go to school during the evening.. |
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Change your search method if it is not working. If your search method is working stick with it. Remember: You can stick with your employment search method but change your employment preference, the wage you want, or the hours you will be available to work. |
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4. Realistic |
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| Make sure your employment goals are realistic for your personal needs, the local economy and the job market. Your goals may be appropriate for your current needs, but not realistic for the current economic situation. You may have to settle for a position with less pay, less benefits and less advancement because the position you need and want is not available in your local employment market. You may have to consider other work until you can move to an area that has the employment opportunities you want and need. |
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5. Trackable |
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| You need to be able to trace your steps in your search for appropriate employment. Keeping track of where you go, with whom you speak and the results of each contact is extremely important. If your search is not getting results, you need to be able to look specifically at your efforts in order to see if there is some element that is missing or needs to be added. You cannot improve what you cannot track. |
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Now that we have demonstrated the SMART technique, write your own short-, intermediate- and long-range goals. Make them employment related. It is easiest to start with long-range goals and work backwards to short-range goals. |
