Not where you want to be in your career? Do you have dreams of starting your own business or breaking into a new industry? We all have career goals we want to achieve one day, but it's not enough to just have goals, you need a plan to achieve them! Here, we give you an idea of how to create realistic and achievable goals and how to go about reaching them. While it's important to aim high in life, you have to take things one step at a time. That means breaking down goals into smaller more manageable tasks that ultimately bring you closer to your big plans for the future. Have a look at our tips for setting and achieving your career goals in 2024.
Everyone has dreams of getting the perfect job that ticks all the boxes, but getting there is always easier said than done. Whether you aspire to end up in the C-suite of an international company or start a business of your own, realising these goals takes a lot of work. When looking to achieve specific career goals, planning is essential in achieving satisfaction and success with your chosen career. No matter where you want to end up in your professional career, setting career goals and defining the steps needed to get there will help you achieve your ambitions.
We all have big goals that we’d like to achieve one day, but reaching these goals doesn’t happen overnight, it requires many small achievements, and small success after small success will eventually manifest into big wins. So, taking it one step at a time, come up with a list of things you want to achieve that will bring you closer to your ultimate career goal. Make sure these goals are specific and realistic.
Instead of setting a vague goal like "get a raise”, think of something more specific and then break it down into tangible and achievable steps. For example, if you aspire to be a CEO, break down what it will take to get there, and reverse engineer the steps. Start by setting short-term goals such as gaining leadership experience, completing a relevant executive education program, or expanding your professional network with industry leaders. Breaking down your ultimate goal into manageable steps not only makes the journey more achievable but also provides a clear roadmap for your professional development.
-What activities make me feel engaged and fulfilled?-What are my core competencies and skills?
-Do I thrive in a collaborative team setting or prefer working independently?
-Where do I see myself in 5, 10, or 20 years?
-Are there gaps in my skills or knowledge that I need to address?
-Are there certifications, degrees, or training programs that would enhance my qualifications?
Self-reflection is a powerful tool/skill that is not talked about as often as it should be. The habit of reflection can separate the best from the rest and is a foundational skill that many other soft skills can grow from. It requires being honest with yourself and taking a moment to think about your past experiences and decisions, figuring out what worked and what didn’t, what has held you back and what has propelled you forward. A thoughtful and deliberate process of extracting from your past to gauge how the future will play out to stay on top of your game.
Look back at the past 12 months and decide what behaviours have been beneficial to you and what has kept you stagnant. Use this reflection to identify areas of improvement and growth. Consider your achievements, challenges, and the skills you've developed. Assess your current skillset and how it aligns with your career goals. Are there gaps that need to be addressed? Are there strengths you can leverage further?
Once you have your goals set and have done some reflection, identifying the actions and behaviours you want to cut out, change, or include in your daily life, the next step is planning out how you will achieve each goal. Here are some key steps in creating this plan:
Breakdown your goals into smaller, more manageable tasks and set realistic deadlines for each one. This will help you stay on track and keep motivated.
Research and identify the resources you need to achieve your goals. This could include online courses, training programs, mentors, or networking opportunities.
Identify the skills you need to develop to reach your goals and invest in learning them. This could involve taking courses, attending workshops, or practicing on your own.
Regularly monitor your progress and make adjustments to your plan as needed. If you notice a lot of time has passed and not much progress has been made, reevaluate, and reflect on your current situation to figure out what is holding you back from progressing.
Remember, achieving your career goals takes time and effort. There will be challenges and setbacks along the way. Be persistent, stay focused, and adapt your plan as needed.
It can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of life and unintentionally put your long-term goals in the back seat to focus on the daily issues that you might be facing. It’s important therefore, that from time to time, you check in to make sure your goals are still achievable and you’re not diverging from the path. Reflect on if your goals are still achievable and your short/long term objectives are still realistic. Identify where you may befalling behind and allocate time to make improvements. Whether you do this every week, month, or quarter, make sure you schedule this into your calendar as a recurring meeting.
Celebrate your success.
If you stay dedicated and persistent, eventually you will be at a point where you can look back on all the progress you’ve made in pursuit of the goals you set for the year and see a tangible difference between where you are now and how far you’ve come. Taking time to celebrate your progress, no matter how small, is essential for maintaining motivation and staying on track towards the next target. Recognising your achievements helps with boosting your confidence, reinforces positive behaviours that lead to your success, and keeps you motivated and focused, so don’t forget to enjoy the journey and appreciate the progress you’ve made.
If your looking for further assistance in creating a plan to achieve your career goals in 2024, click here for our downloadable action plan guide.
Thanks for your interest in what we do here at FIND. We love meeting and helping amazing kiwis every day and will always do our best for our clients and candidates. We've been simplifying the recruitment game since 2008, so don't hesitate to get in touch if you need our help!
