How to Describe Career Goals
Having clear career goals is an essential part of developing meaningful and successful professional relationships and experiences. Of course, formulating these goals can be much easier said than done. Here are some points to consider when describing your career goals.
Consider Your Values and Interests
Your values and interests are a great place to start when considering career goals. When you’re thinking about the kind of career you’d like to build, think about what’s important to you. What type of working environment excites you? What skills do you want to develop or practice in a job?
Keep Dream Big, but Think Realistically
We often have all sorts of lofty ideas about the type of career we want to pursue and what we’d like to achieve. While it’s great to dream big, it’s also important to keep your goals realistic and achievable. Make sure to consider all other factors beyond just the job itself, such as market and demand, additional training that may be required, salary expectations, etc.
Be Specific and Detailed
When you’re describing your career goals, make sure to be as specific and detailed as possible. This will help to ensure that you are able to articulate your goals effectively to potential employers, and even commit to them in writing. Instead of simply saying, “I want to advance my career,” identify exactly what kind of career advancement you’d like to see—for example, “I want to become a supervisor within the next two years.”
Identify Actionable Steps
Describing your career goals isn’t enough—you also need to create actionable steps that will help you to reach them. This includes identifying key skills you’d like to acquire, mapping out a timeline for achieving your goals, and identifying resources or people that can help you along the way. Breaking down your goals into manageable steps can make them seem much more achievable.
Ultimately, describing your career goals isn’t as difficult as it may seem. By considering your values and interests, keeping it realistic, being specific and detailed, and identifying actionable steps, you can be well on your way to reaching the professional success you desire.
