When graduation begins sneaking up on us, the future can look super exciting and a little bit overwhelming, too. After all, your post-high school freedom comes with the pressure to make some pretty big decisions!
However, there is a way to make this decision a whole lot easier; create a career plan and start setting some goals. Regardless of whether you’re feeling a little lost or if you already have an idea of your future career, sitting down, creating a clear plan of attack and really committing to your goals will be super beneficial. The best part? Career planning doesn’t have to be stressful or complicated, and we’re about to show you just how to go about it.
This guide will help you understand the basics steps to create your career and set career goals. What’s more, we also cover why career goals are important, and how you can set and achieve them! Regardless of what stage in your career journey you’re at, we’ve got you covered.
First Things First: Career Planning Definition
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of career planning and personal goal setting, we need to take it back to basics, and the best place to start is with a career planning definition. Essentially, career planning is the process of thinking about your future career and taking steps to achieve it.
It involves setting clear personal goals related to your future work, identifying your interests and skills, and creating a roadmap to get you where you want to be. Career planning isn’t just for people who already know exactly what they want to do; it’s useful for anyone who wants to be proactive about their future.
Want to know more about creating a full-blown career plan? Check out our comprehensive career planning guide here and turn your career goals into a roadmap!
What Can Career Goals Be?
The most exciting part about career goals is that they’re completely unique to each person; there isn’t one size fits all set of goals, you just need to do what’s best for you!
Essentially, career goals can vary widely depending on your interests, skills, and where you want to go in life. Some students might have specific jobs in mind, like becoming a doctor, teacher, or architect, while others might aim for broader goals like getting into university, gaining experience, or building a strong professional network. Career goals can also involve personal development, such as improving certain skills or achieving a particular level of responsibility in a job.
There isn’t a right or wrong way to set your career goals as long as they help guide you towards where you want to go, so go crazy setting some that get you super excited!
Why Are Career Goals Important?
There are tonnes of reasons as to why setting career goals is so essential. First of all, it gives you something to strive for. With clear goals, you have direction, which makes it easier to stay motivated and focused! Career goals also help you break down long-term aspirations into smaller, more manageable steps, thus making them feel more achievable.
Having career goals in place can also help you make better decisions about your education and work experience. Whether it’s choosing the right subjects at school, picking extracurricular activities, or applying for part-time jobs, your career goals can guide you toward the choices that will help you grow and get closer to your dream job! If that doesn’t sell you on a goal setting session, we don’t know what will!
How to Plan Your Career Goals
Now that you understand why career goals are important, let’s look at how you can start the planning process! Here’s a simple framework to follow that will help you create your own set of career-kickstarting goals:
Figure out What You’re Passionate About
The first step in creating your career is identifying what you love to do and what you’re good at. Start by asking yourself hard hitting questions like, ‘What are my interests?’ or ‘What subjects at school do I enjoy the most?’. Identifying your passions and strengths will give you a much, much better idea of the types of careers you’ll enjoy.
Another crucial step is taking some time to think about the careers that excite you. If you’re not sure yet, that’s okay! You can try different things like volunteering, internships, or part-time jobs to gain experience and see what you like.
Set SMART Goals
Once you have a good idea of what you want to do in the future, it’s time to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) career goals! Setting SMART career goals helps you break down your biggest and most ambitious career aspirations into smaller, manageable steps that are easy to achieve.
Need a little more guidance on how to set your first SMART career goal? Simply check out this example for someone looking to get into graphic design:
- Specific: I want to create a portfolio that showcases my design skills.
- Measurable: I will complete a 15-page portfolio made up of examples of my work.
- Achievable: I will spend 3 hours per week working on my portfolio.
- Relevant: Achieving this goal will help me land my dream job in the design industry.
- Time-bound: I will complete my portfolio within the next 3 months.
Track Your Progress
Without a way to monitor how much progress your making, it’s easy to forget just how far you’ve come. As you work toward your career goals, check in every few months to see how you’re doing. Make sure to ask yourself whether you’re achieving the milestones you’ve set for yourself or if you need to make any adjustments to your plan.
Tracking your progress will help you stay motivated and make sure you’re heading in the right direction!
Don’t Give Up
Career planning is a journey, and like any journey, there will be bumps along the way. It’s totally normal to face challenges, setbacks, or even moments of doubt. However, they’re not reasons to give up! Keep pushing forward, stay focused on your goals, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Remember; your career goals are within reach, and perseverance is key to achieving them.
What to Do if Your Career Goals Change
While we’d all love to believe that career journeys are simple and linear, that isn’t always the case. In fact, as you gain more experience and learn about yourself, it’s not uncommon for your career goals to change. This is completely normal!
Our interests shift and evolve all the time, and sometimes we might discover a new career path that excites us more. If this happens, don’t stress; it’s just a sign that you’re learning and growing.
Don’t Stress
Remember that career planning and goal setting aren’t one-time things; they’re continuous processes of learning and adjusting. Even if your plans for your future career change, you can still follow a new path and achieve great things!
Restart Your Career Plan
If you realise your career goals have changed, you’ll want to take some time out and restart your career plan. Take a step back, evaluate your new goals, and get back on the horse. Let your new goals get you excited about your career change!
Remember, It’s Never Too Late for a Career Change!
It’s always okay to pivot; even if you’re a bit further along in your career journey. In fact, we believe that it’s never too late to reassess your goals and change direction! Many people switch careers later in life, and there’s absolutely no shame in doing so. The important thing is that you pick a career that brings you happiness!
Start The New Year Right With a Goal Setting Sesh
A super smart way to spend the upcoming school holidays is setting yourself up for a great next year! Setting career goals and planning your future really is a super exciting process that helps you take control of your life after high school. By figuring out what you’re passionate about, setting SMART goals, tracking your progress, and staying flexible, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your dreams!
And remember, if your goals change, it’s okay—it’s never too late to make a career change and create a path that suits you. And if you ever need any more advice to get career-ready, we have just the resources for you! Simply head over to our blog and have all of your burning questions answered today.
