{"id":9940,"date":"2024-12-10T09:05:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T20:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.nz\/?p=9940"},"modified":"2024-12-10T09:05:20","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T20:05:20","slug":"dream-career-goalsetting-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.nz\/dream-career-goalsetting-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Create Your Dream Career with Our Goalsetting Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

When graduation begins sneaking up on us, the future can look super exciting <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> a little bit overwhelming, too. After all, your post-high school freedom comes with the pressure to make some pretty big decisions!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019re feeling a little lost or if you already have an idea of your future career, sitting down, creating a clear plan of attack and <\/span>really <\/span><\/i>committing to your goals will be super beneficial. The best part? Career planning doesn\u2019t have to be stressful or complicated, and we\u2019re about to show you just how to go about it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This guide will help you understand the basics steps to <\/span>create your career<\/span> and set <\/span>career goals<\/span>. What\u2019s more, we also cover why <\/span>career goals<\/span> are important, and how you can set and achieve them! Regardless of what stage in your career journey you\u2019re at, we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Goal<\/p>\n

First Things First: <\/span>Career Planning Definition<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of <\/span>career planning<\/span><\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It involves setting clear <\/span>personal goals<\/span> 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\u2019t just for people who already know exactly what they want to do; it\u2019s useful for anyone who wants to be proactive about their future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Want to know more about creating a full-blown career plan? Check out our comprehensive <\/span>career planning<\/span><\/a> guide here and turn your <\/span>career goals<\/span> into a roadmap!<\/span><\/p>\n

What Can Career Goals Be?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The most exciting part about <\/span>career goals<\/span> is that they\u2019re completely unique to each person; there isn\u2019t one size fits all set of goals, you just need to do what\u2019s best for you!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Essentially, <\/span>career goals<\/span> 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. <\/span>Career goals<\/span> can also involve personal development, such as improving certain skills or achieving a particular level of responsibility in a job.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There isn\u2019t a right or wrong way to set your <\/span>career goals<\/span> as long as they help guide you towards where you want to go, so go crazy setting some that get you super excited!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why Are Career Goals Important?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are <\/span>tonnes <\/span><\/i>of reasons as to why setting <\/span>career goals<\/span><\/a> 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! <\/span>Career goals<\/span> also help you break down long-term aspirations into smaller, more manageable steps, thus making them feel more achievable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Having <\/span>career goals<\/span> in place can also help you make better decisions about your education and work experience. Whether it\u2019s choosing the right subjects at school, picking extracurricular activities, or applying for part-time jobs, your <\/span>career goals<\/span> can guide you toward the choices that will help you grow and get closer to your dream job! If that doesn\u2019t sell you on a goal setting session, we don\u2019t know what will!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Goal<\/p>\n

How to Plan Your Career Goals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now that you understand why <\/span>career goals<\/span> are important, let\u2019s look at how you can start the planning process! Here\u2019s a simple framework to follow that will help you create your own set of career-kickstarting goals:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Figure out What You\u2019re Passionate About<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The first step in creating your career is identifying what you love to do <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> what you\u2019re good at. Start by asking yourself hard hitting questions like, \u2018What are my interests?\u2019 or \u2018What subjects at school do I enjoy the most?\u2019<\/span>.<\/span> Identifying your passions and strengths will give you a much, much better idea of the <\/span>types of careers you\u2019ll enjoy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another crucial step is taking some time to think about the careers that excite you. If you\u2019re not sure yet, that\u2019s okay! You can try different things like volunteering, internships, or part-time jobs to gain experience and see what you like.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Set SMART Goals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Once you have a good idea of what you want to do in the future, it\u2019s time to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound <\/span>(SMART) <\/span>career goals<\/span>!<\/span><\/a> Setting SMART <\/span>career goals<\/span> helps you break down your biggest and most ambitious career aspirations into smaller, manageable steps that are easy to achieve.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Need a little more guidance on how to set your first SMART <\/span>career goal<\/span>? Simply check out this example for someone looking to get into graphic design:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n