How To | Set Achievable Career Goals

Understanding how to achieve your career goals can be a daunting prospect. While there is much help and advice available, it can be difficult to know where you’re supposed to begin. 

Here you’ll find four key practical tips that you can use to start determining your very own career plan. 

Know your goals

It sounds obvious, but the very first step is to know what you’re aiming for. Many people get sidetracked into thinking that they just want an improvement in their career.

It’s not enough to want things to just be “better” – you need to know the specifics of how that improvement is going to manifest. 

So, ask yourself, what do you really want? Do you want a promotion? Do you want to earn more money? Do you want to be a recognised authority in your field?

Do you want to work for yourself? Everyone has different career goals, but you’re never going to achieve them if you don’t know exactly what they are. 

Invest some time thinking about what is going to satisfy you most in your career, and write your goals down in a simple list. 

Take your time

It’s very easy to get bogged down into thinking that you need to develop your career goals, establish a plan of action, and then achieve them all in a short space of time.

There is a considerable difference, however, between being proactive and rushing. Aim for the former, not the latter. 

When you rush, you don’t give yourself the time necessary to properly think through your actions.

You should always aim to give yourself at least a day between coming up with an idea and establishing it as a firm career goal. Give yourself the opportunity to change your mind. 

This will ultimately help you by making sure you’re focussing your efforts only towards the career goals that really matter to you.

Be realistic

When defining your career goals, you always need to have one eye on what’s achievable. This does not, under any circumstances, mean that you should be afraid to dream big.

If you want something for your career, it doesn’t matter what it is, then it should be a career goal for you to aim for. 

Being realistic comes into play in terms of working out how you’re going to achieve those goals. You need to plot a direct route between your current situation and your end goal.

For example, say you want to run your own business – what are the steps you’re going to take to get there?

A pragmatic approach to your next move will always make your ambitions feel within your reach, rather than something that requires exceptional luck. 

Reach out

It’s highly important that you remember this is not a journey you need to face alone. If you identify someone who has a career you would like to emulate, reach out to them and ask them about their journey. This will help you understand the issues that you may face on yours. 

Similarly there are many organisations and institutions that you can contact. For example, a Specialist Recruitment Agency can offer you valuable insight into what sort of key skills certain employers look for. You can also attend careers events, or even reach out directly to companies you’d like to work for. 

You need to be proactive and be willing to instigate communication. Whatever your career goals are, nobody is going to achieve them on your behalf. 

Remember that your career goals, whatever they may be, are always reachable – provided that you’re willing to work in order to achieve them.

About A and D Recruitment 

A&D Recruitment is a vibrant, independent employment agency specialising in Renewable Energy & Building Services sectors. 

Founded by recruitment experts Alessia and Darren Williams, A&D Recruitment has successfully placed candidates in a diverse range of roles over the last 14 years.  

To get in contact call 01743 247774 or email on info@aanddrecruitment.co.uk 

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