ADVICE & TIPS

February / March 2008

A Career Goals Makeover

By Scott Stoppler, President
Executrade

We all enjoy the idea of a fresh start. It renews us and reboots our motivation. With the variety of career experiences available in Alberta, changing careers may become as common as the goal of shedding pounds after the holidays. Even when the jobs are available, changing your career path or looking for a new job in your field can be overwhelming and needs a plan.

Valuable steps to consider when planning your career goals are:

Set a realistic goal.
Create several smaller tasks from your larger goal.
Find the right resources.
Evaluate the outcome.

1. Set a realistic goal.
You may need to add to your skill set depending on what career changes you want to pursue. Do you need extra training, education, or a course to increase your chances of getting the position you want? Give your goal a timeline that is attainable, and don’t forget to allow time for developing new skills.

2. Create several smaller and attainable tasks from your larger goal.
Determine the steps you will need to carry out your desired career change. Break these steps into smaller, relatively easy-to-achieve tasks with tangible deadlines. Breaking it down will not only help you stay on track, but also provide an opportunity to celebrate the little successes on the way to achieving your ultimate goal.

3. Find the right resources.

Seek the assistance of a recruitment firm or headhunter to help you access the hidden job market.
Determine whether your resume should be chronological or functional.
Choose your best references.
Use the Internet and school resources, including seminars or counsellors, for resume and cover letter support.
Job shadow or talk to someone who has experience with the career direction that interests you.

4. Evaluate the outcome.
You will always be setting goals, big and small. It is good practice to evaluate your processes after attaining a goal, or completing a task, to know whether you need to change your plan of action. Has new information introduced you to new possibilities? How successful have you been in finding what you are looking for? What messages are people giving you? What would you do differently next time?

Goals are often added to our already busy lives, and they can be shoveled away as easily as the last snowfall. Setting a specific goal with reasonable deadlines can often help to make it less overwhelming. Break the larger goal into several achievable tasks. Find the right resources for the best route to discovering your next career move. Evaluate and assess your goal plan approach after you have accomplished it. No matter what your goal entails, some of the most satisfying results are had when there is a plan of action in place.

Tips to get started on setting your career goal:

Research the companies you would like to work for.
List your expectations of your place of employment (continued education, vertical movement in the company, international experience, etc.).
Determine how you want to grow personally and professionally in the organization you work for.
Job shadow or attend networking functions organized by the industry.
Take on a volunteer opportunity in the field of work you want to pursue.