1. Self-awareness: goals and interests

1.8. Setting goals

From an early age, people dream about their future jobs. As children, these may be simple wishes to become a singer or a firefighter. As adults, we start developing specific career plans, such as holding leadership positions or achieving financial stability.

 

A career goal is a specific result that we strive for in our professional lives. It serves as a compass, guiding the direction in which we move. Having a clear goal makes it easier to stay motivated, plan our actions, and evaluate our achievements.

While life often presents unexpected challenges, a career goal helps us stay focused and make better decisions. It’s important to remember that goals can change, so we must remain open to new opportunities and ready to adjust our plans as needed.

 

With a clear vision for your life and career, it naturally follows that you’ll want to break it down into smaller, more concrete goals. These goals can vary in nature—from general aspirations to very detailed tasks. Depending on how long they take to achieve, career goals can be categorized as either long-term or short-term.

Watch the video “How to set goals and make decisions?” Then reflect on the following questions:

What dreams do you have?

What goals would you set to achieve those dreams?

What career goals have you set so far?

Have you achieved all the career goals you set?

If not, what mistakes did you make that prevented you from reaching your career goals?

Source: News radio

Career goals can be divided into conceptual and operational. A conceptual goal defines the kind of work experience that matters most to us. It serves as our career vision, outlining our values, interests, and what we wish to achieve. An operational goal is more specific and relates to particular roles or positions. For example, if our conceptual goal is to work with people, an operational goal might be becoming a teacher or a social worker.

Conceptual goals are long-term (5–7 years) and set the overall direction for our career.
Operational goals are short-term (1–3 years) and help us reach our conceptual goals. Both types of goals are essential for a successful career.

Perform a practical task. 

Practical task. Setting goals and visualization