500+ Words Essay on Career Goals
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” -Confucius
Career is the journey of a person in his or her learning, work and the general course of life. It is often used more in a professional context. Career goals are crucial objectives or milestones that a person achieves in his or her career path from time to time.
They can be set by people who are already currently working or even by those who are yet to be employed and are looking for job opportunities. The career goals set should be realistic and achievable. They should be motivating and not counterproductive.
Types of Career Goals
There can broadly be two types of career goals. One is short term career goals, and the other is long term career goals. Long term career goals are used to signify an end or a final destination. For example, someone’s career goal might be to become a doctor or a practising lawyer. Short term career goals are the paths that are taken to achieve the desired outcome.
For becoming a doctor, a person will first have to take up science in their school. They would then have to score enough marks in the entrance test to get into a medical college and so on.
There are various types of career goals that people set for their professional careers. For being eligible for a job, a person may have to get a degree first. A student whose parents might not be financially stable might have a goal of gaining or winning a scholarship.
To get a promotion in the office, a person might have to work harder and generate better results than others. If the person wants to change the field of his or her work, then he or she might do certificate courses and increase their skill set.
Career goals can also include making a certain amount of money and working for a company for a specified or pre-decided period of time. Sooner or later, every person decides for themselves a dream career that they wish to pursue and take steps towards making that dream career a reality.
A career and career goals depend upon various factors. For instance, what a person is good at, what are his or her strengths and weaknesses, what obstacles or hurdles did the person face in childhood or is facing currently, what personal achievements there are to support the person’s decision, etc.
Criteria for setting Career Goals
The career goal of a person should be specific. Having a vague statement or definition of it is not enough. For a person just stepping into the professional world, the goal might be to secure financial freedom. For an industry veteran, it might be to become the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of a company.
There should be a way of measuring the outcome of a person’s career goals. Hence, they should be measurable. For example, the goal of completing an MBA degree within two years is definitely measurable. This is a good way of keeping a check on your goals and whether or not you are completing them within a time frame.
Avoid negative feelings and emotions while setting career goals. Instead of thinking of where you don’t want to be, think about where you want to go. For example, instead of thinking about leaving your job in the next three years, think about what you would like to do and achieve after that period has passed.
A career goal should always be realistic. A person cannot think of receiving an Olympic Medal if he or she has never practised. On the other hand, they shouldn’t be too easy to achieve either. Goals should make you a little uncomfortable and should be challenging to complete. They should not be just a walk in the park.
Lastly, setting flexible career goals is also essential. There may be a time when your well thought out plans might not work the way you wanted them to. Hence, having alternative plans and goals can also be beneficial.
For example, you might want to earn a master’s degree, but you have to keep working. Hence, you can opt for a part-time college that may take longer for you to complete your degree, but you wouldn’t have to stop working. Not giving up quickly in the face of obstacles and roadblocks is the right attitude to follow.
Ways to Achieve your Career Goals
Reading is the key to a sharp mind, and reading industry-specific books is a way of achieving your career goals. These books are often written by the veterans and tycoons of that particular industry and deliver immense and valuable knowledge and insights.
Time management is a crucial factor influencing the achievement of career goals. One should maintain a work-life balance, i.e. taking out time for your family as well. Also, at the start or beginning of a day, learn to prioritize your tasks and complete the ones that are most important first.
There is no point in starting multiple tasks at the same time as it leads to utter chaos. Building and maintaining a network is also helpful. Your network includes all the people that you know, including your family, friends and acquaintances. Try to meet at least one new person a week.
Staying connected with your network is very important. Hence, sending messages or emails on festivals or occasions like Diwali, New Year, Christmas, Birthdays, etc. can be a good practice. It is always good to get more informed about your career field.
Thus, attending conferences, webinars, chat room sessions, etc. can be helpful. In the end, having a positive mindset is utmost important. You may face criticism, but it is up to you, how you take it. Criticism can discourage you, but it can also inspire you.
Conclusion
A person’s career should always be driven by his or her passion and be inspired by their ambition. Achieving career goals is not like a sprint, but more like a marathon which takes time. Setting newer goals, when you accomplish the existing ones, is vital to keep a person inspired and going.
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