Setting a career goal can happen more than once or twice in a person's life, and it doesn't necessarily happen in association with planning for college, although some career goals do require a particular curriculum and a degree from an accredited university. People such as Randall S. Hansen at Quintessential Careers suggest that career goals be revisited annually. Although career goals can change as a person develops new interests and skills, these ideas to help set the goal remain the same.
Perform Self-Assessment
Examining your skills and your talents and writing down an honest assessment will help in setting career goals. The self-assessment should also include interests. These talents, skills and interests need to be known to judge whether a particular career is a good fit. Include any needs that must be fulfilled for the career choice to be considered a good one. If you've been in a career, include any dissatisfaction with the career and what changes would provide better job satisfaction. In the self-assessment, include any past achievements, hobbies and pastimes. Hobbies and pastimes often provide clues about what kind of work you find satisfying.
Explore Career Choices
Talking to professors, friends, family members and career professionals helps to reveal the different career choices that are available. Career placement offices at universities can provide information about different careers and the potential for employment in these fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has useful information about careers on its website, which should be explored. Careers that appear to be good matches to the skills, talents and other attributes noted in the self-assessment should be written down for consideration.
Narrow Down Choices
The list of careers that match interests and skills should be discussed with family and friends. If more information about the career is needed, a professional in that career should be sought out. A short conversation often reveals insights about the career that only someone who works in it would know. A list of pros and cons about each career choice will help the discussion along. Eventually, the choices can be narrowed down to one.
Define Career Goal
Write down the choice of career and include any certificate or degree requirements. There could be other requirements as well, such as passing a bar exam. These requirements should be included in the career goal so that they become goals themselves, highlighting their importance for attaining the ultimate goal, the chosen career.
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