Examples Of Professional Career Goals You Can Achieve In 2019

By Perminus Wainaina  

Are you feeling stuck in your career? Have you been holding the same position for a long time and you feel you need to move to greater heights? Do you feel like you’re not giving your best in the position you’re in? Career stagnation can negatively affect your work. To counter this, you should focus on setting and achieving career goals that will help you move to the next level.

The year is still new and you have time to set and achieve career goals.

Unsure what goals you should set in your career? Here are some examples that will help propel you to the next level of your career.

1. Learn a new skill, take up a short course, or participate in a personal development activity

Every job has room for development. When you learn a new skill or nurture and grow your current skills, you’ll have more positive an productive days at work. Learning encourages confidence as you can use the skills and lessons to improve on your output.

Moreover, when you increase your scope of skills, you’ll be ready for more responsibilities, which could, in turn, lead to a promotion.

To identify what skills you should undertake, look through your day to day tasks. What do you find most challenging? What skills would help you with this task?

2. Update your LinkedIn profile

In today’s job market, LinkedIn is one of the most trusted platforms for employers to connect with professionals. It is also where professionals connect with other professionals within and above their current positions.

The right connection could see you move up the career ladder –either in your current organization or in a different one.

However, for this to happen, you need to ensure your profile is updated and has a professional appeal.

When looking to fill up specific positions, for instance, we, here at Corporate Staffing Services go through various LinkedIn profiles. With a customized LinkedIn profile, you’ll have improved chances of being noticed and called in for an interview.

3. Improve on your work/life/study balance

One of the most effective ways to advance your career is by working when most productive. What you can do in a few days when dreary and tired can be done in a few hours of peak productivity.

Thus, it is essential to focus on your important tasks when you’re most productive, and then give your mind and body enough time to rest and recharge. The best way to accomplish this is by creating an effective work-life balance.

Working when you’re productive will increase the quality of your work, consequently, this will lead to better performance. When your boss or supervisor notices your improvement, they could give you a promotion or consideration.

I once worked with a colleague who would be the first to arrive and the last to leave the office. He would sleep for less than five hours a night and would spend all his weekends at work. While the act is commendable, his work was mostly substandard. He would also take longer to deliver on his tasks as he was tired most of the time.

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4. Update your CV

Like your LinkedIn profile, your CV should also be updated.

Whether you’re looking to move jobs or not, a professionally written CV will be of great assistance to you. For starters, it will give you insight into your current position and the roles you might be currently overlooking. Additionally, you do not have to worry about getting the CV done in a rush when you see a job you’d like to apply to.

We once received a poorly drafted CV from a job seeker. She had all the right qualifications, but you could not tell it upon first glance. When the recruiter finally contacted the professional, she said she saw the job a few hours before the application closed and had to write her CV from scratch.

Don’t make the same mistake, have your CV ready in good time.

5. Get out of your comfort zone

To grow, you have to expand yourself.

Often at times, professionals get into a spot where they feel the work they’re doing is okay. If you’re at such a spot, you should get out of the comfort zone and stretch your abilities.

Only when your abilities are stretched will you see what new skills you can use to grow in your career.

Take up a new role at work, help out in a different department, request a new set of responsibilities. Only then will you grow to what to desire to achieve.

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After you have set the goals, you need to work towards them throughout the year. Here are some tips to help you achieve the goals you’ve set.

• Make a career plan – To be satisfied at your workplace with the work you do, you need to have a plan of what you’re working towards. Set both short-term and long-term plans. The plans will help develop a path for your future.
• Create a roadmap – Once you have your short-term and long-term plans, it is time to create a path that leads to their accomplishment.
• Set deadlines – You do not want to pressure yourself into fulfilling your plan, at the same time, you don’t want to work without a timeline. Working without a deadline could easily derail you. At the same time, let the deadlines be realistic and measurable.
• Reward yourself – After you’ve accomplished an achievement, remember to treat yourself. The treat should be something to keep you motivated about succeeding at your plan.

At the end of the day, you should realize to grow your career, you should be intent and active. Each day, you have to keep away the distractions and focus on reaching your goal.

For further assistance in your career development, enlist the service of a career coach.