Steps to an Effective Career Goals Statement with Examples

A career goals statement, also known as a personal statement or a statement of purpose, is a written assertion of your long-term professional goals. A personal statement is your plan for success and the measure for where you want your career to head. They are a statement of your professional intentions and reveal commitment to your craft. Including your statement of purpose on a cover letter or resume shows a hiring manager your motivations and intentions and provides you a clear picture of your career path.

A career goals statement is your written intention and the driving motivator behind your daily actions and habits to advance your career. Your statement of purpose serves as your professional target. Being clear about your intentions and drive helps you create logical steps to achieve it. Career goals statements are also important because they are:

• Motivating factors in your success. If you begin with the end in mind you give your daily actions meaning and purpose. You see the value in the small individual steps you take toward success because you know the expectation. Your overall aim serves as an influence for you to take specific actions like learning new skills, enrolling in continuing education courses, or volunteering for extra hours at work.
• Create accountability for your professional actions. Recording an idea or goal on paper makes it tangible, real, and creates accountability for you. When you physically see your objective, and communicate it to others, you become responsible for creating that reality. Sharing your career objectives with hiring managers or employers can create career opportunities for you as they work toward having the most skilled employees.
• Are a guiding force for career advancement. People can get comfortable in a position and forget their objective. To keep your career from stalling, a written statement provides guidance and direction.

How to write a professional career goals statement

To write a professional goals statement reflect on your career aspirations and your passions. These should be the controlling idea within your statement of purpose. Consider taking the following steps when forming your own statement of professional goals for graduate school or to carve out your career path.

1. Evaluate your motivations.

Analyze your own likes and dislikes to understand where your passions lie. Knowing your motivation and focusing on the values that drive you can help you decide on your own career path. If you haven’t determined what drives you, try volunteering within your community and interviewing different professionals to learn about your interests more.

2. Understand the career path and level of commitment.

Once you have determined your passion and identified a career industry, research your options. Making an informed decision is one of the first steps to creating an effective career goal statement. You can begin by doing a job search and discover companies hiring by location, job title, and industry. You can write a stronger and more specific career goal if you know all the requirements for the job you want. You can determine the level of commitment the career requires and decide if it is the right fit for you. This quiz can also help you narrow down your choices.

Learn more: 8 Ways to Research a Profession Before Changing Careers

3. Be inquisitive and reflective.

It is important to spend your time doing what you love. Job satisfaction is more than earning a paycheck. To create a refined career goal, ask yourself the following questions:

• Where do I want to be in 5 years? Ten years? Fifteen years?
• What kind of job do I need?
• What is my vision?
• How do my personal and career goals align? Or do they differ?
• How can I improve my skills?
• Am I engaged in my work?
• How does my work relate to the quality of life I have and want?

Learn more: Five Questions to Ask to Make Sure Your Career’s on Track

4. Use the SMART goals format.

SMART is an acronym to help you remember effective requirements when creating goals. SMART stands for: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. The goals you include in your career goals statement should follow these guidelines:

• Specific: Goals should be concise and well-defined. Instead of saying you want to write more, rephrase it as “I want to journal daily.”
• Measurable: You want to gauge how much you have progressed. Develop a way to measure your progress. If your goal was to journal daily, review your entries to see if you met that goal. Determining whether you met your goal can help you decide your next steps. You may have to adjust your expectations, but keep in mind your focus on improvement. Create a process that will benefit you and leave room for improvement.
• Achievable: Your goal should be realistic and achievable. Understand your own abilities so you succeed and are encouraged to strive for more. Focus on an attainable goal that can position you for success and set you up for the next step toward your objective.
• Relevant: Your goal should be in line with your life goals and career objectives. Journaling can be a way to record your thoughts about life but also improve your written communication skills for career advancement. You will feel fulfilled personally and encouraged professionally.
• Time-bound: Set a specific deadline for attaining your goal. You can then create smaller steps for yourself and see that progress is slow but steady.

Learn more: SMART Goals: What They Are and How to Write Them

5. Develop steps and strategy.

Plan out specific and actionable steps you can take to reach your goal. For daily journaling, it can be having a pen and notebook by the nightstand, and setting aside five minutes before bed to write about your day. These are simple actions that can impact your success.

6. Accept it as a process.

Revisit your goal often, and determine how far you have progressed. You may need to reevaluate your steps, or determine if you are missing an important aspect, or failing to see an obstacle. Maybe journaling before bed is unreasonable because you are too tired. You can adjust your approach and journal in the morning. Be willing to adapt and alter your process if needed.

Review the following career goals statement examples to plan your own statement of purpose and set your future in motion.

• I plan to be a full-time writer in five years. I will work as a freelance creative to build a portfolio, attend two writing workshops, and read one book per season focused on developing my craft and building my business.
• I will transition careers from executive assistant to paralegal. I plan to enroll in a training and certification program. In two years I will be an intern at a law firm to get some practical training. 
• I will be project manager at RightForMe company within four years. I will enter the company sponsored mentor program to work on my leadership skills. I will focus on improving team productivity by 5% and get feedback from my supervisor on ways to improve. 
• I will be promoted from sales associate to sales specialist within two years. My focus will be on improving cross-selling strategies to increase revenue by 10%. 
• I will graduate and become a certified teacher in two years. I will enroll in the teacher certification program and complete it to earn my code to test the state exam and score satisfactory.

 

 

The above career goals statement examples serve as guides to creating your own statement of purpose. Your goals aren’t set in stone, and can be adjusted to fit your needs and evolving lifestyle. The career path you choose should fit your job qualifications, unique skills, help you achieve your dreams, and reveal your work ethic for hiring managers. Use your goals as inspiration to excel in your career.

Looking for a new job? Start here!