Full Disclosure: I am a proud affiliate, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are based on deep experience with and knowledge of the products I mention and I recommend products only when they are genuinely helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I may receive. Please don’t spend any money on products I recommend unless you genuinely believe they will help you achieve your goals.

Creating SMART Goals for Your Career

You’ve probably set goals in your job, potentially even SMART goals, but have you ever considered setting SMART goals for your career?

Now before you roll your eyes and move on to more entertaining topics on social media, hear me out. 

Undoubtedly it’s a giant pain in the you-know-what to set goals for your job. You might even dread it every year (I did). Despite how you may feel about setting goals, your career can seriously benefit if you put actionable goals in place for yourself.

In this article, I’m going to tell you 6 reasons why you should start setting SMART goals for your career, plus 7 simple ways you can get started today.

6 Benefits of Setting SMART Goals

In today’s competitive job market, it’s more important than ever to have clear and achievable goals for your career. By setting SMART goals, you can stay focused and motivated, and increase your chances of success.

Your career can massively benefit by setting SMART goals, here are 6 ways how:

1. Increased focus and motivation.

When you have clear and achievable goals for your career, you’re more likely to stay focused and motivated. With clear goals in mind, it’s easier to avoid getting sidetracked.

2. SMART goals help you track your progress along your career path.

When you can measure your progress, you’ll be more likely to stay motivated and on track. You’ll also have a better understanding of where you’re struggling or need to make adjustments.

3. Improved career performance.

SMART goals can help you improve your performance at work and in your field. When you know what you’re working towards, you’re more likely to put in the effort to achieve your goals.

4. SMART goals help you actually achieve your goals.

With goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, you’re more likely to achieve them. After all, you’ll have far better clarity on what you need to do next.

5. Greater job satisfaction.

When you achieve your goals, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment. This can lead to increased job satisfaction.

6. Enhanced career prospects.

SMART goals can help you enhance your career prospects. When you have a track record of achieving goals, you’re more likely to be promoted or hired for new opportunities.

What are SMART Goals?

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Specific

Your goals should be specific and well-defined. What exactly do you want to achieve? 

Specific goals are clear and unambiguous. They tell you exactly what you want to achieve. For example, instead of saying “I want to get a better job,” you could say “I want to get a job as a software engineer at Google.”

Your goals should be clear and easily understood.

Measurable

Your goals should be measurable so that you can track your progress and see how close you are to achieving them.

For example, if your goal is to get a job as a software engineer at Google, you could measure your progress by tracking the number of job applications you submit, the number of interviews you have, and the number of offers you receive.

Achievable

Your goals should be achievable, but challenging. If your goals are too easy, you’ll get bored. If your goals are too difficult, you’ll get discouraged.

Achievable goals are challenging but realistic. They should be something that you can achieve with hard work and dedication. 

For example, if you have no experience as a software engineer, it might not be realistic to set a goal of getting a job as a software engineer at Google in the next six months. A more achievable goal might be to get a job as a software engineer at a smaller company or to complete a coding bootcamp.

Psst… need help understanding what is achievable based on your strengths? I recommend reading Strengths Finder.

Relevant

Your goals should be relevant to your overall career goals. Don’t set goals simply for the sake of setting goals. Make sure they’re aligned with your long-term career plans.

Relevant goals are aligned with your values and interests. They should be something that you are passionate about and that you believe will make a positive impact on your life. 

For example, if you are truly passionate about becoming a software engineer, then you’ll want to ensure your goals are aligned with this path.

Time-bound

Your goals should have a deadline. This will help you stay focused and motivated, and it will also help you keep track of your progress.

Time-bound goals have a specific deadline. This helps you stay on track and avoid procrastination. 

For example, if your goal is to get a job as a software engineer at Google, you could set a deadline of six months. Don’t forget to consider whether or not this goal is achievable and relevant, however.

How to Set SMART Goals: 7 Simple Steps

Here’s how you can get started with SMART goals for your career:

1. Start by brainstorming a list of goals.

What do you want to achieve in your career? Once you have a list, start to narrow it down to the most important goals. Don’t be afraid to think big! The more goals you have, the more options you’ll have to choose from.

2. Narrow your list down to the top three or four goals.

Choose those that are most important to you. These are the goals that you will focus on first.

3. Apply the SMART framework.

For each of your top three or four goals, use the SMART goal-setting framework to make it specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

4. Create a plan to achieve your SMART goals. 

This might include setting firm deadlines, creating a budget, or finding a mentor.

5. Break down your goals into manageable steps.

Once you have your SMART goals and a plan to achieve them, break your goals down into smaller, more manageable steps. This will make them seem less daunting and more achievable.

6. Track your progress and celebrate your successes. 

This will help you stay motivated and on track.

7. Review your SMART goals regularly.

Your goals may change over time and that’s ok! Make changes as needed.

Examples of SMART Goals

Here are some examples of SMART goals:

• Specific: I want to increase my sales by 10% in the next quarter.
• Measurable: I will track my sales each month and compare them to my goal.
• Achievable: I have a proven track record of increasing sales, and I have a plan in place to achieve my goal.
• Relevant: This goal is aligned with my overall career goal of becoming a sales manager.
• Time-bound: I have a deadline of the end Q3 to achieve my goal.

How to Track Your Progress

Once you have set your SMART goals, it is important to track your progress. This will help you to stay on track and make sure that you are on your way to achieving your goals. 

Here are a few ways you can keep track of your progress:

Keep a journal.

This is a great way to track your progress and reflect on your goals.

If you’re looking for a handy journal to keep track of your progress, I recommend the SMART Goal Journal.

Use a goal-setting app or program.

There are many apps available that can help you to set and track your goals.

Personally, I recommend ClickUp, though there are plenty to choose from!

Talk to a mentor or coach about your SMART goals.

A mentor or coach can help you to stay on track and provide support as you work towards your goals.

Additional Tips to Help You Achieve Your SMART Goals

Once you’ve created your SMART goals, here are a few tips for achieving them:

Break down your goals into smaller steps. 

This will make your goals feel less daunting and more achievable.

Create a plan of action. 

What steps do you need to take to achieve your goal?

Set deadlines for each step.

This will help you stay on track.

Track your progress. 

This will help you see how close you are to reaching your goal and make adjustments as needed.

I personally recommend using ClickUp to keep track of your progress, but just about any project management tool will work!

Celebrate your successes.

When you reach a milestone, take the time to celebrate your success. This will help you stay motivated and on track.

Conclusion

SMART goals can greatly benefit your career. By following the tips in this article, you can set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. When you have SMART goals, you’ll be more likely to stay focused and motivated, and you’ll increase your chances of success in your career.

Think setting SMART goals will FIRE Your Career? Check out the posts page for more ways you can FIRE Your Career and achieve financial freedom.

FIRE Your Career: Achieve Financial Freedom Through Your Career & Spend MORE Time Doing What You Love.

Products I recommend in this article:

Strengths Finder (book to uncover your innate strengths & talents)

SMART Goal Journal (journal to record your SMART goals)

ClickUp (project management software to keep track of your passion project goals)