For many, the New Year is a perfect opportunity to reflect and give thought to future aspirations. This is true not only for personal goals but also career-related ambitions. If you’re striving for change but struggle to maintain commitment over time, the following blueprint can help turn those career goals into reality.

Map Out Your Vision

What do you envision for yourself in the coming year? Are you looking to advance within your current organization or have you reached a crossroads and need a change in course? The first step in creating an action plan is establishing a clear vision. Once you have that vision in mind, ask yourself: “What will it take for me to accomplish this goal?” Then begin breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps, tasks, and goals – assigning a deadline to each.

This was Sarah’s approach after realizing she’d hit an impasse in her career. Sarah loved her job, but there were no growth opportunities within her current organization. So it was time to explore options elsewhere. Her goal: to obtain a senior-level position at another company by the end of the year. To accomplish this, she would need to complete several other tasks first, like compiling a list of potential target organizations and investing time in networking. Because it had been a while since her last job search, she would also need to make proactive preparations. This would include revamping materials like her resume and cover letter while making sure she presented a polished professional image on sites like LinkedIn.

Convert Goals into Actions

Treat your career goals just as you would an important meeting or appointment.  This means pulling out your calendar or smartphone to schedule specific times when you’re going to work on completing tasks. As the saying goes: “If it’s important to you, you’ll make time. If not, you’ll make an excuse.”

Develop a Planning Routine

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

It’s easy to lose sight of your goals when you’re juggling everyday responsibilities and pressing aspects in your personal and family life. But the best way to avoid pushing those short- and long-term goals by the wayside is dedicating 30 minutes each week to review them and noting what should be addressed next. This is also a time to evaluate progress and, if necessary, refine, revise, or recommit. Think of it as a weekly staff or team meeting, except it’s just you.

Enlist the Support of Others

Finally, don’t embark on the journey alone. Find someone who is willing to encourage you along the way and to hold you accountable. This might be formal support, such as assistance from a career counselor or coach, or informal support, such as the backing of a trusted friend, family member, or colleague.

In the End

Dream big, but don’t forget to set smaller, more manageable targets along the way. With a step-by-step plan, you can turn your career dreams into reality.

 

About the author

Dara Wilson-Grant is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Her focus is on career-related issues, including career change, professional growth, and workplace challenges. Dara’s career management workshops have been presented at universities, government agencies and research institutions.