Set goals for Self-Improvement in your Career

4 Parts:

What is a Goal?

Set Goals for Self-Improvement

Tips Tricks & Warnings

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Preparing for your career involves evaluating how well you are doing, compared to what employers expect. With this knowledge, you can set goals for self-improvement so you will better meet your employer's expectations.

A goal is the space between where you are - and where you want to be. Careers move in a positive direction when you set goals. Before setting your goals for self-improvement, you should be aware of the basic characteristics of successful goals. Goals provide you with the motivation or drive to perform at your personal on a daily basis. This drive can come from having a clear idea of the direction you want to go in. It is much easier to get excited about what you are doing if you can see the end result. In the case of personal goals, the end result can be both gaining personal satisfaction and becoming more qualified for the job you want.

Characterize Successful Goals

1. 1
   Your goal should be CONCEIVABLE

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   Can you picture the goal in your mind?

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2. 2
   Your goal should be BELIEVABLE

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   Do you really believe it can happen?

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3. 3
   Your goal should be DESIRABLE

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   Do you really want it?

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4. 4
   Your goal should be ACHIEVABLE

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   Is your goal realistic?

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5. 5
   Your goal should be MEASURABLE

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   When will your goal be accomplished?

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While conceiving your personal goals, you will develop an action plan and identify action steps for each area you want to make improvements in. For example, if one of the personality traits you want to develop is confidence, your action plan may be to offer your opinions more often, even when they are different from others. Your first action may be to do this more in class, while your second action may be to speak up more in social conversations. With each action plan, you should decide how you want to monitor your progress and determine how you will know when you've achieved your goal. The act of speaking up more in a class setting may be a way to develop your confidence, but the final measure of whether or not you have developed confidence may be the level of comfort and ease you feel with your new actions. The measure of success as well as the strategies for achieving that success will vary with everyone. What is important is that you think through how you are going to achieve your goals and how you will know when you've been successful.

1. 1
   Turn a weakness into a strength

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   Being comfortable with your weaknesses is the beginning of your plan to improve them. With this plan, you gain control of the areas you need to improve, rather than letting those areas control you.

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2. 2
   Be able to express your weaknesses in a positive way to an employer

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   Being positive about your weakness can mean the difference between the job you really want and the job you settle for.

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3. 3
   Everybody has strengths they can talk about

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   Don't go overboard though. Give your potential employer a few couple examples with explanations, without sounding arrogant.

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4. 4
   Everybody has weaknesses

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   Don't be afraid to talk about your weaknesses. Talk about them in a positive way. For example, my typing speed needs improvement, so I am working to improve my typing speed by practicing on my own. I've also been considering taking a class.

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5. 5
   Attend seminars and conferences connected to your industry

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   You are in luck if your company is in the habit of sponsoring its employees (including you) to attend gatherings that enhance your skills, or updates you on the latest trends in your industry. Your company finances your participation because they expect that you will apply what you learned in the seminar for the benefit of the company. Usually the bottom line is that your enhanced skills will increase revenue for the company or to make more efficient company operations systems. In addition, if you feel that an upcoming seminar/conference will greatly benefit your career, but your company makes no move to sponsor you, put the money up yourself to attend. This is a good investment in your career, and the advantages will far outweigh the cost of the seminar in the long run. The seminars are also excellent additions to your resume.

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• Remember, acknowledging your weakness in a positive is important to a perspective employer.
• Remember, your employer may ask what your major strengths and weaknesses are and your thoughts behind them. Be honest.
• Remember, you can honestly turn something that may be negative into a positive.
• Remember, It's easier to turn a negative into a positive if you already have your action plans and success measures in place.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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