Career Goals – How a New Year Can Set You Up for Success

2021 is just over the horizon. As far as years, 2020 is one for the record books and many people are excited to see it over. We don’t know what the coming year will bring, so we need to take everything one step at a time. Are you considering new career goals for the New Year? If so, how can you establish smart goals that are actionable and attainable? Here are some ideas that can help you find success in 2021 

Reflect 

The first step of any new goal is to reflect on what it is you want. What are your expectations for the future? How do you want to see the puzzle pieces come together? Without any sort of focus, your job search can feel like it’s all over the place. Start by taking a step back and trying to imagine what you want your future to look like moving forward.  

Inventory  

Next, you need to narrow down the specifics of what you want. What kind of job are you looking for? What industry? What type of company? Do you want to climb the corporate ladder? Do you want stability? How much money do you need to make? Knowing the answers to these questions will give you perspective on how to proceed.   

List 

It’s been proven that making a list helps us achieve our goals. It allows you to visualize the result and formulate a plan. It can also be the basis for a dedicated task list so you can keep track of your accomplishments as you work toward your goal. You get the satisfaction of crossing things off as you complete them, which can motivate you.   

Schedule 

An important aspect of goal setting is a time frame or deadline. For example, you want to find a job. You may want to find a job as soon as possible, but what does that mean? Instead, challenge yourself to do as much as you can in the next month. Revaluate at the end of that time and adjust if necessary. If you’re not meeting your goals on your own, consider other options such as taking on temporary work.  

Reward  

Humans are motivated by rewards. Give yourself a boost by providing a treat when you complete a task. You can even choose a larger reward when you accomplish the goal you set at the beginning. This reinforcement will encourage you to keep going or to set the next level of goals.  

What are your career goals for 2021? Call Nextaff so see what we’re working on today.