You are working hard for your career in Canada, we have no doubt! How do you feel about your goal-setting strategy?
Have you ever felt like you set up your goals and you end up never really meeting them? Let’s say you want to apply to 10 jobs a day, reach out to 10 people a day, that honestly does not sound very realistic.
Goal-setting helps you set realistic goals and keep yourself on track along the way. Continue reading for quick tips on how to set smart goals and how they will get you hired!
Concept of SMART goal
S.M.A.R.T stands for, specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.
By setting your goal using the SMART criteria, you are holding yourself accountable, thinking about the goals specifically instead of aiming in the dark. Let’s try using this framework and apply it to your job search.
Specific: What is the objective you are trying to achieve, be specific. For example, you set a goal to become a Business Analyst after graduation, be specific about what type of company and the industry you want to be in. Outline the action items you need to do to get there such as attending networking fair or scheduling coffee chats.
I want to become a Business Analyst at a software company that helps small to medium size businesses and in order to get there, I will need to attend networking fairs and schedule coffee chats with people in the industry.
Measurable: Now that you know what your specific goal is, it’s time to quantify it. Quantify your goals and make sure it is measurable so when you get there, you know you achieve it.
I will achieve this by attending 3 networking fairs and scheduling 5 coffee chats with industry professionals per week, and writing at least 1 job application a day.
Attainable: Look at your measurable goals, ask yourself if these are attainable or achievable. You can do this by estimating the workload it is going to require in order for you to achieve it, scale up or down based on your available resources.
Relevant: Double check if the goals you are setting are relevant to the objective you set for yourself in the beginning. You can vet your logic by speaking to mentors or colleagues who have experience going through a similar journey. Start with our Isempower mentors.
By speaking to my mentor, I know that networking is the most crucial step in getting into a software company. This is because many tech companies value employee referrals and they incentivize employees to bring in quality candidates. Attending networking fairs and conducting coffee chats will allow me to get there easier.
Time-based: Nothing gets done if you do not set a timeline for yourself. Set a deadline for yourself to achieve the measurable goals so when you get there, you can celebrate!
I will attend 3 networking fairs, set up 5 coffee chats per week and write at least 1 job application a day during the next 2 months. I aim to successfully be in a Business Analyst position by the end of this year.
