Develop your career goals. What do you do well?

Interactive Assignment

Prior to beginning work on this interactive assignment, read Chapters

5

and 6 and Gleeson’s article How Values-Based Leadership Transforms Organizational Cultures

(Links to an external site.)

After completing your career goal using the process below, you will attach it to your first post by Day

3

.

My Goal Sheet

Many individuals may not know how to develop a career goal; follow the steps below to help you determine where to start. There are a few steps that can be helpful in determining your career goal, which include conducting a self-assessment, exploring industries and careers, and determining factors that are non-negotiable (e.g., geographic location, salary requirements, health care benefits, etc.). The final step of goal setting is writing the first draft of your goal.               

Step

1

: Self-Assessment

• What do you do well?

• What energizes you?

• If you knew you could not fail, what would you do?

• What high school subjects did you do well in?

• What issues do family and friends come to you for help?

• What do you receive praise for at work or home?

• What are some of your greatest accomplishments?

• What is something you do where you lose track of time when you are doing it?

Step

2

: Career Exploration

Explore job industries by researching the type of careers that use your interests and skillset. O*Net OnLine

 (Links to an external site.)

, the Occupational Outlook Handbook

 (Links to an external site.)

, and Bureau of Labor Statistics

 (Links to an external site.)

are great web resources for career exploration, job analysis, and education requirements.

While deciding on a goal, consider your current lifestyle and where you would like to be in the future. Some helpful questions to consider are listed below.

• Does the career you want pay a salary that meets your needs?

• Will it offer you opportunities to advance?

• Are you comfortable sitting at a desk all day, or do you prefer to travel?

• Is the career you are considering likely to exist when you are ready for a job?

Step 3: Determining Your Non-Negotiable Items

Although we may not speak them aloud, we each have things we are not willing to compromise on. During this step, write out your must-haves for your future career.

To help get you started, think about the minimum salary you need to have, where you want to live, and desired work hours.

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Step 4: Pulling It All Together—Write the First Draft of Your Goal

Now that you have conducted a self-assessment, explored industries and occupations, and written down your non-negotiable items, what are your future career goals? Be as specific as possible.

Example Career Goal

I would like to become a project manager within a large organization (5000+ employees) utilizing my organizational skills, education in organization development, my ability to plan strategically, and my detail-oriented nature. Since I have a family, I must have a salary of $50,000 or more, work within 25 miles of Houston, Texas, and work a 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. traditional work schedule.

Attach your paper as part of your first discussion post.