Long-Term Career Goals: How to Choose and Achieve Them [With Examples] | Mentoring software together (2023)

"What are your long-term career goals?"

This is a question many of us ask ourselves or others, especially in times of change. In a span of over a year, our world has gone through many unexpected changes. Together, we've all been forced to adapt the way we work and live.

The impact of the abrupt change caused many of us to question our goals and reset our priorities. Many people decided that this was an opportunity to start a new career. Cumulatively, millions of people left their jobs in what is now known asthe great waiver.

You might be in a similar position trying to figure out what you want your long-term career to be. This article outlines what long-term career goals are, examples of goals we can pursue, and a framework for setting SMART goals. We hope that by the end you will have a better understanding of your goals and the path you want to take.

Let's start.

What are the long-term career goals?

Long-term career goals are milestones that you set for the long term, not a few weeks or months, but years. They are the key for you to focus on your professional career. Think of them as a role model to help you achieve the results you want to see in your life.

Long-term career goals put you on the path to success, and they also show employers where you are on the path and where you want to go.

goal setting theory

In the 1960s, there was some important research on goal setting that led to Dr. Edwin GuidedLocke's theory of goal setting. The clearer the goals were and the more feedback employees received about their progress, the greater their motivation to achieve those goals over longer periods of time. Locke also found that the more challenging and specific a goal was, the harder people worked to achieve it.

(Video) What Are Your Career Goals? (How to ANSWER this TRICKY Interview QUESTION!)

Locke's research was supported by Dr. Gary Latham and he supported themthey published a book togetherIt defines best practices for setting goals in the workplace.

Like Locke's work,chris tun, Emmy-winning designer and CEO of The Futur, explains in his video why your goals can't beerased.It says: “Clear objectives, clear results. Confusing goals, confusing results.”

Why is it important to set long-term career goals?

Having long term goals gives you something to strive for, a purpose. Makes you feel the best you can be. Setting long-term goals will motivate you and lead you to growth and fulfillment.Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

Long-Term Career Goals: How to Choose and Achieve Them [With Examples] | Mentoring software together (1)

Motivation

Maslow found that when people work towards self-actualization, motivation and self-efficacy increase. That is, the more the individual reaches his potential, the more motivated he is to continue working on self-realization. Setting goals and achieving them will motivate you to achieve even more.

Personal and professional growth.

Every individual has an inner desire to grow, both personally and professionally. We want to be proud of what we do and what we've achieved and build a good reputation. Achieving long-term goals helps us grow and maintain our reputation.

conformity

According to Maslow's work, achievement looks different for different people. We set goals based on what we consider most important. For example, one person might define achievement as being a good parent, while another might define achievement as earning a certain salary. The long-term goals we set for ourselves are the ones that will make us feel most satisfied when they are achieved.

Impact of Covid-19 on our goals

The past year has certainly been a challenge for people, to say the least. The pandemic made us change the way we work, live together and even rethink what matters most to us. This gave us the opportunity to reflect and redefine our long-term goals in different ways. For example, many of us want to:

  • More flexibility in our work
  • More meaningful social connections
  • A better balance between work and personal life

more flexibility

Jobs with flexibility have always been in demand, but the pandemic has shown just how important workplace flexibility is for employees. For example, parents who work at home are better able to deal with the challenges of childcare. Employees can also reduce the number of sick days, reducing the risk of infection and illness.

(Video) A Complete Guide to Goal Setting

social connection

The pandemic has also shed some light on the importance of social connections. We need meaningful relationships with others to feel happy and grounded in our lives. A flexible workspace allows people to spend less time working and traveling and more time caring for those important relationships.

Reconciliation of professional and family life and well-being

Many of us realize how much ourWork-life balance was thrown off balance when we started working from home. Having a successful career is a good long-term goal, but many of us start sacrificing other areas of our lives to achieve it. Now, many people are re-prioritizing their lives and long-term goals to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

12 Examples of Long-Term Career Goals

Here are 11 different examples of long-term career goals you might have. Which ones inspire you the most? Which are the most suitable? For those who engage with you, they shouldn't be easy to spot. Instead, they should challenge you and demand that you grow to reach them.

1. Gain leadership experience

Improving our leadership skillsis a long-term shared career goal for employees who want to advance their career. You can commit to attending classes or workshops to work on your skills, or commit to more advanced leadership goals.Perfecting your 1:1 meetings.

2. Get global experience

Our world is interconnected. Wider exposure can greatly benefit your career. Whether you attend national workshops several times a year or volunteer with an international charity, gaining global experience can help you advance your career.

3. Publish professional articles

an expert oftiger essayThe service claims that publishing your articles can boost your reputation as a thought leader in your field. You can choose how many articles you want to publish each year, based on your unique circumstances.

4. Build your network

Networking can help you access new opportunities by connecting you with contacts who can help you achieve your career goals. These social and professional connections are people with whom you can share information and discuss points of view in your field. make it a priorityIncrease the number of your professional contactshas every year However, remember to keep it realistic.

5. Develop new skills

Heskills on your resumeget the attention of employers. work on a listSkills that will be valuablein the position you finally want to reach. In other words, make sure the skills you develop match your own.professional development. For example, learning martial arts might not be the best skill for achieving your career goals if you're an accountant (although we're glad you convinced us). If you want to gain global experience, learning a new language would be a great idea, as long as that language is useful. for example one ofmost valuable languages ​​to learnIt's Spanish because it's the second most spoken language in the world.

6. Start your own business or side business

Starting your own business or sideline is a long-term goal that you can start today. The internet essentially allows anyone to do that.announceyour products and services to attract customers. You need to know what you are passionate about and what you have to offer your customers. Then find ways to connect with those who need what you have.

Brendan Hufford deall inrecommendsSean McCabe Overlayto learn how to doopen a businessduring a full-time job.

(Video) How to Design Your Life (My Process For Achieving Goals)

7. Get a new title

Going back to school is a commitment to a long-term goal.get a new title. Many executives and executives choose to supplement their education and experience with an additional degree. However, it will take a lot of time and money.make sure going to school is the right stepfor you now.

8. Become an expert or thought leader

Taking the time to gain knowledge in your field can establish you as an expert or thought leader. This makes you very valuable to your employer and opens up career prospects. To be a thought leader, you need to understand problems well enough to find the most useful solutions to challenges and point to research or information that supports you.

9. Become a mentor or coach

When you achieve your career goals, you can give back and help others achieve their goals. As someone else's mentor, you can advise and guide someone else's career. Experience can also hone your skills and abilities, allowing you to be a more valuable employee. The fact is that now, more than ever, we need mentors.

10. Change careers

The statistics show thatPeople change jobs about 12 times.throughout your professional life. Although many of these steps are taken before age 25, you cancareer changeat any time. The key to success is doing your research and understanding what skills you'll need in your next job.

11. Increase your salary

There are many good reasons why you might want to earn more, and none of them have anything to do with greed. maybe you have plansbuy a house,Support your family and save for the future while maintaining your financial security. Higher earnings will help you with this. But remember, a raise must be earned. It's not guaranteed. Think about what you can do to increase your salary over time.

12. Acquire problem solving skills

Problem Solving SkillsThey are a set of soft skills that are used in the workplace to deal with challenging, unexpected or confusing situations. Problem-solving skills are a desirable asset for any organization, whether you're a junior or C-level executive. Plus, they prepare you for recurring difficulties, rare problems, and worst-case scenarios. When you're prepared, you're less likely to get upset or stop working on damage control.

How to set good long-term career goals

Now that you have nearly a dozen long-term career goal examples to work with, let's look at how to set good goals.

Follow the SMART framework

When setting goals, use the SMART framework, which means:

Specific- Describe your goals in as much detail as possible.

Measurable- Have a way to measure your progress towards your goal.

Accessible- A goal should be something you can reasonably achieve.

(Video) What Are Your Short And Long Term Goals? (The BEST ANSWER to this HARD Interview Question!)

Important- Career goals should be directly related to your career plan.

One-off- Set a deadline to know when you will reach your goal.

Long-Term Career Goals: How to Choose and Achieve Them [With Examples] | Mentoring software together (2)

Talk to a mentor about it

With a mentor at work, you have someone who can advise and guide you. Mentorships are built around you.student objectiveand the actions they are taking to reach the goal.

Even if you don't expect to achieve your long-term goals until after the orientation is over, you can still talk to your mentor about it. Whether you reach your goals in the coming weeks or years to come is entirely up to you.The mentor can play a crucial supportive roleyou get there

ask yourself these questions

When trying to define your long-term goals, consider the following questions:

  • Does it scare you? Does that mean it's too out of reach?
  • Can I reach that goal tomorrow? Is my goal too small?
  • What must change to achieve this goal?
  • Am I energized by this goal? How do I get that long-term energy?
  • What will my career look like when I reach this long-term goal? Imagine what it will be like to achieve that goal.

Finding answers to these questions can help you focus on what you want to achieve in your career.

Goal setting books and resources

One article isn't enough to put you on the path to achieving all of your long-term goals. To come up with a proper plan and build enough motivation to keep it going over time, you need to be armed with as many resources as possible.

Along with these goal-setting books, discuss your plans with a trusted colleague or manager. A manager can make a significant contribution to thishelp define a professional careerYou can move forward to achieve your career goals. We all need targets and a target to shoot at. Long-term career goals can be the lodestar that guides our decisions and propels us through our lives and careers.

(Video) Why the secret to success is setting the right goals | John Doerr | TED

FAQs

Long-Term Career Goals: How to Choose and Achieve Them [With Examples] | Mentoring software together? ›

“In five years, I see myself continuing to grow in my career and taking on more responsibility within the company by leveraging the expertise I've gained working in this industry for the past 5 years. I'm also looking to start a family in the next few years, so I'll be balancing work and home life.

What are your long term career goals example answers? ›

Some long-term career goal examples are:
  • Running a company.
  • Getting promoted to a specific job title or level.
  • Moving into a managerial or leadership role.
  • Changing careers.
Sep 27, 2022

What are the 5 examples of long term goals? ›

40 Long Term Goal Examples
  • Become a Leader in your Field. What is this? Report Ad.
  • Be Your Own Boss.
  • Find a Career You Love.
  • Get a Degree.
  • Buy a House.
  • Save Enough to Retire.
  • Finding a Life Partner.
  • Fund Your Children's Education.

How do I choose my long term career goals? ›

How to Set Long-Term Career Goals
  1. Learn from other people's long-term goals.
  2. Develop a long-term vision and work backwards.
  3. Figure out the 'why' of long-term goals.
  4. Discuss long-term career goals with your manager.
  5. Use different methods to stay motivated and complete long-term goals.

How do you write long term goals examples? ›

Some examples of long-term personal goals include:
  • Having a positive mindset and developing self-confidence.
  • Fitness goals like adopting a healthy diet and sticking to a fitness routine.
  • Control and manage emotions.
  • Having a work-life balance and managing stress.
Oct 31, 2022

Where do I see myself in 5 years examples? ›

“In five years, I see myself continuing to grow in my career and taking on more responsibility within the company by leveraging the expertise I've gained working in this industry for the past 5 years. I'm also looking to start a family in the next few years, so I'll be balancing work and home life.

What is a long-term goal and examples? ›

Long-term goals are usually at least several years away. Sometimes it takes many steps to complete a long-term goal. These smaller steps can be your short-term goals. For example, your long-term goal might be to complete all of your GED exams.

What is an example of a long-term goal and a short-term goal? ›

For example, if your long-term goal is to run a marathon and complete it within 4 hours, your short-term goals might include doing leg stretches for 10 minutes every morning before running and going on 5 mile runs twice per week.

How do you write a long term career goal essay? ›

How to write a career goals essay
  1. Understand the concept of career goals. Before you write your career goals essay, you must first identify your career ambitions. ...
  2. Set goals for different stages of your career. ...
  3. Choose a title. ...
  4. Use the right structure.
Sep 30, 2022

How do you set goals and achieve them examples? ›

  1. Decide. Think of something you want to do or work towards. ...
  2. Write it down. Carefully. ...
  3. Tell someone. Telling someone we know about our goals also seems to increase the likelihood that we will stick at them.
  4. Break your goal down. This is especially important for big goals. ...
  5. Plan your first step. ...
  6. Keep going. ...
  7. Celebrate.

What are your top 3 career goals? ›

6 Common Career Goals + Examples
  • Advancing to a leadership position.
  • Becoming a thought leader.
  • Working toward professional development.
  • Shifting into a new career path.
  • Experiencing career stability.
  • Creating a career goal.
May 18, 2023

How do you set your goal and your planning to achieve it? ›

How to set goals in 7 steps
  1. Think about the results you want to see. Before making a goal, take a closer look at what you're trying to achieve and ask yourself the following questions: ...
  2. Create SMART goals. ...
  3. Write your goals down. ...
  4. Create an action plan. ...
  5. Create a timeline. ...
  6. Take action. ...
  7. Re-evaluate and assess your progress.

What is a long-term goal that is specific and measurable? ›

A SMART goal is an acronym for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Compared to short-term goals, long-term goals require frequent check-ins to determine if you're able to meet them by the deadline.

What is the first step in creating a successful long-term goal? ›

Identify what you want to accomplish

The first step to setting an effective long-term objective is to identify what you want to accomplish in the future. You may have academic aspirations that you want to finish, or a career path you want to pursue. Long-term targets do not always relate to academics or your career.

When identifying your most important long-term goals you need to look at? ›

How do you identify the most appropriate long-term goals for yourself? To begin, you need to develop an in-depth understanding of yourself: your talents, your interests, the things that stimulate you and bring you satisfaction.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years examples? ›

Example answers
  • 'I spent some time researching your company, and I found that you have a lot to offer someone of my skill level. ...
  • I aspire to earn a senior position within the company in the next 10 years. ...
  • 'Since I joined the marketing industry, I knew exactly what I wanted from my career.
May 6, 2023

Which is the best example of a long-term goal? ›

Personal long-term goals examples
  • Become a better spouse or parent.
  • Complete your first marathon.
  • Create and commit to a fitness routine.
  • Learn a foreign language.
  • Cut junk food out of your diet.
  • Start volunteering regularly.
  • Increase your emotional intelligence.
  • Earn a college degree.

What is a smart long-term goal? ›

Definition of SMART Objectives. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. • Specific – Objective clearly states, so anyone reading it can understand, what will be done. and who will do it.

What are long-term goals and why? ›

Setting long-term goals helps turn your daydreams into concrete objectives that you can work towards with intention. Aside from helping you achieve difficult things, they're also a useful tool to prioritize your work and decide what success looks like for you.

What is an example of long term goals using smart method? ›

5. SMART goal example for increasing sales
  • Specific: I will learn new sales techniques to increase sales at work.
  • Measurable: My goal is to double my sales in four months.
  • Attainable: I've been a sales associate for two years now. ...
  • Relevant: I want to feel more confident at my job and learn new skills.
Aug 5, 2022

What is an example of a long term financial SMART goal? ›

Long-Term Financial Goals

Some examples of long-term goals include: paying off your mortgage, saving for your child(ren)'s education, and retirement. When you have children, you always feel like you have forever to start saving for their education fund; however, in a blink they are eighteen and graduating high school!

What is a short term goal and long term goal job? ›

Ensure your short term and long term goals are related

For instance, if your long term goal is to take on more responsibilities by being a team leader, your short term goals should involve learning new skills. You can answer by saying; “My short-range goals are to contribute my ideas as I gain more experience.

Why are long term career goals important? ›

A long-term career goal can help professionals make better financial decisions and create greater financial security for themselves and their families. A long-term career plan can help you analyze your salary potential and allocate specific percentages of your earnings to retirement plans, savings or investments.

What do you want to achieve professionally as you grow? ›

Pursuing a role to gain skills, knowledge or experience. Volunteering time or resources to help a charity through your organization. Gaining new skill sets and qualifications by attending professional training courses. Managing a large project, more people or a bigger budget.

What is an example of a career goal statement? ›

My career goal is to be a full-time writer in five years. To achieve this, I plan to work on freelance writing projects to help build up my portfolio, attend writing workshops and read one book per quarter on how to improve my writing.

What are your 3 steps to achieve your goals? ›

How to Set and Achieve Your Goals in 3 Steps
  • Set effective goals.
  • Develop requisite behaviours and habits.
  • Manage myself.
Dec 5, 2021

How do you set priorities when you have to achieve several goals? ›

Top Tips for Setting Goals and Priorities
  1. Choose the right goals. Try to find the middle ground between aiming too high and not high enough. ...
  2. Make it formal. Writing down the goal will make it official and will add to your sense of commitment. ...
  3. Devise a plan. ...
  4. Stick to it, but stay flexible. ...
  5. Regularly reassess.

What are some good life long goals? ›

100 Life Goals Ideas
  • Become an inspiration to others.
  • Master a difficult skill.
  • Become a thought leader in your industry.
  • Get promoted to an executive role at your company.
  • Learn about how to become a millionaire.
  • Go on a trip around the world.
  • Travel to your dream country.
  • Double your personal income.

Is 5 years a short-term or long term goal? ›

Typically, short-term goals are defined as accomplishments that take 3 months to a few years. Long-term goals are usually completed in 3 to 5 years, or longer.

What is your future goals best answer? ›

The best way to answer this question is to be specific and give a concise overview of the next goal you've set for your career. For example, if you're looking to move into leadership, you could say: I'm looking to become a team leader within the next five years.

What is an example of a 12 month goal? ›

A short-term goal is any goal you can achieve in 12 months or less. Some examples of short-term goals: reading two books every month, quitting smoking, exercising two times a week, developing a morning routine, etc.

What is long term career aspirations? ›

Your career aspirations are your vision for your future. They are what you hope to achieve in your professional life in the years to come. Put simply, a career aspiration is a long-term dream that you are pursuing. A career aspiration can even be accompanied by a 5-year plan.

What are my short term career goals 1 to 2 years? ›

Here are some examples of short term goals: Improving time management to become more productive at work. Becoming more organized in your work routine. Delivering projects on time to improve work efficiency and ensure customer satisfaction.

What are long-term goals or short-term targets? ›

Goals that can happen quickly are called short-term goals. Goals that take a long time to achieve are called long-term goals.

How do you define a 5 year goal? ›

How to create a 5-year plan
  1. Consider what you want for your life. Start by simply evaluating what you want for your life within the next five years. ...
  2. List your skills and experience. ...
  3. Identify your transferable skills. ...
  4. Learn about your goal. ...
  5. Refine your goals. ...
  6. Write down the steps. ...
  7. Be prepared for changes.
Sep 30, 2022

Videos

1. The Science of Setting & Achieving Goals | Huberman Lab Podcast #55
(Andrew Huberman)
2. SMART Goals Quick Overview with 21 SMART Goals Examples
(Develop Good Habits)
3. How to answer career goals questions in interview || Career goals || job interview questions ||
(Let's Write)
4. How to Create an Effective Action Plan | Brian Tracy
(Brian Tracy)
5. How To Set Goals | Long-Term vs. Short-Term?
(Matthew Perry)
6. Jim Rohn Goal Setting Workshop Part-1
(jimrohnfan)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated: 09/26/2023

Views: 5811

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.