“If I could sum up why I’m committed to the HR Girlfriends community it would come down to because we are ‘….in this together.'”

~Sana’ Rasul, Chief Girlfriend

Career Mondays: Examples of Successful Career Goals

Examples of Successful Career Goals

Setting goals for yourself is important, especially when it comes to your career. To achieve the greatest success, you first have to ensure that your goals are realistic and achievable.

Read on for real life success stories and some easy-to-follow steps that could help you get on the fast track in your career.

What Are Your Goals?

To set attainable career goals, start by reflecting on the following:

• In 5 years time, I want to be…
• I want to be earning…
• What skills will I need to do this?
• Will I need to change my career to achieve this?

By asking yourself the simple questions above, you’ll begin to get a clearer idea of what you want from your career and what you’ll need to do to achieve it.

What Are Your Strengths And Skills?

Sarah’s story…

Sarah was a receptionist at a shipping firm, but she wanted to be the executive assistant to the company CEO one day. Sarah knew that she had the key strengths required to be an EA, but she wasn’t sure how to land her dream role.

She began helping the other EAs with some minor administrative tasks, but her extra work was going unnoticed.

Sarah decided to take action to make sure her work was no longer ignored and told her manager about her goal. She also asked if there were any in-house training programs she could take to improve her current skills.

The manager put Sarah into a training program, and in just three months she became the executive assistant to a director in the company. She’s still got a little way to go to achieve her main aim, but she’s taken the first steps to getting there.

The lesson…

Determine your key strengths and make a list. Your strengths don’t necessarily need to be work related, just include all of your strong points. You never know which strengths will fit into which position.

Once you know your skills, you’ll know what you’re capable of achieving. Then take action to make the most of your strengths!

Changing Careers With Your Current Skills

Bill’s story…

Bill had been an accounts manager for almost 7 years but he needed a change. He liked his company and got along well with his colleagues, but he wanted a more challenging role.

In reflection, Bill decided that he wanted to continue using his management skills and build upon them, but it was unlikely that this was going to happen at his current job, so he decided to change his career.

He now works as a sales manager for a much larger corporation. His new target-based role gives him the challenge he was looking for.

The lesson…

In order to successfully change careers to capitalize on your skill set, start by looking at your current role and think about what you’d most like to change. This will give you a great idea of what you don’t want to do in your next job so you can find an opportunity more suited to your desires.

Obtaining New Skills To Go For Your Dreams

Jan’s story…

Jan had no higher education and worked full-time in a clothing store. She had been working at the store since high school, but always wanted a career in fashion. She loved clothes, but just didn’t want to sell them.

Jan knew that she had a very small chance of landing a job in the fashion industry with her current skills and experience, so she decided to retrain. She was able to keep her current job part-time, which now supports her fashion and design training.

The lesson…

When deciding on a new career, be realistic. For example, if you want to be a teacher, yet you have no teaching credentials, it’s going to be tough to make that transition without further training. Think about what you want, but also determine what you must do to make it achievable.

These stories exemplify how you can successfully reach for your career goals, regardless of your current situation. The key is to decide what you really want and then take appropriate action to make it happen. When you do these things, success will be yours!

Check out our career center here.

Leave a comment

Never miss an opportunity to earn HRCI/SHRM credits, identify a mentor, or connect 1:1 with another HR Girlfriend in your city or across the country.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Author picture

HR Girlfriends™ is a Human Resources networking organization dedicated to advancing the practice and culture of people empowerment. Our team of Girlfriends consult, train, educate, develop, share, promote, and advocate for solutions in the field of human resource management.

Are You IN?
Or Are You OUT?

It’s time you join forces with a community of like-minded peers ready to tackle the issues unique to the women of HR.
  • All
  • Affirmation
  • Career Mondays
  • Certification
  • COVID-19
  • CyberSAFE
  • Guest Blogger
  • HR Advisor
  • HR Law Alert
  • HR Q&A
  • HR Reading
  • HR Reel Talk
  • Join Our Team - Apply Now
  • Membership
  • Talent Management
All
  • All
  • Affirmation
  • Career Mondays
  • Certification
  • COVID-19
  • CyberSAFE
  • Guest Blogger
  • HR Advisor
  • HR Law Alert
  • HR Q&A
  • HR Reading
  • HR Reel Talk
  • Join Our Team - Apply Now
  • Membership
  • Talent Management
HR Q&A

Q&A: A remote employee told us they were injured at home during their workday. What are our responsibilities?

When an employee informs you that they were injured while working from home, take the claim seriously and follow your usual procedure for a workplace ...
Read More →
Affirmation

Affirmation: My choices today support my goals for tomorrow

Each day is a reminder that I am one step closer to my goals. Keeping that in mind helps me to stay on track with ...
Read More →
Career Mondays

Career Monday: How to Make the Most of Working from Home

Working from home is becoming much more common. On the surface, it sounds ideal. You can work in your robe while you talk to your ...
Read More →
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap