Goal Setting for Smart Job Seekers

[Monday, January 10, 2011]

By Carolyn Thompson

The New Year is seeing a new energy in job seekers looking to find the perfect job before spring. Many won't get far without sweeping out the old 2010 cobwebs from their job search goals.

"Without establishing what your goals are, specifically, it's hard to set a plan in motion to achieve them." says Carolyn Thompson, a recruiting industry expert and author of Ten Easy Steps to Finding the Perfect Job. "Just generally knowing what you want to happen isn't enough; the minutiae of the goal helps spur you toward success."

Consider the tenets of what has become known as SMART goal setting when planning your job search: To achieve your goals you need to think ahead, set a logical path, make it attainable, and hold yourself accountable. SMART: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely

A Specific goal: I am going to find a new job in my industry by creating a target list of companies I'd like to work for that hire people like me.

If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. Choose goals with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. Be specific! Use numerical values and give dates for those values to be attained. When you measure your progress, you stay on track and reach your target dates.

A Measurable goal: I am going to increase my sphere of influence to help me find a new job by attending one new networking event a week in my industry.

When you identify goals that are the most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. If you set goals too far out of reach, subconsciously, you will be less likely to commit to achieving them.

An Attainable goal: I am going to use LinkedIn and Facebook to find ten people a week that work at companies on my target list.

Devise a plan which makes the goal realistic for you, but be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort! Too difficult, and you set the stage for failure - Too easy and the goal will not help your growth. Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!

A Realistic goal: I am going to contact every referral I am given in my quest to find a new job.

Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards. If you don't set a time, the commitment is too vague and there's no urgency to start taking action now.

A Timely goal: I am going to find a new job before the end of the year that is appropriate for my experience and interests.

Motivate yourself, believe in yourself and make yourself accountable! Don't despair if you get off track; find a way back! Post your goals in conspicuous places, share them with others, and solicit their support. It's ok to adjust your goals, but make them SMART!

Carolyn Thompson is Director of the Metro DC region of Dixon Hughes Goodman's Human Resource Services Division. She is frequently called upon by national news organizations such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, CNN, and MSNBC among others to contribute content on a variety of topics. She regularly donates her time as a volunteer speaker for resume workshops and job fairs across the nation, and is a member of the National Speaker's Association. Carolyn is also the author of TEN EASY STEPS TO A PERFECT RESUME and TEN STEPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT JOB, and TEN SECRETS TO GETTING PROMOTED, now available in select bookstores and on Amazon.com.

Dixon Hughes Goodman's Human Resource Services Division can provide complete human resource management services, training and employee development programs, specialized recruiting, executive search and outplacement services.

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