This week we’re looking at how to reconnect with your career goals, those all-important objectives you aim to achieve through your work, like advancing to an IT leadership position or attaining financial stability. They can be big or small, short-term or long-term, but whatever their size, they’re always personal to you and your values.
Yet, just because your goals are important to you doesn’t mean they get all the time, attention, and nourishment they truly deserve. Life gets hectic, work piles up, and soon many of us are putting our ambitions on the back burner for far too long. As we noted in our issue on re-engaging with work, a recent Gallup survey puts employee disengagement at a near all-time high in the United States–and a key part of that trend is not being able to find meaning in work.
Reconnecting with your career goals can be a critical step toward revitalizing your career journey. That clarity may be the key to not only boosting your job satisfaction but also getting to the next step in your career. Let’s explore.
🎯1. Reconnect with your what and your why
The first step to re-centering your career goals is to clarify them. After all, it’s easier to work toward your goals when you know what they are and why you want to achieve them.
Take some time to think about what you want to accomplish in your career. This will be different for everyone, but some common career goals include changing jobs, working toward professional development, and achieving job stability. Try to be as specific as possible so that you can really clarify your objective, such as “obtain IT certification” or “learn about prompt engineering.”
Quick tip: If you’re having trouble clarifying your goals, check out our previous issue on refining your goals with ChatGPT.
Once you know your “what,” identify your “why.” In other words, why do you want to achieve this goal, and why is it important? Your “why” will become your strongest motivator as you pursue your goals. Equipped with this clarity, you’ll be well-positioned to put your goals back into the center of your career and plan your next steps (the “how” of your career goals).
🖼️2. Make (literal and figurative) space for your goals.
As the saying goes: out of sight, out of mind. To ensure you don’t lose sight of your goals, it’s helpful to make both literal and figurative space for them.
From setting weekly review reminders to filling your office with visualizations, there are countless ways to center your professional goals in your daily life. Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match approaches or to experiment with different techniques – you’re looking to center your goals in your life, so do what works best for you. If you need some inspiration, consider some of these common techniques:
- Set aside time: Intentionally setting aside time in your calendar to review and plan your goals can be a good way to keep them in mind. You might also consider setting reminders on your phone, automating email notifications, and putting post-it notes around your space to remember to consider your professional objectives regularly.
- Visualize your goals for inspiration: Visualizing your goals can help make them feel real and encourage you to take action toward achieving them. Have fun: hang a vision board of your ideal career in your office, change your screensaver to a goal-related image, carry a productivity journal around to recall your professional objectives. Whatever works.
- Get an accountability partner: Pairing up with another person to act as an accountability partner can help you give your goals the attention they deserve. While a professional mentor may be ideal, don’t be afraid to partner with a peer or friend if that’s more feasible or comfortable.
🚀 Boost your career goals with these courses
To understand how to get better results at work and school, consider taking the University of Michigan’s The Science of Success: What Researchers Know that You Should Know.
To learn how to set goals and create action plans, try the University of Colorado, Boulder’s Principles of Leadership: Leading Oneself Specialization.
Finally, if you want to build job-specific skills, consider subscribing to Coursera Plus. Gain access to over 7,000 programs from leading institutions like Google, Microsoft, IBM, Meta, and more—now $120 off the annual price for a limited time only.
Okay, that’s it for this week. But, before you go, we’re curious: what are some of your career goals, and how do you make space for them? Let us know by dropping a comment below. See you next time!
P.S. Eager for more career advice? Check out our new podcast, Still at Work, hosted by Kim Taylor, Coursera’s Head of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. You’ll hear conversations about topics like burnout, networking, and navigating career changes.
