PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE!

WHAT IS CAREER PLANNING? Self Assessment Career Research & Choosing a Career Short and Long-term goals

SELF ASSESSMENT

InterestsValuesPersonalitySkills

Likes & DislikesWhat do you find enjoyable?What do you fill your life with?

What is most important to you?What can you absolutely not live without?

What makes you, you?Leader or follower?Risk taker or play it safe?

What am I good at?

o Is this career a good fit with my interests, values, personality, and skills?

o Am I willing and able to gain the needed education or skills to obtain this position?

RESEARCHING & CHOOSING CAREERS Does it match up? Will I be able to support myself? Do I meet the qualifications? Other Things to consider:

o Is the salary what I need or want?o Need a REALITY CHECK?

o Can I apply for the job now, or do I need additional education, skills, or training?

Projected Job Growth Location Related Occupations

SETTING GOALS“Goal setting is a powerful process for

thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality.”

- http://www.mindtools.com

PURPOSE OF GOALS They outline objectives and ways in

which to meet them. They help you reach your destination

and track your progress along the way. They help put you in the right

direction and provide a plan that can be revisited.

FUNCTION OF GOALS Stay focused Maintain motivation Direct behavior and define priorities Breaks down the process

WHERE TO BEGIN?1. Take a look at the big picture. (Long-

term goals)2. Break it down. (Short-term goals)3. Hit the ground running.

LONG-TERM GOALS

What do you want to achieve in your life, and what will it take to get there?

LONG-TERM GOALSo Career – What kind of career would you like

to have, and at what level?

o Financial – how much and by when?

o Education – what skills or knowledge do you want or need?

o Attitude – is there anything that’s keeping you from reaching your potential?

SHORT TERM GOALSOnce you know what your long-term goal is, you can then break it down into smaller components that are more manageable and easier to achieve.

SHORT TERM GOALS

o 5 yearo 3-5 yearo 1-3 yearo 6-12 montho 3-6 montho Daily to-do’s

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Timely

SMART

SETTING SMART GOALS

GETTING SPECIFIC What do you want to do? How do you plan to do it? When do you want to

accomplish this goal? What tools/resources/support do you need?

GETTING SPECIFIC

I want to eat healthier I want to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day

I want to get in shape I want to work out 3 days per week

I want to get good grades

I want to study for 1 hour every weeknight

I want to be more organised

I want to clean my desk one day per week and file any needed paperwork

MAKE IT MEASURABLE

How much? How long? How many? By what date/time?

IS IT ACHIEVABLE?

Do you have the ability, attitude, skills, and financial capacity to achieve your desired goal?

ARE YOU BEING REALISTIC? Are you willing? Are you able? Do you believe it can be done?

CAN IT BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER?

Are you giving yourself too much or too little time to accomplish your goal?

PUTTING IT TOGETHERMy goal is to study for 2 hours, every day after class. I will sit in a quiet space, with my cell phone off, and will set a timer for 2 hours immediately when I get home from school. I will need a quiet space where I can study daily (my room), and the support of my friends and family so I will not be interrupted during my scheduled study time. I am doing this to improve my grades, and will start today until my next test and will reevaluate.

Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timely

OTHER GOAL SETTING TIPSMake it positive – use positive statements

such as “I can,” or “I will” instead of negative statements such as “I can’t,” or “I won’t.”

Focus on self – remember that we cannot change what others do.

Let others know of your goals – this will help you to be accountable for the things you want to accomplish and can provide added support if you tell people who are willing to help.

OTHER GOAL SETTING TIPSSet priorities – Know what is most important

so you can focus on this goal before others. If your goal is too overwhelming, break it down into smaller goals until it seems achievable.

Focus on effort, not outcome – sometimes there are things that happen that are out of our control, which can affect the outcome of us reaching our desired goals, and can make us feel like we have failed.

STAYING ON TRACKReview & Update!Be sure to make changes as things

change in your life.Be flexible!

ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS Once you have achieved your

goals, make sure to reward yourself for all your hard work.

Never give up! The people who are most successful in life kept going when others did not.

ACTIVITY: SMART GOALS

A. Student Today’s Date

I want to own my own successful interior design firm

where I am the lead designer.

ACTIVITY: SMART GOALSI will sign up for classes, and research 4-year colleges with interior design programs.

I will job shadow a local interior designer, and find out about possible internship/volunteer/job opportunities.

I will transfer to a 4-year college with an interior design program, and will begin interning/ volunteering/working for an interior design firm.

I will obtain a bachelor’s degree in interior design with a minor in business and will begin applying for interior design positions.

I will obtain a position with an interior design firm where I will gain experience and showcase my talents until I am ready to open my own firm.

ACTIVITY: SMART GOALSI will sign up classes, and research 4-year colleges with interior design programs.

I will job shadow a local interior designer, and find out about possible internship/volunteer/job opportunities.

• I will make an appointment with a counselor today to discuss what classes I need to take to be able to transfer to a 4-year college with an interior design program.

• I will visit the Career and Transfer Center at least 3 times this semester to research 4-year colleges with interior design programs, and will make a decision about where I want to attend by the end of the semester.

• I will spend 30 minutes after school every day for at least 1 week researching local design firms on the web, and will make a list of 5 companies I would like to contact about job shadowing/internship/volunteer/job opportunities.

• I will e-mail or call the people on my list inquiring about job shadowing/internship/volunteer opportunities by the end of the semester.

6 months

REFERENCES Donohue, G. (n.d.). Creating S.M.A.R.T. goals. Retrieved

from http://www.topachievement.com/smart.html Malone, E. (2004). Planning your future. Retrieved from

http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/planning_your_future

Mind Tools (n.d.). Personal goal setting: Planning to live your life Your way. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html

Ray, L. (2010). Importance of setting goals. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/113768-importance-setting-goals/