California Career Center

What is a Goal?A goal is something you intend to do,

something you want to achieve—the end that you strive for.

There are two types of goals. One is a short-term goal.

A short-term goal is something you want to achieve soon, something you intend to do which can be done in a time period of less than three years.

The other type of goal is a long-term goal.A long-term goal is something you intend

to do which can be done in a longer period of time from about three years through a lifetime.

S.M.A.R.T. goals are:SPECIFICMEASURABLEACTION-ORIENTEDREALISTICTIMELY

Personal GoalSPECIFIC

State exactly what you are aiming at knowing that it is within your ability. Goals are not vague or confusing.

•My goal is to buy an iPod.

Personal Goal MEASURABLE

It is important to measure your progress; state what and when you want it.

•My goal is to buy my iPod five months from today.

Personal Goal ACTION-ORIENTED

Spell out exactly how you will achieve the goal; what will you do?

• My goal is to by my iPod five months from today. I will save $10 a month from my allowance money.

Personal Goal REALISTIC

Realistic goals are possible; they may be hard, but they are not just a dream.

• My goal is to buy an iPod five months from today. I will save $10 a month from my allowance starting today knowing that I still have another $10 a month to do other things with.

Personal Goal TIMELY

Give yourself enough time to achieve your goal but not so much that you lose sight of your goal.

• My goal is to buy an iPod five months from today; I will save $10 a month from allowance money netting me $50 in five months; I have priced iPods and can get one for $50.

Career Goal SPECIFIC

State exactly what you are aiming at knowing that it is within your ability. Goals are not vague or confusing.

• My goal is to volunteer at the nearby hospital.

Career Goal MEASURABLE

It is important to measure your progress; state what and when you want it.

• My goal is to volunteer at the nearby hospital this summer.

Career Goal ACTION-ORIENTED

Spell out exactly how you will achieve the goal; what will you do?

• My goal is to take the required first-aid class so I can volunteer at the hospital.

Career Goal REALISTIC

Realistic goals are possible; they may be hard, but they are not just a dream.

• My goal is to take the required first-aid class next month at the local Red Cross office.

Career Goal TIMELY

Give yourself enough time to achieve your goal but not so much that you lose sight of your goal.

• My goal is to pass the required first-aid class before summer begins.

Educational Goal SPECIFIC

State exactly what you are aiming at knowing that it is within your ability. Goals are not vague or confusing.

• My goal is to get an “A” on a unit spelling test.

Educational Goal MEASURABLE

It is important to measure your progress; state what and when you want it.

• My goal is to get an “A” on the next unit spelling test in three weeks.

Educational Goal ACTION-ORIENTED

Spell out exactly how you will achieve the goal; what will you do?

• My goal is to learn three spelling words a day.

Educational Goal REALISTIC

Realistic goals are possible; they may be hard, but they are not just a dream.

• My goal is to start today learning three new words.

Educational Goal TIMELY

Give yourself enough time to achieve your goal but not so much that you lose sight of your goal.

• My goal is to get an “A” on the next unit spelling test in three weeks. Learning three words each school day means I will know all forty-five words by the test date.