Taking some time to develop clear career objectives and goals, and then to regularly assess your progress every six months to one year, is a great way to ensure you are on the right track to reaching your dreams and enjoying fulfilling work. The first place to begin is simply with your interests, such as what you find fascinating and what you do in your spare time. It is also necessary to determine what is most important to you in order to be satisfied at work; i.e., what you value the most. The next step to setting career objectives and goals is to consider your existing strengths, skills, and education in order to compare them to your future plans, and see if you need to improve in any particular area.
When figuring out your career objectives and goals, many people begin by considering their interests because this is one of the best ways to find a rewarding career. The things that fascinate you, that make you excited to learn more, or help you to enjoyably pass the time can all point the way to a career, even if it may not seem possible at present. Rather than considering how much money you would make, consider the things you would willingly do for free.
Next, consider your values surrounding the work experience, such as the type of work environment you enjoy most, how important benefits and time off are to you, and how much you want to feel as if your values align with those of the company for which you work. These steps should begin to give you a general idea of where you want your career objectives and goals to take you. The next step is to consider the amount of skills and education you have, and whether you need to increase your abilities through existing education if you want to meet your goals.
Then, begin breaking down your overall career objectives and goals into a series of smaller, achievable steps. This makes it more likely that you will accomplish them, because it will be easier to see what you need to do, and you'll be encouraged by the progress you make. If you are already in a company in which you know you want to progress, it might even be a good idea to set up a meeting with your boss to discuss your goals, and how you might begin taking on extra responsibility at work.