Written by Coursera • Updated on Jul 13, 2022 Show
Use these examples of career goals to practice how you might answer the interview question, "What are your career goals?" There are any number of people who may be interested in your career goals, but two parties (other than you) will be particularly invested in your idea of success: your potential employers and your current employer. A potential employer may ask you about your goals in an interview—either directly or with the similarly popular, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” For a potential employer, knowing your goals can help them understand how a role fits into your career vision and how well that vision aligns with the company’s needs. Your current employer started investing in your career goals from the moment they hired you, and the topic may come up during performance reviews. A supportive employer takes an active interest in helping you move toward your goals, which has been shown to be beneficial both for you and for them. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these common examples of career goals:
What is a career goal?A career goal is the ideal state that you aim for in your professional life. Career goals can be characterized as short-term or long-term, depending on how much time you anticipate working toward achieving your goal. Ultimately, achieving your short-term and long-term career goals will bring you closer to your career aspirations. 6 career goals examplesBelow, you’ll find some examples of potential career goals, along with some ideas on how you might structure your short-term and long-term goals around these ultimate aims. We'll also outline how you might talk about each goal. Whether you’re discussing your career goals during an interview or a performance review, aim to include these three pieces of information:
1. Advance to a leadership positionYour specific path toward a leadership role greatly depends on your industry and where you’re starting out, and it can take many years to accomplish. Along the way, you may aim to accomplish some of these goals:
“What are your career goals?” sample answer: Currently, I’m working on a project to unify our internal analytics processes across data analysis, data science, and data engineering departments by liaising with representatives from each department to identify and address pain points. I’m also attending weekly leadership training sessions to build my managerial skills as I build the skills I need to ultimately become a Director of Analytics. specialization Leading People and TeamsLeading Effectively. Learn proven management techniques in just four courses. 4.8 (5,684 ratings) 106,064 already enrolled BEGINNER level Average time: 5 month(s) Learn at your own pace Skills you'll build: Vision Alignment, Talent Management, Goals and Rewards, Motivate Employees, Leadership, goal setting, Communication, Leadership Development, Onboarding, Coaching, Recruitment, Management, Social Skills, Influencer Marketing, Leadership Dynamics, Team Management, Team Building 2. Become a thought leaderThought leaders exist in many areas within every industry, and their knowledge base can be expansive or niche. Depending on the type of thought leader you envision yourself becoming, you may aim to accomplish some of these goals:
“What are your career goals?” sample answer: I’ve been taking online courses in social work from the University of Michigan to strengthen my knowledge base as I work with community organizers toward our team goals, and I’m sharing our progress by writing for our company blog. In the next couple of years, I’m hoping to apply for Michigan’s MSW program to make an even stronger impact on our company and community. specialization Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and PresentationBuild Communication Skill for Professional Success. Master business writing, graphic design, and business presentation skills 4.8 (3,859 ratings) 77,885 already enrolled BEGINNER level Average time: 5 month(s) Learn at your own pace Skills you'll build: Business Writing, Presentation, Graphic Design, Writing, Grammar, Communication, Graphics, Typography, Public Speaking, Communication Design 3. Work toward personal developmentPersonal development, as it relates to your career goals, is all about bringing the best version of yourself to your career. When talking about any of the following, remember to connect them back to the work you’re doing for your organization:
“What are your career goals?” sample answer: I’d like to be seen as a valued connector within our organization, so I’ve been meeting with people in different departments to figure out how our lean IT team might better respond to their needs. Over the next few months, I’d like to lead more formal research into the matter and pilot a new request ticketing system. course Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden PotentialMindshift is designed to help boost your career and life in today’s fast-paced learning environment. Whatever your age or stage, Mindshift teaches you ... 4.8 (12,130 ratings) 411,919 already enrolled BEGINNER level Average time: 1 month(s) Learn at your own pace Skills you'll build: Learning To Learn, Lifelong Learning, Pomodoro Technique, Meta Learning 4. Shift into a new career pathIt can be tricky to talk about a desire to change careers during a performance review. You don’t need to share every detail of your career goal with your manager; it’s okay to stick to the transferable skills that you are building. Here are some things you may work toward as you approach a career change:
“What are your career goals?” sample answer: I envision myself as a strong communicator and I’d like to be selected to help with our team’s presentation during the next annual report meeting. To build my skills, I’ve been writing monthly progress recaps and distributing them on our team’s Slack channel. I’m also practicing my PowerPoint skills in an online Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Specialization. specialization Career SuccessBuild Essential Skills for the Workplace. Improve your employability and advance in today’s dynamic workforce. 4.6 (13,757 ratings) 178,075 already enrolled BEGINNER level Average time: 11 month(s) Learn at your own pace Skills you'll build: Project Management, Information Technology (IT) Management, Communication, Negotiation, Leadership, Team Management, Task Management, Management, Planning, Plan, Accounting, Financial Ratio, Financial Statement, Finance, Business Communication, Communications Management, Email Writing, Proofreading, Writing, Business Writing, Win-Win Game, Principled Negotiation, Management Theory, Management Styles, Decision Theory, analysis, Decision-Making, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Strategic Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship 5. Experience career stabilityIf your career goals aren’t your central life goals, you may be more focused on career stability rather than growth. Having a job that supports your broader life goals can be crucial. If you are working toward career stability, some of your goals may be:
“What are your career goals?” sample answer: My goal is to be seen as a strong colleague whom others view as reliable and attentive. I’ve been trying to welcome our newer coworkers by making myself available for any questions that come up about our processes and have been compiling their inquiries into an employee playbook that they can reference and share. professional certificate Google Project Management:Start your path to a career in project management. In this program, you’ll learn in-demand skills that will have you job-ready in less than six months. No degree or experience is required. 4.8 (65,351 ratings) 833,746 already enrolled BEGINNER level Average time: 6 month(s) Learn at your own pace Skills you'll build: Organizational Culture, Career Development, Strategic Thinking, Change Management, Project Management, Stakeholder Management, Business Writing, Project Charter, Project Planning, Risk Management, Task Estimation, Procurement, Quality Management, Project Execution, Coaching, Influencing, Agile Management, Problem Solving, Scrum, Effective Communication 6. Create a career goalGoals tend to shift over time as we learn more about ourselves and the world around us, and it’s likely that there will be times when you aren’t sure what your goal is. Not only is that normal, but it’s also a great time to explore your interests and think about your priorities in life. Here are some aims to consider:
“What are your career goals?” sample answer: I recently earned my psychology degree and am rediscovering my love of design, so I’m currently exploring ways to integrate both into my career. I’ve started taking introductory UX design courses and reading popular UX blogs, and I’m hoping to connect with some UI designers within the company over the next few months to hear more about their experiences and responsibilities. course Finding Purpose and Meaning In Life: Living for What Matters MostWelcome to Finding Purpose and Meaning in Life: Living for What Matters Most! In this course, you’ll learn how science, philosophy and practice all play a ... 4.8 (1,935 ratings) 178,528 already enrolled BEGINNER level Average time: 1 month(s) Learn at your own pace Start achieving your goalsContinuing to learn is an essential part of working toward any goal. If you find that your career goals require a specific area of knowledge, consider earning an online Professional Certificate with Coursera. Become job-ready in areas like data analysis, social media marketing, and UX design with courses from industry leaders like Google, Meta, and IBM. You’ll be able to learn at your own pace from anywhere with an internet connection and gain hands-on experience working with the skills you’re learning. Related articles
Written by Coursera • Updated on Jul 13, 2022 This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals. What is your long term goal best answer?Example answers
“My long-term goal is to manage the sales department at a company. I hope to achieve that by first getting to manage a smaller team within the next two to three years and generate enough results to be considered for department manager after another two years.
What is an example of a long term goal at work?15 examples of long-term career goals
Improve hard skills related to your industry. Develop a relationship with a mentor. Earn a new professional certification. Expand your business into a new market.
What are your long term goals in life?Long term goals are goals you want to accomplish in the future. These goals can be related to careers, relationships, education, etc. While long term goals do require a good deal of time and daily planning to reach them, it is a step-by-step process, involving the completion of other, smaller goals along the way.
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