How to Set and Achieve Your Career Goals in 2024

A career goal is a personal aspiration that can be short-term or long-term. It defines what you aim to achieve in your professional life. Whether you are a student, a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, your career goals steer your path.

In this article, we cover:

• Why are career goals important when writing a CV or cover letter?

• Examples of career goals.

• How to include career goals on a CV.

• How to include career goals on a cover letter.

• Examples of how to mention career goals in a CV or cover letter.

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Why are career goals important when writing a CV or cover letter?

Aligning your CV or cover letter with your career aspirations is essential. A practical approach is maintaining a master CV that you can customise for specific job applications. At the start of your job search, you must clearly understand the types of positions you are targeting. This clarity allows you to write a CV that effectively showcases and supports your career goals.

Job targets can vary when customising your modern CV or cover letter template. It's important to identify these early and ensure they align with your career goals. Here are some specific job target ideas to help guide your CV writing process.

1. Entry-level: Highlight relevant coursework and internships for roles like Tutor or Marketing Intern.

2. Industry-specific: Focus on coding languages and methodologies for roles like Software Developer in a tech startup.

3. Leadership: Showcase leadership and sales growth experience for positions like Sales Director.

4. Specialised: Highlight specific skills and projects for roles like Data Analyst in healthcare.

5. Creative: Include portfolio and design skills for roles like Graphic Designer.

6. Academic: Focus on research experience and publications for roles like a Research Scientist.

7. Technical: Emphasise certifications and technical skills for positions like a Network Engineer.

For CV and cover letter examples tailored to some of the above job targets, refer to the following guides:

• Creative: Graphic Designer CV and Graphic Designer Cover Letter

• Technical: Developer CV and Developer Cover Letter

• Leadership: Sales CV and Sales Cover Letter

Examples of career goals

Short-term career goals:

Long-term career goals:

How to set career goals and achieve them 

Mentioning your career goal in your CV can help potential employers understand your motivations and how they align with the job and the company’s objectives. It can also demonstrate that you are a forward-thinking and committed candidate with a clear vision for your future. For more tips, refer to how to write a good CV or check out how to structure a cover letter.

1. Identify your passions and strengths

To identify your passions and strengths, start by pinpointing activities or subjects that energise you. For example, if you find joy in problem-solving or creative endeavours like writing or graphic design, these could be indicators of your passions.

Additionally, recognise your unique strengths, such as strong communication skills or attention to detail, which could be evident in successful project completions or leadership roles. For more tips, refer to what skills to put on a CV.

2. Research and explore potential career paths 

When diving into researching career options, take the time to explore a wide range of industries and job roles that resonate with your passions and strengths. Investigate the requirements, responsibilities, and growth prospects associated with different professions to comprehensively understand potential career paths.

For more guidance, read through top skills employers are looking for or alternatively, check out highest paying jobs.

Examples:

For more information on tailoring your CV or cover letter to a specific job, refer to the following guides:

• Support Worker CV and Support Worker Cover Letter

• Retail CV and Retail Cover Letter

3. Set SMART goals

When setting career goals, apply the SMART criteria to ensure they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework helps in crafting goals that are clear, actionable, and conducive to successful attainment.

For example, let's say your career goal is to advance to a managerial position within your company's marketing department. Applying the SMART criteria, you might formulate the goal as follows:

• Specific: Instead of a vague aim like "advance in my career," specify the exact position and department you aspire to, such as "become a Marketing Manager within the next two years."

• Measurable: Define criteria by which you can measure your progress and success. This could include metrics like the number of relevant skills acquired, successful completion of leadership training programs, or achieving specific performance targets.

• Achievable: Ensure that your goal is realistic and attainable given your current skills, experience, and resources. Consider what steps you need to take to bridge any skill or experience gaps and make the goal achievable.

• Relevant: Ensure that your career goal aligns with your overall career aspirations, interests, and values. It should contribute to your professional growth and fulfilment. In our example, aspiring to a managerial role within the marketing field is relevant if marketing is your chosen career path.

• Time-bound: Set a specific timeframe for achieving your goal. This creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay focused and motivated. For example, aiming to become a Marketing Manager within the next two years sets a clear deadline for your career progression.

Fore more guidance, refer to our Marketing CV and Marketing Cover Letter.

4. Develop a detailed action plan

Break down your overarching career goal into smaller, manageable tasks and milestones. Each task should represent a specific action you need to take to move closer to your objective. 

Tasks for transitioning to software development:

• Enroll in coding bootcamp or online courses to learn programming languages like Python or Java.

• Build a portfolio of coding projects to showcase your skills to potential employers.

• Participate in hackathons or coding challenges to gain practical experience and network with professionals in the field.

• Seek internships or volunteer opportunities with tech companies to gain hands-on experience.

Check out our article on courses and certifications, or explore our piece on career changes for valuable insights.

5. Monitor progress and make adjustments accordingly

Review your progress toward your career goals regularly and make adjustments as necessary. Stay flexible and adapt your action plan based on new opportunities, challenges, and changes in your circumstances.

How to include career goals in a CV

Refer to how to write a personal profile for more examples.

Check out our article on how to include work experience on a CV for more examples.

Not sure what to include? Refer to our detailed guide on how to list achievements on a CV.

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How to include career goals in a cover letter

For more examples, refer to how to start a cover letter.

No experience? No problem! Check out our guide on how to write a cover letter if you have no experience.

Refer to how to end a cover letter for more tips.

Key takeaways

• Including a career goal in your CV shows that you have a clear focus and direction in your professional life. 

• When your career goals align with the job you are applying for, it suggests to employers that you are likely to be more motivated, engaged, and committed to the role. 

• Stating your career goal can highlight your ambition and desire for professional growth. It shows that you are thinking about progressing within the industry and contributing to the company in the long term.

Next steps?

Explore our professional CV examples and cover letter examples, each with a customisable CV template. Need help with your cover letter? Our CV Writing Services experts can proofread and tailor it for you. Check out our career blog for top interview questions and tips.

FAQ

What is the difference between a career goal and a career objective?

A career goal is a broader, long-term ambition that defines what you aim to achieve in your professional life. A career objective is a specific, short-term statement outlining what you hope to accomplish in a particular job or role.

Should you target your job for each application?

Yes, targeting your job application for each position is essential. Tailoring your CV and cover letter to align with the specific job requirements and company culture increases your chances of success.

What is the best career objective to write in a CV?

The best career objective is specific, tailored to the job you're applying for, and emphasises how your skills and experience align with the company's needs.

What goals should I put on my CV?

Include career goals that showcase your aspirations and how they align with the job and company you're applying to. These goals should demonstrate your ambition, motivation, and potential contribution to the organisation.