- 22 Mar, 2021
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professional development
• How will I know when I’ve achieved it?
• How much?
• How often?
Achievable
Effectively written goals are ambitious and stretch you, but are not so out of the realm
of possible that you feel defeated before you start. Challenge yourself to stretch a bit
out of your comfort zone with this goal. A favorite quote is “Shoot for the moon. Even
if you miss it you will land among the stars.” – Les Brown
An achievable goal will can answer questions such as:
• How can I accomplish this goal?
• How realistic is this goal based on the constraints I am aware of?
Relevant
How does this goal relate to your larger goal? How important is this goal to you? Here
are some thought-starter questions for clarifying the relevance of your goal:
• Does this seem worthwhile?
• Is this the right time?
• Does this match other efforts/needs?
• Am I the right person to reach this goal?
• Is it applicable in my current or goal environment?
Time-Bound
When you give a time frame, this energizes your focus.
Some questions to consider – not all will apply to your situation.PDP Part C: SMART Goals
MGT 164: Business and Organizational Leadership — Winter 19
© Alison B. Meyer abmeyer@ucsd.ed
11
• What will you do, by when?
• What can I do now?
• What can I do while still in school?
• What can I do once I am working?
• What can I do a year from now?
To find out more about writing SMART goals, this website can help:
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/smart-goals.htm
Appendix
Sample SMART Goals – from two different students:
SAMPLE 1:
Goal Get a summer internship in biotech
Specific I am looking to get a summer internship at a biotech company. This is
so that I can get industry exposure and networking opportunities. The
internship goal is for one that gives me opportunities for upward
mobility, communication with upper management, and publicity.
Measurable One offer will equal success. I will (see “Achievable”) put at least 1 hour
per day into research and applications.
Achievable I will achieve this goal by applying through as many academic
programs as I can find, calling company recruiters, and applying to
hospital volunteer positions.
Relevant My long-term goal is to get into medical school. This internship will
increase my knowledge in the field and support my application.
TimeBound
I am ready to start the internship in June, but, the ideal would be to
have a position set in stone by early May.PDP Part C: SMART Goals
MGT 164: Business and Organizational Leadership — Winter 19
© Alison B. Meyer abmeyer@ucsd.ed
12
SAMPLE 2:
Goal: UX Designer job by graduation
Specific
My goal is to be hired for a full-time UX Designer job outside of Southern
California before I graduate in June 2020. Why it’s important is because I
want to pursue a career I believe I will enjoy. Also, currently I depend on
my parents’ financial support, and I want to be financially independent and
no longer need my parents’ generosity.
Measurable I will know I’ve achieved my goal when I get an offer.
Achievable
This goal is definitely realistic; however, I will need to keep myself
accountable to complete all the steps necessary to reach my goal. I can
accomplish my goal by setting time increments of tasks I need to complete
(shown in time-bound) and always keep an eye out for new jobs that open
up. Additionally, I need to keep myself motivated. What I’ve learned from
the internship search this year is that I start losing motivation when I don’t
see results. I can’t let this happen again.
Relevant
This goal is worthwhile because it is relevant to my current career
ambitions of becoming Designer of Services and Experiences in a top
design firm or in the design department of a top company.
Timebound
Steps for now:
– School: Take relevant Design and Cognitive Science courses and do
projects that will translate well in my portfolio.
– Internship: Do well in my summer internship which may lead to a
full-time offer.
– Job-hunting: Apply for jobs over the summer and during the year,
go to career fairs, prepare for interviews until I receive an offer.