Decision Making and
Goal Setting
Both goal setting
and decision making are important to career success. Life has a beginning
and an end, what we do in the middle determines our life style.
Goal Setting
Goal setting
in the career/life planning process is multidimensional as both career
and life style values must be taken into consideration. Goal setting
follows the rule of planning and questions that must be answered are:
(a) who is setting the goal, (b) what specifically is the goal, (c) when
will the goal be realized, (d) how can the goal be measured, and (e) why
is the goal important. To start you must be able to envision the
life style you want and understand your mission.
First, it is
very important that the person setting the goal understand his/her self
very well, particularly in regards to his/her potential motivators (high
values) and de-motivators (low values). Values assessment may help
to understand what makes life meaningful to you. For example, if
you value aesthetics creativity, and time freedom, photography may be a
match. If you value profit and gain, public contact, and competition,
a career in sales may be for you. When you are able to satisfy your
values in work and in your personal life, chances are you will feel energized,
want to learn more about your work, and are more able to overcome barriers
to success.
Second, the
goal must be stated in specific terms and it must be attainable.
In order to be successful, it is important that clear objectives are set.
The individual must feel the goal is achievable. Steps necessary
to reach the goal need to be identified. With a clear understanding
of what you want, you can focus all of your energy toward making your dream
a reality.
Third, a realistic
timeline needs to be defined for completion of the steps toward the goal.
Fourth, it is
important that progress toward the goal can be measured. The steps
and the deadlines for completion need to be known.
Fifth, the goal
must be meaningful and completion of the goal must be rewarding to the
goal setter.
Decision
Making
There are seven
steps in the decision making process.
-
Clearly define
the decision that needs to be made.
-
Gather the information.
-
Analyze the data
gathered.
-
Define the alternatives,
detailing the advantages and disadvantages of each, understand the rewards
for success.
-
Identify which
alternative will help you reach your goals.
-
Develop and implement
an action plan with timelines, due dates, and rewards for satisfactory
completion.
-
Monitor and evaluate
the results of the action plan implementation.
Putting it all
together, for example, your goal may be to get a bachelor degree that would
prepare you for a job where you could double your present salary.
Steps toward that goal could be to complete a multimeasurement career assessment
battery to identify your strengths, select careers matching your assessment
profile to explore, gather occupational data including information on entry
level pay, pay for workers with experience, and top pay in the field,
define the major, identify the four year college to attend, develop
an educational plan listing the necessary courses and their prerequisites,
determine if you need to take courses at the community college level to
enhance basic skills and prepare you for transfer to the four year college
identified, establish a timeline to complete the courses, and arrange for
financing. Begin taking classes and monitor your progress.
Celebrate your successes.
To reach your
goals, it may be necessary to overcome barriers. At times simplifying
your life to be able to focus more on overcoming the barriers may be required.
Those who are persistent and continue to make decisions that support their
goals have a better chance of successfully completing their objectives
and reaching their goals. Those who achieve their goals tend to enjoy
the added benefits of high self-esteem and a feeling of being more in control.
Strategies
to Achieve a Goal
-
Education
and/or Training necessary:
-
Type of
Interim Job(s) required:
-
Obstacles
to Overcome:
-
Who can
help me? How? and When?
If your next step
is to search for work, you now should be able to state a clear job objective.
Without that sense of direction, you will likely find it difficult
to target prospective employers in the broad and diverse marketplace. With
the job objective, you will be able to tell employers what you can do for
them. Your talents will be focused to the employer's needs.
Your search will be easier and more enjoyable.
Activities that
may help with the decision making process include:
-
Visit the
Career Center to find helpful resources and participate in their programs.
-
Join campus organizations
for recreation and social activities.
-
Decide what type
of job you would like to have for your next work experience (co-op, casual,
summer, contract, on-going (permanent), work study, internship, volunteer).
-
Evaluate your academic
program to decide if you need to make some changes based on your studies
and work experiences to date.
-
Begin to look at
occupations and the fields you are finding interesting.
-
Decide if you want/need
to go to get additional training immediately after your current program.
-
Plan time for and
participate in on-campus activities.
-
Look for a work
experience to enable you to check out career options you are considering
and get resume building experience.
-
Narrow the field
you are considering for your career by researching and speaking with people.
-
Join a professional
organization in your field, as a student member, to keep up-to-date and
network.
-
If planning to
transfer, keep your marks high. Check out which schools have the
programs you are considering and which courses they require for transfer.
Prepare your application for transfer.
-
Take on some leadership
roles in your extracurricular activities to broaden your skills.
-
Locate a work experience
that will give you good transferable qualifications.
-
Find a mentor who
can help you with advice and possibly open doors for you in your career.
-
Keep your marks
within the range typically expected by employers you want interviews with.
If your marks were lower at first but are higher now, that upward direction
is important.
-
Begin your job
search. Check out advertisements in the visible job market and opportunities
in the hidden job market. Apply for any positions that you feel are
a good fit for you.
Remember job markets
fluctuate. It is very difficult to predict what positions will be available
in 5 to 10 years. You need to keep a balance between the work you
care very deeply about and the probability of earning a living in that
field.
EDUCATION
AND TRAINING
Links to
More Information
Take Control
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Janke1.html
Procrastination Test
http://www.queendom.com/tests/minitests/procrastination_short_access.html
Stop Procrastinating Workshop
http://www.ivillage.com/work/workshop/procrastinate/
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