This page features a curated list of career goals. I created it as a source of inspiration for my 100 life goals project and wanted to share it with others in hopes of inspiring them to create their own goal list.
There is an overabundance of bucket list ideas circulating online that lack the necessary specificity, measurability, and time-bound nature to make them actionable goals. Therefore, I curated a list of SMART goals that are more specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Whether you're young or old, there's something on this list for everyone. So, read on to discover some of the best career goals that can help you transform your life and achieve your dreams.
An important note before scrolling down:
The list below includes 100+ career goal ideas, but if you're looking for a bigger list then download my book, The SMART Bucket List.
It includes a list of 1000+ SMART goal ideas from various categories, such as fitness, travel, personal growth, and more. Each goal is crafted to meet the SMART criteria, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to create a truly actionable goal list.
Click here to download it for FREE. Additionally, you’ll get my Design Your Dream Year workbook, containing a proven step-by-step action plan to check off those big goals on your list.
* One more thing, if you decide to take part in any of the goals listed below, you do so entirely at your own risk. Some of the goal ideas listed here can be risky, so seek out guidance if you decide to try them out, especially the challenging ones.
With this in mind, let's rock and roll!!
100+ Caereer Goals
SMART Leadership Goals
As you progress in your career, developing strong leadership skills becomes increasingly important. Setting SMART goals can help you focus your efforts on developing the skills and knowledge you need to become an effective leader.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Achieve promotion to a leadership position within the next 18 months by completing a leadership development program, taking on additional responsibilities, and consistently exceeding performance expectations
- Obtain a leadership position in a tech company within the next 5 years to gain experience in innovation and technology strategy
- Improve my decision-making skills by attending a decision-making course and practicing decision-making techniques in my leadership role
- Establish myself as a thought leader in my industry by publishing at least one article per month in industry publications and speaking at industry events
- Develop and maintain a personal brand by creating a personal website, regularly updating my LinkedIn profile, and publishing thought leadership content
- Obtain a leadership position in a university within the next 10 years to gain experience in education management and policy
- Develop a succession plan for my department that identifies and prepares employees for leadership positions within the organization
- Obtain a leadership position in a social enterprise within the next 3 years to gain experience in social entrepreneurship and impact investing
- Obtain a leadership role in a professional networking group to expand my professional network and gain industry insights
- Obtain a leadership position within a professional association within my industry within the next year to increase my industry visibility and expand my network
- Obtain a board position in a non-profit organization within the next 3 years to give back to the community and broaden my leadership skills
- Obtain a leadership position in a Fortune 500 company within the next 5 years to gain experience in corporate strategy and management
- Obtain a leadership position in a global organization within the next three years to broaden my global perspective and leadership skills
- Obtain a leadership position in a government agency within the next 5 years to gain experience in public policy and management
- Obtain a leadership position in a healthcare organization within the next 5 years to gain experience in healthcare management and policy
SMART Management & Team Work Goals
Strong management and teamwork skills are essential for achieving success in many industries, as they help ensure that projects are completed efficiently, effectively, and with a high degree of quality.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Increase my team's creativity by implementing a creativity training program and providing opportunities for brainstorming and innovation
- Improve my delegation skills by delegating tasks to my team members and providing them with feedback and support
- Increase my team's diversity by implementing a recruitment strategy that targets diverse candidates and promotes diversity and inclusion
- Improve my coaching and mentoring skills by attending a coaching and mentoring course and providing coaching and mentoring to my team members
- Improve my conflict resolution skills by taking a conflict resolution course and practicing conflict resolution techniques with my team members
- Improve my emotional intelligence by taking an emotional intelligence course and practicing emotional intelligence techniques with my team members
- Increase my team's engagement and motivation by implementing an employee recognition program that recognizes outstanding performance and achievements
- Increase my team's productivity by implementing a flexible work schedule and tracking performance metrics
- Create and lead a cross-functional team to launch a new product that generates $500,000 in revenue within the next 12 months
- Increase my team's retention rate by developing a career development plan for each team member and conducting regular performance reviews
- Develop and lead a team-building activity for my department that improves teamwork and communication among team members
- Increase my team's collaboration and communication by implementing a team building program and providing opportunities for cross-functional projects and team-building activities
- Improve my team management skills by attending a team management course and regularly soliciting feedback from my team members
- Improve my financial management skills by attending a financial management course and managing my organization's budget and finances more effectively
SMART Productivity & Project Goals Goals
Effective productivity and project management skills can help you achieve more in less time, and ensure that you are delivering high-quality results on a consistent basis.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Develop and implement a new project management system within my department that increases productivity by at least 20% within the next 6 months
- Improve my project management skills by completing a project management certification within the next year
- Develop and implement a project prioritization framework that aligns with my organization's strategy and improves project outcomes
- Obtain a certification in project management to increase my ability to lead and manage complex projects within the next 2 years
- Improve my project management skills by using a project management software and consistently tracking project progress
- Improve my time management skills by tracking my time spent on different tasks and prioritizing high-value activities
- Reduce my email response time to under 24 hours by implementing an email management system and prioritizing urgent messages
- Increase my productivity by at least 30% within the next 6 months by implementing time management techniques and using productivity tools
- Increase my organizational skills by implementing a new organizational system and consistently using it for at least 3 months
SMART Job & New Career Goals
While it can be a challenging and sometimes intimidating process, searching for a new career can can help you identify your passions and strengths, and align them with your career goals. By exploring new opportunities, you may discover new career paths that you had not previously considered, and find that you are better suited for a different role or industry.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Obtain a position as a marketing coordinator at a mid-sized company within the next six months by networking and submitting at least three job applications per week.
- Secure a remote job in the tech industry within the next six months to increase my work flexibility and improve my work-life balance
- Increase my coding skills by taking a coding course and coding at least two hours per day so that I can apply for a software engineering position within the next year.
- Update my LinkedIn profile and connect with at least five industry professionals per week to increase my chances of being noticed by recruiters for a new job.
- Research job postings and apply to at least 10 jobs per week that match my skills and interests.
- Attend a job fair and hand out at least 20 resumes to companies that align with my career goals.
- Create a list of at least five companies that align with my values and career goals, research their job openings, and apply for at least two jobs per company.
- Obtain a mentor in my industry who can provide guidance and advice on my career path.
- Attend an informational interview with at least one person in my desired industry to learn about their career path and gather insights on job opportunities
Other Career Goals
Overall, setting career goals can help you identify what you want to achieve in your career and establish a clear path towards achieving those objectives. By setting goals that align with your personal and professional aspirations, you can stay motivated and on track, and avoid feeling aimless or uncertain about your career trajectory.
Here are a few examples of SMART goals you can set in this particular area:
- Develop a mentorship program within my department that pairs junior employees with experienced mentors to foster professional development and career growth
- Improve my negotiation skills by attending a negotiation course and practicing negotiation techniques in my daily interactions
- Increase my professional network by attending at least two industry events per quarter and connecting with at least 10 new people at each event
- Develop and deliver a presentation at a national conference within the next two years to showcase my expertise in my field
- Obtain a certification in a relevant field to increase my knowledge and expertise within the next 2 years
- Increase my industry knowledge and network by attending at least 3 industry conferences within the next year
- Improve my public speaking skills by taking a public speaking course and presenting at least one webinar per quarter
- Improve my foreign language skills by taking a language course and practicing conversation with native speakers to qualify for international business positions.
More Goal Ideas?
Click here to get 'The SMART Bucket List' for FREE — It includes a list of 1000+ SMART goal ideas from various categories, such as fitness, travel, personal growth, and more. Additionally, you’ll get my Design Your Dream Year workbook, containing a proven step-by-step action plan to check off those big goals on your list.
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