17 Long-term goal examples for your career and life Sticking with your long-term goals takes planning, preparation, and resolve. There are other important aspects of defining your career goals & objectives – having a career goal statement. To achieve each long-term goal, you must first accomplish a series of both short-term goals and additional long-term goals. I have taken several online marketing courses and am certified in two major marketing platforms. ", 10 Tips for Being More Goal-Oriented at Work. Example: “In the next five years, I aspire to become a data analytics expert. How can you shake up the workflow, make everyone’s lives easier, or make a product better? The way I see it is that even if your goals change over time, it was because of a former goal(s) which is why they changed. This is a crucial long-term goal for anyone who is not happy with their current job or field, though it’s best to keep this particular goal to yourself. When asked this question in an interview, keep your long-term goal and career plan focused, first and foremost, on the job you're aiming to get. The goal here is to be so recognizable, so indispensable, and so trusted in your industry that you are the face of what you have put your life’s work into. I think you captured the topic beautifully. It took me 13 years of working and classes to reach top technician status and then with some more school another 4 years to reach engineer. They gather as much experience as possible and build a contact network they can work from. While you get your major career goals figured out, our article features high-paying jobs for 18-year-olds. Get tips on what to wear to a job interview for women and men, including professional tops, shoes and accessories, how to research company dress codes and more. This means that they won’t happen in a week or even a month. Now you know you need both long-term and short-term goals in order to make it through, but why are long-term goals important? Thinking about your professional aspirations ahead of time can help you discuss them effectively and position yourself as a strong candidate for the job. If you know that the employer prefers to cultivate talent and promote from within, consider discussing your preference for growing in your role and taking on new challenges. If you are applying for an entry-level job, becoming a team leader or mastering key skills might be appropriate goals. 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These plans will include your long-term goals. It’s also important to have a healthy relationship with each of them. Becoming a respected authority in your field can go a long way on your professional path. Improving your networking skills is a great career goal example as it can open doors and help make your long-term goals more achievable. Similarly, a software professional’s ultimate goal might be to work for Google or Microsoft. These industry endorsements involve real-world training that differs from going back to school or taking a few additional classes. Our content does not substitute a professional consultation. Example: “For the past two years, I have been positioning myself to transition from sales to marketing. Industry awards not only look great on a resume, but they also help you to build a name and reputation for yourself. 4. Try to keep your answer relevant to the company and position you’re interviewing for. ©2013 - 2021 More Holdings LLC | All Rights Reserved. Many people who are currently working want to get promoted to a senior or executive-level position. If you are applying for a management position, aspiring to be an executive or a thought leader in five or 10 years could be more realistic. They are your definition of success in life. [2] After gaining experience, you may find yourself in a good position to advise other people or businesses in your field. At the same time, for many workers long-term career goals may include self-employment or starting a business in which they will employ others. Prospective employers want some insight into your own personal aspirations and priorities, but they’re also likely looking for an answer that will benefit their bottom line. Flying on a company jet can be pretty cool, but maybe you have a family now and want to spend more time close to home. However, if you truly dislike what you do for a living, it’s time to make it a long-term goal to change that. Sharing this knowledge is not only personally rewarding, but it shows that you care about others and want to see them succeed. You probably have a good sense of your short-term goals, such as getting a job with an employer like the one you are currently interviewing for. Interviewers typically want to hear about more than just your aspirations. This is something that requires time and continuous learning and practice. If your long-term career goals meet the needs of the position and the company, you may have a better chance of getting the job. Discussing your desire to learn a skill related to your job can position you as a person who seeks self-improvement, which can make you stand out from the competition. Consider the long-term goal of mentoring others. When talking with an interviewer, however, you should always plan to discuss aspirations that are relevant to the job in question. Indeed is not a career or legal advisor and does not guarantee job interviews or offers. You can also check out our article for the list of 50+ professional organizations. It also helps them get a better idea about you personally to see if you’re a good fit for the company. As your professional reputation gains traction, you’ll find yourself in better standing to get a promotion, take on special projects, gain more clients, or start a new business venture. Explaining that you want to pursue a leadership position can make you look ambitious, which can be an asset to many companies. How to Answer "What Are Your Long-Term Career Goals? What to Wear: The Best Job Interview Attire, Interview Question: "What are You Passionate About? Career Goal Examples. When an interviewer asks about your long-term career goals, be prepared to keep your answer clear and concise while providing helpful details. Asking for examples of long-term career goals is one of the most common interview questions. But, for a long-term career goal, you can think bigger. For example, you may define your long term vision of a career – what would you like to achieve at any given time frame And I get what you mean about career goals changing. It’ll also be a huge win for you (and your company) if you can get your division running in a new area. Find what sets you apart and makes you different in a good way. If a whole book is too intimidating, consider where you can contribute guest blog posts, articles, or even interviews in a relevant publication. No one wants an employee who is looking to leave. Some people set a goal at the beginning or middle of their carrier to retire early. Long term business goals are business targets that are more than two years in the future. Whether you want in or out, traveling for your career is a big decision. However, it all starts with picking the right long-term goals in the first place . If you aren’t happy with your current career path, you can set a goal for yourself to make a change. Furthering your education is a great way to refine your skills and update your knowledge base, and it shows great initiative to prospective employers. One long-term goal that many eager professionals have in common is to become a subject matter expert. They’re aspirations to keep you focused on future success in … Long Term Career Goals Examples . In other words, keep it short term—talk about how your goals and plans align with the company's. Whether you plan to start your career soon or you are already well established in your profession, defining goals for the future helps you focus your attention and increase your likelihood of success. Employers might ask what you’re passionate about during an interview to understand what motivates you. Many working professionals decide to go back to school and continue their education. You may have seen the acronyms at the end of some people’s email signatures. Tie your goals to the employer’s. Having a network simply means that you know some people in the industry who can help you with your long-term job goals. It took me another 11 years, Retired early the first time at age 51. Think about creating a program that could serve as a blueprint for what you do on a daily basis. Example: “I already hold a team supervisor role, and I want to move into management in the next five years. Leadership is one of the most coveted professional qualities, and there are multiple ways to achieve this goal over time. If you’ve set the above goal of becoming a subject matter expert, you can take it one step further by aspiring to become a consultant. Maybe you can take on a new role in the company, learn a new skill, or focus on appreciating the little things, like fostering friendly relationships with your coworkers. This can become a lucrative source of side income, as well. I think career goals are easier to think about and have in place for traditional careers/jobs. People who have been freelancing, working temporary jobs, or just come from a rocky industry may set their primary goal as getting a permanent position. Whatever the reason, working from home can be a good long-term career goal because it’s typically not something you can do overnight. They also want to know how you plan to achieve your goals. You can take a local public speaking class in your area or online,[4] practice with friends, or even work one-on-one with a speaking coach. I struggled with this when I first started working my business full-time but I have a much better grasp on it now. If you’re still in school, long-term goals might instead be becoming established in your target industry or getting offered your dream job within the next few years. Here’s a list of general employee goals that you can apply to whatever job you have: Strive to become better If you think that your recent outputs are done with mediocrity, try to ask yourself how fast your professional needs and personal growth will be. When you interview for a new job, you can often expect the hiring team to ask you to describe your long-term career goals. Be ambitious, but realistic This goes beyond the amount of money you want to eventually make or the title you want to hold, and focuses more … It’s not like some of the short goals on your bucket list—you will be pushed to your limits. And my long-term goal is to work for the company and contribute to the growth of the company. Related: Setting Goals to Improve Your Career. You don’t have to limit yourself to your current set of skills or expertise. Long term goals are directional and strategic and need not be overly specific and measurable. Those hoping to retire early must work hard to make that goal a reality and possess the willpower to live below their means. Achieving the freedom of self-employment is something many people aim for, and in the age of start-ups and entrepreneurs, going it alone is an increasingly popular long-term career goal.. Of course, it’s not easy to set up a business, which is why it’s sensible to set this as a future objective and spend the intermediate years learning the key … The information on this site is provided as a courtesy. 5. Give yourself some time to explore other jobs and industries, consider any additional training or education you may need, and start working toward that goal. Think about the key players in your industry and set a long-term goal to make it happen. Some job interview questions are so common that they have become almost universal. Asking about your long-term career goals can help them gain insight into your work ethic and the plans you've made for your career. Here we have discussed some common long term career goals with the help of which you will get the idea to set up your own goals to develop your career. Follow the steps below to discuss your aspirations effectively: You may have a long list of long-term career goals. Working from home requires self-discipline, motivation, and dependability. Long-term goals are important for a career. Start with short-term goals, then move to long-term goals. 6. When you run your own business, it can be more difficult to think that far ahead. https://firstquarterfinance.com/examples-of-long-term-career-goals/. Consider learning a new language, a new computer program, or a new way of doing your everyday duties. It looks great on a resume and can give you the edge over other candidates for a job or promotion. The company BIC, for example, was good with plastics; instead of just making pens, they expanded into making lighters, safety razors, and more.[3]. Early retirement isn’t always an easy goal, but it’s an impressive one that can pay off in terms of overall life satisfaction. What can you do that will revolutionize your company — or better yet — your industry? So, we’ve listed some examples of short-term and long-term goals that you can set for yourself. However, there are two types of goals, which are adhered to by the people who wish to move ahead in life. A simple long-term career goal can be to build a LinkedIn profile with 500 contacts. People like to share their experiences with other people in their field. Your current employer may need some convincing to allow telecommuting, or you may need time to find a job you can do remotely. For a full-time student transitioning to work, the goal can be to get training or certification that can make entry into a specific field easier. Try to focus your long-term goals on the next five to 10 years of your career, as you can develop a realistic action plan for goals in this time frame. A career goal is either a short and long-term milestone that you want to hit as you move forward in your profession. Use the following examples to prepare for your job interview. Provide a general timeline so the hiring team understands when you intend to accomplish your goals. Working in a new country can teach you all about what it means to adapt and collaborate with others who may be very different from yourself. Below, we list several general career goals that you can tailor to your specific situation and experience. Start Your Own Business. These goal statement examples will help you plan your own great escape: Start a private dental practice in six years by completing dental school in four years and apprenticing at a practice for two years. Hiring managers are searching for evidence that your goals align with the company’s goals, says Los Angeles executive coach Libby Gill. But “long-term” can mean six months to some people and 20 years to others. As we’ve mentioned, when setting goals, you need to think about what you can achieve in short time frames. If you have a job interview coming up, or if you simply want to think seriously about the next five to 10 years of your career, our large list of long-term career goal examples can help set you on the right path. Your career goals statement should be somewhat long-term (and not something you want to accomplish by next week). These career goals are quite different when compared. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Some people claim having a goal doesn’t make sense because they’re unsure where to go in life. By providing an answer that relates to the job opening, you help the interviewer understand how your career goals align with the company's objectives so they can determine whether you are a good match for the role. This long-term goal would not only make you look good, but it would help your company and colleagues as a whole. Long-Term Career Goals. A person may plan a second career or make enough savings with the current job that would allow him to retire early. I have already taken basic online courses, and I plan to earn certifications from the major data analytics software vendors to demonstrate my knowledge. If you’re looking for a new job, it’s a smart idea to be prepared with an answer. While it’s easier to set short-term career goals (get a promotion, pass an exam, finish a project), long-term career goals are harder. Related: How to Write an Action Plan to Help You Achieve Your Goals. If you are looking to find employment, there are plenty of short term goals that you can develop that can be completed before you reach your final goal of obtaining a career. Learning a new skill — especially if it’s something you’re truly interested in — can be beneficial to both your morale and bottom line. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Starting a business is one of the most common long-term career goals for which people strive. If you are interviewing for a job in a new field, you may need to explain how your background has prepared you for this new role and what you would bring to the new position. Long-term career goals are those that take years to achieve, often occurring during the middle or near the end of your time in the workforce, depending on when you set them. You can use these books to improve your own professional path and also show others that you are willing to put serious time into learning from the best. Maybe you want to cut your commute, spend more time with your kids, or you simply work best when you’re alone. The two types of career goals are: Long term career goals and short term career goals. The career wasn’t all that shiny once reached with all the responsibility and lack of life/work balance. Improve your communication skills From there, the long-term goal may be to see themselves secured in a stable career. One of the smartest ways to stand out from the competition is to build your own brand. Retiring early requires dedication, discipline, and careful planning. Have you found another way your company can profit? ", Interview Question: "What is your Teaching Philosophy?". Long-term goals are those goals that you would like to see happen in a year or a few years. If you are applying for an entry-level job, becoming a team leader or mastering key skills might be appropriate goals. 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