Communicating your short-term career goals is an important skill in the financial services industry. Whether you are applying for a job, seeking a promotion, or pursuing a certification, you need to convey your intentions and aspirations clearly and confidently. In this article, you will learn how to effectively communicate your short-term career goals using four simple steps.
Before you can communicate your short-term career goals, you need to define them for yourself. Short-term career goals are typically those that you want to achieve in the next one to three years. They should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, a short-term career goal could be to pass the CFA exam, to land a managerial role, or to increase your sales by 20%. Write down your short-term career goals and make sure they align with your long-term vision and values.
Make a big vision board with magazine pictures of you in 1 month, 3 months, 6 month and 12 months down the road. What do you: wear, eat, drive, drink, work, play, vacation, how many kids do you want, what kind of horse do you ride, how many dogs will you have, how many men do you need to put into place to get your dream job. "What color is your parachute?" is a good book to read. I don't care what colour my parachute is, as long as it works and gets me to where I want to be on the ground or close enough to walk to where I want to be.
The next step is to identify your audience and purpose for communicating your short-term career goals. Depending on the situation, you may have different objectives and expectations. For example, if you are applying for a job, your purpose is to convince the employer that you are the best fit for the position and that your short-term career goals match their needs and culture. If you are seeking a promotion, your purpose is to demonstrate your value and potential to your boss and colleagues. If you are pursuing a certification, your purpose is to show your commitment and credibility to your clients and peers. Think about who you are talking to, what they want to hear, and how you can tailor your message accordingly.
After identifying your goals, it is important to do your research. An updated market analysis will help you to make an attainable plan and help you to identify the points in your education and experience that will set you apart from others.
Structuring your message in a clear and concise way is the third step. To do this, you can use the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. For example, if your short-term career goal is to pass the CFA exam, you could explain your Situation as working as a financial analyst for three years and wanting to advance your career and skills in the financial services industry. Your Task would be to enroll in the CFA program and aim to pass the exam within a year. You can then describe the Actions you have taken to prepare for the exam, such as taking online courses, practice tests, joining study groups, and finding mentors. Finally, you can highlight your Result of successfully completing the first level of the exam and being confident that you will pass the next two levels within a year. By using the STAR method, you can effectively communicate your short-term career goals while showcasing your achievements and potential.
The final step is to emphasize the benefits of communicating your short-term career goals. Benefits are the positive outcomes or impacts that your short-term career goals will have on yourself, your employer, your clients, or your industry. Benefits answer the question "so what?" or "why should they care?" For example, passing the CFA exam could help you gain knowledge and skills in the financial services industry, increase your credibility and reputation as a financial professional, and open up new opportunities and challenges for you to grow and develop your career and network. Highlighting these benefits will help you communicate your short-term career goals in a persuasive and compelling way that shows your value and motivation.
In summary, Clearly define your short-term goals, prioritize them, and use concise language to convey them. Share specific, measurable, and time-bound objectives to ensure understanding and alignment with others.