#2: Think SMART or Level UP Your Game – SMARTER!

This is what I do before every job search.

I set not just SMART goals, but SMARTER goals. And it works, most of the time!

You know that people drift if they do not have any goals. You are pulled and pushed in different directions by your family, your peers, your coworkers, and by your work. Frequently, such directions aren’t the route you like to go in, and you might end up where you began. The last thing you want is to end up in a place you never wanted to be in the first place.

Making a plan and goal to accomplish it is the only you’ll make development and offer yourself an opportunity to accomplish it. Goals offer you a sense of direction. They provide you a purpose to wake up every morning. They help you to see things from a different and more optimistic point of view.

S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Goal Setting

Every magazine and newspaper you read looks to have a story about somebody who has set SMART goals and obtained success as the outcome. What other people have achieved, you could get too, only if you learn how to create SMART goals and create frugal living habits. And for me, doing it SMARTER could give you much better results.

You possibly heard this many times. However, do you always apply the law? The basic reality is that for goals to be strong and influential, they must be created to be SMARTER. You will find different variations of what this stands for. Nonetheless, the essence of these goals must be:

1.  Specific

Always remember that goals should be well defined and clear. Generalized or vague goals are not useful, as they do not present ample direction. Take note that you need goals to present you the way.

You must make it simple as you could get to where you like to go by determining exactly where you like to end up.

Your goals should be specific. The majority of people have that ‘big picture’ concept of what they like to accomplish. For instance, ‘I will look for a new job,’ or it might be something like ‘I like to change careers.’  These goals are not specific and accurate enough.

Saying, “I will update my resume this week, I will apply for Data Engineer role at Google this week” is more detailed. You now have something specific to accomplish.

2.  Measurable

This is composed of dates, exact amounts, and more so you could calculate your level of success. How will you know if you have been successful if your goal is simply determined as to “establishing new contacts?”

Goals should be measurable at all times. For instance, you must widen your network every time you are out of work. However, “establishing new contacts” is a vague statement.

One specific and clear goal is “I will attend ten networking events every month and connect with one person at every event” Or it might be like this, “I will update and polish my LinkedIn profile and add one new contact every week.”

These goals are very basic. Still, they are concrete goals, which could help you measure at the end of the week

3.  Attainable

Ensure it’s possible to accomplish the goals you have set. Take note that you will only demoralize yourself and erode your confidence if you set a goal that you have no hope of accomplishing.

One of the detrimental things most individuals do is to set goals that are not attainable. It’s vital to set huge goals that trigger your heart to increase with excitement. Nonetheless, you need to guarantee they are achievable.

An attainable objective is something that is both feasible and realistic in a shorter time than what you need to work. The word ‘attainable’ does not mean it’s simple. Your goals must be agreed upon, so they are only out of your range, so they test you to develop as you go onward to accomplish them.

At one point or another, most people have been unemployed. Seeking a job isn’t simple. One of the major concerns is keeping the morale up. Setting attainable short-term goals helps you move toward your long-term goal of following your dream job, helping you from not becoming disheartened.

For instance, setting a goal of seeking a new job in a month might not be sensible. Nonetheless, applying to at least three firms every week is doable. Do not set yourself for failure by setting goals that are out of your reach.

4.  Result-Oriented

Goals must be result-oriented and relevant to the route you like your career and life to take. You will establish the concentration you need to get forward and do what you truly want by keeping your goals aligned. Set extensively inconsistent and distributed goals, and you will fritter your time away.

While you could have a lot, you possibly cannot have it all simultaneously. You must assess yourself honestly. Do you have the commitment and ability to make your dream job come true? What if shifting into a new career suggests going back to school? Could you juggle the class in the morning and work in the evening? You must be honest.

5.  Time-Bound

Goals should be time-bound as well. Having a set of amounts of time will offer your goals structure. Your savings might dictate your time frame if you are out of work.

You might not be employed for five months. Nonetheless, the majority of people like to shift careers or begin their own business. Others spend most of their time talking about what they like to do, someday. However, there is no sense of urgency and no reason to take any action if you don’t have an end date.

Having a particular time frame offers you the impetus to begin. It also helps you track your development and your next course of action should things change within the current period of time.

6.  Extra Mile Action

The sixth step in setting goals using the SMARTER method is to ensure that your goals have extra mile action. Evaluate your goals each day and think of the additional actions you should take when working towards your next dream role. Doing this will allow you to accomplish them more likely.

An example will be that for every interview done, I will make sure that not only I will thank the recruiter but also inform them that if they need help with candidates for other specific roles, I will not hesitate to open my network to refer them in if I deem them suit for the role.

Take note that short-term and long-term goals could easily be overlooked if they are not assessed every day.

7.  Refine

The last step to a SMARTER goal setting is to refine your approach. For instance, you find yourself following your dream job but constantly failed. You must refine your techniques and method;

Is the way you write your resume is out of date? Is your LinkedIn profile polish regularly? Have you tried to engage a mentor, career coach that can share with you what do top recruiters seek in the present time?

Scrutinize every process and refine your way of doing things where it might need improvement

Using this goal structure to set your goals will help you keep effectual, operative, and more motivated. More essentially, it will enable vital discussions to take place through the process. Always take note that goal setting is truly a vigorous process. You can always rearrange and polish your goals and start working toward new challenges.

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Hey, thanks for reading this post up to this sentence. Now, I know you're probably wondering, "Why do you post this article?" 

Well, I first started my career journey as a headhunter and the reason why I jumped into recruitment is that I didn't know what I want back then. I thought the best thing to do is to interview thousands of people, understanding their roles and industries. With this exposure, I was able to understand the mind of the recruiters, hiring managers, and years later had the privilege to be in various roles with top global companies.

I am forever grateful to all the people that came into my life and showed me that I have what it takes to pursue my goals. Today, I am on a mission to help driven & ambitious people to get in front of global leaders & world-changing companies.

If you think you have benefited from this sharing, I hope you can pay it forward by sharing this article and connect with me to always inspire each other. Stay tuned for more brewing on #rioslab. God bless!