Gain A Sense of Purpose by Setting Career Development Goals

Goal setting can propel a person’s career development, giving them a clear vision of their professional wants and needs. Career development goals, while able to be built off of personal ones, are in a class of their own. They give people a sense of purpose and the chance to improve themselves and their careers. 

By Mariah Flores

Nothing in life grows or improves without some sort of goal-setting and planning. 

We can stumble through life, without much direction or purpose, but that only gets us so far. Sure, you may reach your final desired destination, but imagine if the road was far less bumpy, treacherous and filled with unnecessary pit stops. That’s exactly why goals matter. 

Goals give us something to reach for during the long and short term, from improving specific skills to that new job title you’ve been eyeing for some time now. They anchor us and provide meaning to the potential uncertainty surrounding personal growth. 

In the working world, setting goals is sometimes the difference between success and mediocrity. 

It doesn’t matter what point you’re at in your professional life — goals are a necessity. 

Career development goals, specifically, give you something to look forward to each day as you work, job hunt or even pivot into a whole new industry. These goals lead you in the right direction (and to the right people), elevating your entire professional experience and eliminating those unnecessary bumps. 

Without these goals, you could find yourself facing stagnancy, burnout and just an overwhelming sense of “What am I even doing?” Trust me, it’s a feeling we’ve all had (or will have) during our professional careers. Goals recenter, reminding us of the “why” for whatever it is we’re doing or aspiring to do — in a professional capacity. 

While there can be several approaches to development goals, at the end of the day, having a plan and goals is crucial to any career.

What are “career development goals”? 

While career development goals are what you make of them, it’s always good to start with a definition. You gain some perspective on what the term may mean for you. The whole point of this guide is not to go aimlessly into goal setting. 

Rebecca Dordel, associate director of career development at the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management, is no stranger when it comes to assisting people with setting, realizing and achieving their career development goals. She provides strategic leadership for all career development student services at the school, serving over 3,000 undergraduate students. 

When asked to define “career development goals”, Dordel’s response is one of thought and compassion. “I define a career development goal as a decision someone makes to further align the role of work in their lives with the identities, values, or responsibilities they hold,” she says.  

Shawnell Miller, career coach for women with her company InTune-Living, similarly defined the term, saying “career development goals are desires that are achieved by an individual.”

These desires, she notes, are person-specific. “Career development goals can be short or long term as long as they will positively impact the goal setter.”

Dordel also makes an important note that being in a position to even decide the role of work in a person’s life is one of privilege. 

“For many people, work is simply a necessity and the ability to reflect on purpose or meaning is not a reality, or even desirable.”

Why do I need career-related goals? 

We live in a very goal oriented society. You may even own a goal journal or app, where you consistently update and jot down new or continuing goals. So what makes career development goals different from those everyday goals? 

Well, it’s literally in its name. 

Career development goals can of course incorporate your interests and values, but they are very much tied to your desired level of success, performance and growth within your working life. 

Additionally, we tend to have more control over our personal goals versus career-related goals.

“If you set a [personal] goal to read 100 books in a year, … personal accountability and the choices you make with your spare time can have a pretty significant impact on whether you achieve the goal,” says Dordel. “... However, if you define your career development goal through an advancement lens … you may have made a significant commitment to your goal and still not achieved the desired outcome.” 

“I think it’s important for people to distinguish when goals rely on circumstances outside of their control, and not tie those accomplishments as closely to their self-worth,” she adds. 

I always like to think that we are employees or workers second, but a whole slew of other phenomenal things first, so it’s important to have these separate goals. 

Miller, for one, believes that “career development goals and other types of goals are “one and the same.”

“When one area of our lives changes, all areas of our life will reap the benefits. For example, if you want to improve your health/fitness,” she says. “This would impact your career as well because you’ll have more energy throughout the day to perform tasks.”

No matter your thoughts on goals, career development still keeps us inspired, especially as we gain more senior roles. They help us break free from a “finite mindset”, support causes through our professional roles and maybe even practice upskilling or reskilling.

Research has also shown that there’s a surprising connection between goal setting and burnout. So if you find yourself feeling a bit stressed and uninspired, why not try setting some career-centric goals. 

Getting up there in professional seniority and not feeling all that fulfilled? Listen to this short LinkedIn interview from Simon Sinek on how to build an infinite career: 

How to (successfully) set career development goals

First and foremost, set goals that interest you, not what other people tell you to pursue. As is a common recommendation with all #GetAhead tips, you should be the very first person you consult when beginning this journey of self-improvement. And have a paper and pen at the ready! 

“If you're setting a career development goal for the first time, ask yourself, ‘What do I want?’ Write down whatever comes to mind,” says Miller. “When you turn inward and actually listen to that voice within, you’ll know exactly what career goal is right for you”

Next, distinguish which of your career development goals are short-term or long-term. This distinction helps you plan your days, mentor options, potential career choices and more. Ultimately, you want to have some sense of direction with these goals. 

“Recognize that setting goals that you’re more likely to be satisfied with in the long run often require significant reflection and information gathering first,” advises Dordel. 

These two career development experts shared numerous tips for all those setting career development goals, from college students to seasoned professionals. Here’s a list of their key recommendations: 

• Try starting with online research on industry trends, salary data, and career-related databases before setting a goal (if you like measurable data/results)
• Do you value lived experience of others? Reach a career-related goal through authentic relationship building, informational interviews or job shadowing
• Find alignment between your goals and desired programs, jobs, certifications, etc. 
• Set small goals first, then move on to larger ones
• Place your goals where you can see them often
• Establish a few goals you’ll have control over
• Writing down your goals is a powerful tool

Again, goal setting is a very personal journey and looks different for each person. Andrew Seaman, senior LinkedIn News editor, shared a great Career planning 101 post with input for fellow LinkedIn members all over the world. Give it a look and see if you find any intriguing and personable career development tools.

And finally, Dordel leaves us with a powerful musing: 

“A person’s identity and cultural background plays a critical role in conversations about career. It’s so important to consider this when you think about the people you take your career advice from. Ask yourself if there are underlying assumptions or values that a person holds that influences the advice they offer and how that may or may not apply to you and your circumstances.”

Top Takeaways 

Personal career development flourishes when we set goals, especially when we: 

• Look inward and determine “What do I want?” 
• Set goals for both the short and long term
• And do online research or talk to others … as needed