Unlock your potential: 25 inspiring examples of career development goals

While you may have a general idea of what you want to achieve in your career, you may not have any idea of how to get there. And you’re not alone. Not everyone takes the time to define their goals and map out a plan to get there. You might be tempted to “wing it,” and that’s a choice, but it may be easier to clear a path to avoid any roadblocks you might encounter along the way. Having clear career goals, for five to ten years in the future, can put a strong career trajectory in place while still allowing for unforeseen opportunities and life changes. 

Think of setting goals as a way to climb your career ladder—you can't move up without knowing where the rungs are. But where do you start? Understanding what career development goals mean to your career and how you can effectively set (and meet) them can help you get to where you want to be.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• What are career development goals?

• Why are career development goals important?

• 4 examples of a career goal statement

• How do you write a development plan?

• 25 examples of career development goals

What are career development goals?

In general, career goals are long-term goals that describe what you want to achieve in your career field. Goals can include reaching a certain position within a company, starting your own business, or earning a certain amount of money. And by “long term,” we don’t mean “next spring,” we mean what you want to accomplish five to ten years from now. Remember the “Where do you see yourself in five years?” interview question? It’s a career goal question. Interviewers want to know your plans, whether you’re a good fit for the job, or how you see yourself growing in your career. But don’t rely on an interview to get you to think about this concept. This is the kind of thing you want to spend some serious time contemplating, even before you set foot in an interview or plan your next move.

Identifying your career development goals is not something you can do in an afternoon. It takes some time and thought to put in place a calculated, deliberate set of plans to take the reins of your professional life. You're deciding what you want to do and what you want to accomplish, then set goals to help you get there. Having these goals in place will help you stay focused, encouraged, and organized while taking the steps you need to reach your career aspirations. 

Why are career development goals important?

Most people want to avoid stagnation in their careers. But it isn't always easy. Career complacency can feel familiar, almost comforting; after all, you know how to do your job and you don’t find it emotionally or physically taxing. But stepping into the unknown can lead to personal and professional growth, which ultimately, can make us more fulfilled in our careers. A few other benefits of career development include:

• Increased motivation. When you have your goals front-of-mind, you’re less likely to put off tasks that need to be completed and do your best work.

• Reaching career milestones. This can mean bringing home a larger paycheck or getting a new job title.

• A more well-developed personal life. Career success may lead you to improve all areas of your life. 

• Greater job satisfaction. When you set goals for your professional growth, you are more likely to find your work fulfilling and have a better sense of purpose in your work.

Having career development goals also ensures that you’re the one in charge of your career, and you’re not leaving the decisions up to chance or letting your manager make your choice for you.

4 Examples of a career goal statement

It's very easy to get bogged down with all the tasks you have to get done in a typical workday, and sometimes looking forward can be challenging. But it's still important to maintain a "big picture" view beyond getting through the day. And don't think to yourself, "Oh, I know what I need to do." That may be true, but without clearly defined goals, it’s easy to forget or be shortsighted about your career. 

For this reason, it’s important to write down your career goal statement. This statement is like the main target you’re working towards, your ultimate vision for your career. For example, if you’re employed as an Information Security Analyst, you may have a career goal of starting your own cybersecurity firm. Your career goals statement should officially record that objective—not just in your mind, but actually written down somewhere. Here are four examples of career goal statements.

1. You want to get a promotion

“In the next five to six years, I will be promoted to or get a position as Sales Director. To make this happen, I will develop my sales skills, obtain certifications as a Certified Sales Development Representative (CSDR), and complete the Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL) program. I will also increase my sales by two percent each year over the next five years. I will also take advantage of any leadership training that my company offers and make my promotion intentions clear to my manager and appropriate executives.”

2. You want get a new job but need additional training

“I will obtain a position as a marketing analyst at a large advertising and marketing firm by next summer. To reach this goal, I will take courses in Google Data Analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce, and customer analytics. I will also build my professional network and take advantage of networking opportunities in my area and online.”

3. You want to change careers

“In the next four years, I will change careers from an executive assistant to a software engineer. To achieve this, I will go back to school to get a bachelor’s degree in computer science and take additional courses in Software Quality Testing (SQT) Automation, and AI”.

4. You want to get a promotion

“I plan to be promoted to Customer Service Manager within two years. I’ll accomplish this by strengthening my communication skills and leadership ability by asking for feedback from my manager, improving my customer satisfaction rate, and taking a public speaking class at the local community college. I will also learn more about the sales side of our business, as customer service handles client complaints and issues and this will help me better manage client expectations.”

Once you have your career goals statement, keep it where you can easily access it so that you can regularly remind yourself of your goals and what you're working for. You can also make adjustments as time goes on, to keep yourself motivated and on track.

How to write a career development plan

Writing your career goals is only one step of the process. You need to set your career goals as part of a larger plan. How can you do this? There are a few steps you’ll need to take to create your goals and put them into action.

1. Know your objectives and goals

While we’ve talked about setting goals and have given a few examples, it’s important to know how to go about creating these goals. There are a few things you’ll need to think about:

• What is your ultimate goal? 

• Why is this goal important to you?

• How would achieving these goals affect you personally? Professionally?

• What will achieving these goals look like to you?

• How will you know when you’ve achieved your goal?

2. Know where you are now

Take an assessment of where you are in your career right now and what skills and abilities you already possess. By getting a clear picture of your current situation, you'll be able to better bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to go.

• Where are you in your career right now?

• What skills do you currently possess?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• What do you need to do to achieve your goals?

3. Know what your options are

Once you have a good idea of what you want and where you currently are, it's time to figure out what steps you can take to reach your goals. 

• What can you do right now to improve your skills?

• What do you need to learn to reach your goals?

• Is there anyone who can help you reach your career goals?

• Where can you go to develop new skills?

4. Know what your plan is

When you have all these answers in place, you need to create an actionable plan that includes both short and long-term steps you can take to reach your goals. Keep in mind the following:

• What specific steps do you have to take to meet each goal?

• How can you keep track of your progress?

• What obstacles might occur? How will you deal with them?

• How will you celebrate meeting your goals?

Remember that your career goals aren’t static, and can be changed and updated as you reach them.

25 Examples of career development goals

The truth is that "success” means different things to different people. If you’re still unclear on what career goals you should set for yourself, here is a list of examples of smaller, attainable career development goals.

1. Get a promotion to a specific job title.

2. Learn new technologies.

3. Find new challenges in your current position.

4. Increase your professional network.

5. Take on new leadership roles.

6. Learn from the experts in your field via lectures, professional journals, or books.

7. Find a mentor to help guide your career.

8. Position yourself as a “thought leader” in your industry by writing professional articles.

9. Share your goals with colleagues, provide updates, and ask for feedback from your manager at your next professional review.

10. Strengthen your public speaking and presentation skills by volunteering to lead meetings or give speeches at conferences or workshops.

11. Expand and strengthen your professional network.

12. Earn an advanced degree or certification.

13. Apply for promotions at your current company or a new company.

14. Get a job with a big-name company.

15. Change to a new career.

16. Boost your performance metrics or numbers.

17. Cross-train in another area.

18. Obtain a salary raise.

19. Start your own company.

20. Go “global” and gain international experience, or learn a new language.

21. Develop your professional “brand.”

22. Turn professional feedback into new career goals.

23. Learn how other departments at your company function.

24. Improve your time management skills.

25. Improve your work-life balance.

An important thing to remember is that setting your career goals doesn’t just help you in the future; it supports you as a better employee right now. No matter how good you are at your current job, there's always room for advancement. Creating a set of career goals helps you avoid getting stuck in a job or career that you don't find satisfying or fulfilling, or, worse yet, completely boring to you. 

Setting career goals helps you get on track for a career that aligns with your objectives and core values, and keeps you engaged and motivated. It may take a little extra work, but setting career goals is the best way to unlock your potential and get to where you want to be in your career.

If you’d like to move your career forward, try Career.io’s Pathway to Promotion, which will give you a step-by-step guide to navigate the promotion process along with expert insights, videos, and helpful resources to get you the promotion you deserve.

Key takeaways

1. Career goals are long-term goals that describe what you want to achieve in your career field. 

2. Stepping into the unknown can lead to personal and professional growth, which ultimately, can make us more fulfilled in our careers.

3. It’s important to write down your career goal statement. This statement is like the main target you’re working towards, your ultimate vision for your career.