When you have a job interview, one of the questions you will likely be asked is “What are your career goals?”  This is a very difficult question to answer.  It’s also unfair because the person asking the question is also unlikely to have a good idea of his/her own career goals.

Are goals really as important as people say they are?  To answer this question, let’s explore why people set goals:

• They want to make an improvement in an area where they are weak
• They want to achieve something
• They want to create discipline and focus

You might be wondering whether you could meet any of the above needs without setting specific goals.  The answer is probably yes.  If that’s the case, then why set goals?

• They help you measure your progress
• They help you from getting off track
• They help you build confidence
• They help you gain support from others

OK, maybe now you’re thinking about what it does mean when someone says “I have a goal”.  There are many different ideas about what constitutes a goal, but the following may be useful benchmarks for you to use:

• Goals are written down
• Goals are things you can measure
• Goals have a time table for achievement
• Goals have a threshold that is to be reached

In the topics that follow, you will learn some very practical things you can do to become proficient in making goals work for you.