Trying to decide what career you would like to have for the rest of your life can be an overwhelming task. What if you end up not liking the career you have chosen? What if the job you love doesn't pay that much? The best way to put these worries to rest is to set some goals that will help narrow down your options. Keep in mind that any choices you make about your career—especially during this course—are not final. You may change your mind as you progress throughout high school and even after you graduate.
You need to be SMART about the decisions that will help you meet your goals for your future. Exploring the acronym SMART is a great way to keep yourself organized as you build your career plan. An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words. Each letter of SMART represents another word—the letter S represents the word specific.
S = Specific. When creating a career plan, include as much information as you can. Answer the questions Who? What? When? Where? and Why?
What does a specific idea look like? Click each image below to see an example of a specific and not specific goal.
Can you see how more information or detail makes a goal clearer? Asking yourself the kinds of questions listed below can help you make your goals more specific. Click each question on the left to reveal some possible questions you can ask yourself to be precise with your career plan goal.
Who is involved with the plan—besides yourself? Will your parents or guardians play a role in help you meet this goal? Have you discussed your options and plans with your guidance counselor? |
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What exactly is it that you want to accomplish? What major do you need to have in college? What military branch do you want to get into? What job are you seeking right out of high school? What is involved with getting you into these places? What grades do you need to earn in order to take advantage of these opportunities? |
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When do you need to have college applications in? When do you need to sign your paperwork with your recruiter for the military? When do you need to take your SATs or ACTs? When should you visit colleges? When should you shadow a career you are interested in? |
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Where will you be working on this goal? Where will you be going to college? Where is the recruiter's office to discuss military options? |
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Why is this goal important to you? What will you get out of accomplishing this goal? |
Question
When creating a specific goal for your future, what are the five kinds of questions you should ask yourself?
Who? What? When? Where? Why?
