goal statement examples

15 Practical Goal Statement Examples and How to Write Them

By: Author Candice Zhang

Posted on Last updated: February 2, 2024

Categories Career , Goals , Self Development

It’s the start of a new year, which often means new beginnings. With that said, many of us decide to set goals known as ‘resolutions.’ However, goals can come in other forms as well, with one of them being a goal statement.

Instead of setting a new habit, writing a goal statement allows us to pinpoint the ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ of our lives. This allows us to see how we can make the change from our current self to our future self. If we want a better job or a promotion, we can be sure to write this goal down as a sentence, track it, and work towards it. 

Now, you surely have heard of a mission statement and they are typically associated with businesses. So, you may be wondering; “What exactly is a goal statement?” 

What is a Goal Statement? 

Whenever you thought of a personal goal, you probably would have written it down Then over time, kept track of it, and continued to manifest results. You probably thought of something that you really wanted to achieve, and decided that the outcome would be worth it.

So, you decided to work hard towards the goal, regardless of any obstacles or situations that may arise. But in the end, the goals that many of us write in our notebooks are usually results-oriented.

We typically think of the end picture and write what we want to happen, kind of like a vision statement. But we rarely break these goals down into steps and we rarely describe why we want to achieve such goals. 

However, writing a goal statement will solve all of those issues. Instead of outlining the specific results, the goal statement will allow us to analyze why we want to achieve the goal and how we will achieve it. This makes it action and process-oriented. 

Whenever we are feeling devastated and hopeless, we can read our goal statement for some motivation. Plus, we can also add this statement on our cover letter and resume. 

The Benefits of Writing a Goal Statement 

Goal statements do come in handy when needed. Though they may be difficult to brainstorm, there are multiple advantages which outweigh the costs. Some of these benefits include: 

1. They provide direction and motivation 

Whenever our goals and processes aren’t written down, we may find it difficult to focus on one path or outcome. Our personal life circumstances in are always changing, which makes it difficult to stick to a previous goal we’ve set. And due to all of this, we may forget about our goals before attempting to try.

But there’s a way to remember them! When you write these goals down and explain the process in terms of achieving the outcomes, you’re more likely to work towards them.

The statements can provide you with a sense of direction in life as they will help you identify your own values. In fact, research even supports this strategy as well. 

Hence, having a goal statement will give you a sense of direction and motivation. You know what you’ll aim for, and you’ll be able to track your progress towards the ultimate goal. This way, you’ll never lose sight of the bigger picture. 

2. Goal statements allow you to work towards your own true values 

Your goal statement is entirely personal and customizable, depending on your needs and characteristics. By writing down a goal statement you’ll be able to pave your own path towards self-development.

You can chose one which which resonates with your current aspirations, without worrying about the needs of others around you. Hence, goal statements allow you to see the potential you have within yourself. 

Once you identify your own potential, you’ll feel more confident. This can also bring some clarity on long-term career goals or relationship goals.

3. They emphasize the importance of action, not just words. 

Oftentimes, we rely on words in order to motivate ourselves. For example, remember when you have to do chores? Throughout the process, you’re probably thinking of how good it must be to have some chores completed.

After all, your house will look tidy and organized. To remind yourself, or motivate yourself, you may tell a friend, “Oh, I do my chores on Sunday.”  However, Sunday arrives, and you’re exhausted and find yourself recuperating for the week ahead. 

Sometimes, we use words to give ourselves a confidence boost. We tell others what we’re doing to remind ourselves to get started on a particular task. But although words are a great motivator, they won’t necessarily help you complete a task. 

In order to reach the finish line, we’ll have to work towards action. Fortunately, goal statements will help us with that. 

When we’re writing the goal statement, we’re not just thinking about the words and the result. We’re instead thinking about the actions, and the process, which puts us on the right track to reach our long-term goals. 

How to Write a Goal Statement 

There are many methods in terms of writing a goal statement. You can take inspiration from a few, but you shouldn’t just be regurgitating the goal. Remember, you want a goal with results!

Instead, you need to think of the process and the value of the goal. Now, you may ask, “How can I identify that?” Well, let’s explore how to get that started: 

1. Ask yourself what you desire to achieve 

You know those days when we all lie in bed, and wonder what happened to our previous dreams and desires? If you have a previous dream or desire which you still think about fulfilling, keep track of this and perhaps jot it down.

There may be a reason why you continue to think about it. Our passions and callings in life tend to keep making themselves evident. You may find yourself considering a career change or re-examining your social networks.

Perhaps this dream can be one of the smart goals you wish to fulfill in the future. Write down this vision statement as a spring-board for your goal statement and you’ll be headed in the right direction.

2. Focus on the things that bring you joy 

I know it sounds cliché as we probably have heard from multiple people to pursue and “focus on things that we’re passionate about.” However, there’s actually some validity behind the statement. 

Imagine working on a goal that you do not necessarily want to achieve, but feel the need to due to external factors. Would you actually be happy once you achieve it? You may answer “No,” because the goal was not something you have envisioned or planned out for yourself.  

So, pinpoint a few hobbies or activities that bring you joy. Then, list some of your core values or beliefs. You can tie these elements together and work towards your own personal vision for the future. 

3. Identify and believe in the goal statement process 

Goals are perceived as destinations. But in order to get to a destination, we must go through a journey. And the journey in itself is a never ending process. Once you set a goal, you shouldn’t forget about this journey.

The journey is filled with wins and losses. Sometimes, you’ll feel as if you’re near your goal, just to have everything robbed from you. However, you should believe that everything that happens is a lesson. 

You could also incorporate some smaller steps into your outlined goal as well. These small steps will allow you to allocate your goal into other short-term goals, which can be a benchmark for you to work towards. 

When you achieve these smaller goals, you’ll be able to track your progress. Then, you will be fueled by these accomplishments when you feel the need to take on long-term goals. 

4. Remember to incorporate action 

Many goal statements include an action plan and strategy, which outline the process of achieving the outcome. So, whenever you think of a specific goal, be sure to describe what you will do to achieve it in your statement.

Keep the steps involved reasonable to your skills and abilities so they are practical and achievable. This way, you’ll find a way to take initiative and control of your progress. And, this will allow you to track your own results. 

5. Remember there are always external factors 

Often when we set a goal, we are so focused on accomplishing it and start to forget about other external factors which may influence our progress. Unexpected events or changes can be discouraging, or even devastating.

For example, when we want to achieve a perfect attendance rate in school or at work. We often forget that there are times when we may be sick, which will prevent us from going to class in the first place. 

As a result, when such things happen, it’s best to acknowledge that they’re simply out of your control. And you could only react to them by finding a different way to solve the problem. 

In this case, aim for a more realistic goal of 90% attendance rate to account for unforeseen circumstances. Give yourself grace and recognize how the variability of everyday life can influence your goals.

Practical Goal Statement Formats

Now that we covered the basics of writing goal statements, there are multiple goal formulas which we can consider when writing our statement. You can pick any depending on your preferences or goal needs: 

1. SMART Goals

I’m sure we have heard of this term from someone, whether it was from the resume and cover letter sessions or the class reflections which we’re required to finish. 

The SMART goal acronym stands for: 

• Specific: Goals should be specific to you and answer the 5 Ws; who, what, when, where and why. 
• Measurable: Goals should be quantified or have a specific metric assigned to them to ensure that you fulfill them. 
• Attainable: Ensure that you are not setting too high or too low expectations of the specific goal, and that they are attainable with the current or predicted resources. 
• Relevant : Goals should align with your own core values and missions. 
• Time-bound: Make sure to specify when the goal can be achieved by outlining the time expected to achieve each step. 

Example of a SMART goal: 

I want to get a 4.00 GPA next semester by studying and reviewing 2-3 different courses every day for one to two hours, doing the practice questions required, and participating in lectures by answering or asking questions. Before the first midterm, I aim to obtain at least an 80 on one to two assignments. 

This goal is specific, as it identifies the situation in the beginning, which is aiming for a higher GPA. It is also measurable as well, as every aspect of the SMART goal is quantified by a number. For example, the 4.00 GPA and the “80 percent on one or two assignments.”

This SMART goal is attainable as the student is not reviewing a full course load everyday. They are only reviewing some portions of the lecture which is a good idea to keep themselves on track toward the ultimate goal. 

If the student is looking to improve their study habits, the goal is relevant as well. Moreover, this goal is time-bound as it specifies how much time is needed to reach that finish line. 

2. PACT Goals

Another option for a goal-setting method is the PACT formula. The PACT focuses more on the core values and actions of an individual, which may be more of a fit for those looking to write a goal statement. 

In a way this is a statement of purpose and with so much potential for personal development. This formula can also be implemented to create a good mission statement.

PACT stands for: 

• Purposeful: What does the goal mean to you? How can it change you and lead you to develop into a better person? 
• Actionable: What steps can you take towards your goal? 
• Continuous: Even if you do achieve the resulting goal, how can you utilize the new skills you gained towards your own personal or professional development? 
• Trackable: How can you track your goals? What metrics can you use? 

Instead of focusing on specific and measurable goals, PACT goals aim to focus on an individual’s future development based on their own values and characteristics. 

Example of a PACT goal: 

I aim to try out more activities this year based on my own interests as I aim to prioritize my mental and physical well-being more. Since I prefer moving around on my own instead of going to the gym, I will sign up for a weekly beginner’s dance class. Throughout the weeks, I can see how I progress and see which genres I like. If I do end up enjoying the activity, I will try out more dance genres. I’ll be able to find a new activity and prioritize my physical well-being. 

This goal is purposeful, as it outlines the individual’s purpose on why they wanted to set a specific goal. Moreover, steps are also outlined in order to achieve the ultimate goal. For example, signing up for a weekly beginner’s dance class is a good way to start and commit time towards the activity. 

The goal is continuous as well, since it states how the activity can benefit the individual in the future. Since the goal is broken down into time periods (weekly), it easily tracks by week as well. 

3. GROW Goals 

GROW goals require some self-reflection and awareness when analyzing the outcome. However, being able to reflect on your current situation will definitely allow you to realize that you’re able to be in control of your personal life no matter what. 

The acronym stands for: 

• Goal: What is the desired result? 
• Reality: What is happening in your current life right now? 
• Obstacles : What are some of the barriers you’re facing? 
• Will: How can you overcome these barriers and achieve your dreams? 

Example of a GROW goal: 

I hope to find a co-op position in the field of sales and communications. Currently, I’m a student and I work two part-time jobs in retail and customer service. I also have rent and other living expenses to pay. Therefore, I do not have much time to apply to positions or to network. However, I do have a decent amount of savings. So, maybe I can switch my work hours and take a week off in order to prepare for interviews and networking sessions. I will be sure to communicate this with my employer.  

The example above outlines a GROW goal because the first sentence states the desired result, which is securing a co-op position. Then, the student writes about their current living situation and the obstacles that they are facing.

However, they then decide to address these barriers and find new solutions. This is a vital part of the GROW goal statement to ensure success. 

4. HARD Goals 

Sometimes in life we all have to make tough decisions and face difficult situations. We often wonder why we made such a challenging decision, and what was the purpose of the decision we made. 

When we’re questioning these aspects, a good formula to remember is the “HARD” goal formula . These include: 

• Heartfelt: What is your intention when setting this goal? What motivates you to achieve this goal? 
• Animated : How will you feel once you achieve this goal? 
• Required: What makes it important to achieve this goal? 
• Difficult: How difficult will it be to fulfill your desired outcome? 

Example of a HARD goal: 

A fter I complete my bachelor’s degree, I aim to hopefully pursue more studies . I noticed that I enjoy being in a classroom setting and learning new topics, and to me, being educated on different subjects is important. I want to learn more about the world and see the world through various perspectives. It is difficult, as I’ll have to sacrifice lots of time and financial resources. But in the end, the time and financial resources will be worth the fulfillment from my education. 

In this goal, the writer clearly states the intention by writing why they decided to set the goal in the first place. Moreover, the writer touched upon feelings as well, such as “feeling fulfilled.”

The writer also states the importance of learning more about the world through different topics. Difficulties and challenges are also addressed as well, which include the time and financial resources. 

5. OKR Goals 

Sometimes, the complexity behind the other goal-setting formulas can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there is an option to goals in a more simple manner. 

The OKR goals are a simple way to set measurable outcomes, which are broken down into different benchmarks. It works similar to a vision statement and stands for: 

• Objective: What is your big goal? 
• Key Results: What results will you need to achieve in order to reach your big goal? 

Example of OKR Goal: 

My big goal is to one day launch my own startup company. In order to do so, I need to be trained in business operations, accounting, finance, and human resources. I also need to know how to promote and market my brand to my targeted audience as well. I can begin by noticing my interests, creating an inception plan, and pitching my ideas to different ventures. Then once I receive the funding, I can begin with product design and implementation. 

In this goal, the objective defined is an individual launching their own start up company. Then, they decide to describe some key results, which include action items such as creating an inception plan. Also, benchmarks such as pitching ideas and receiving funding are outlined. 

Goal Statement Examples

Now that we have covered some different formulas regarding goal statements we have a toolbox to get started. It is a good idea to brainstorm some of our most recent needs and see how they can impact our goal setting frameworks as well. 

As we have seen, goal statements can be written in a variety of manners. Goal statements are flexible and can be dedicated towards plenty of different industries and settings. 

For now, let’s consider three important aspects of our 20s in terms of goal setting: academic, career, and relationship. 

Academic Goal Statements 

Below are some sample goal statements for those who are in college and university. These goal statements mainly focus on academic performance. 

I hope to make it onto the Dean’s Honor List by obtaining over a ___ GPA (as determined by the school) this year. I need at least a ____ GPA for the first and second semester in order to do so. To do this, I’ll set a schedule and dedicate around 2 hours of studying each day and ensure that I attend lectures on time. When I need help, I will be sure to utilize the tutoring sessions offered by the department.  (SMART). 

I hope to obtain a GPA of 4.00 in one of my human resources courses. Learning about human resources resonates with me as I want to learn more about human behaviour and organizational structures. Being a good student is also what I aim to continue to be as well, since I want more options when I apply to graduate schools. To do this, I can request to seek advice from the professor in regards to unclear instructions, and dedicate around 3 hours of study in this course. I can then utilize these new skills for future courses. My short-term goals can be tracked through the grades of my assignments, whether I see an increase in trend or not. (PACT). 

I hope to increase my GPA from 3.8 to 4.0 this semester. Currently, I have to work and fulfill some extracurricular obligations which may take around 20 hours a week. Therefore, I have limited time for studying. However, I can always decide to study efficiently; perhaps, I can decrease some free time and skip Friday nights. (GROW) 

I aim to get into law school because I am passionate about the legal industry. I have always read books about law and want to learn more about the subject. Once I achieve this goal, I will feel content and realize that I’ll be able to hopefully achieve my dream job as a lawyer. I do need a good CGPA in order to make it into law school, so I need to put in more effort in terms of studying and consult with my professor for my assignments. (HARD)

I aim to get into medical school after graduation. In order to do this, I will have to dedicate some time to study, perhaps volunteer at the hospital, and join a few extracurricular clubs which are focused on health research. I hope to also gain a research assistant position as well. Then, in my third or fourth year, I’ll prepare and take the MCAT exam. (OKR). 

Career Goal Statement Examples 

Whether you’re eyeing on a new promotion, or wanting to improve your professional life, having a career path is a big part of being in your 20s. Below are some sample statements of professional goals:

I hope to gain a new promotion from my current position. I can do this by taking on more initiative in tasks, and trying to see what my supervisor may need assistance with. For now, I will try to take on at least one extra project and see if I can collaborate with my fellow team members. Then, in the next month or so, I can perhaps tackle more projects with others and assist my supervisor with more of their tasks (SMART). 

I hope to get a position related to my degree, as I studied the subject and enjoyed the material. Then, I can apply my academic coursework into my experience. I will start looking for jobs immediately, and ensure that the jobs I apply to are related to the subject I learned at school. Hopefully, this job will bring me new career growth and opportunities. And overtime, through the interviews, I can see what worked or did not work. (PACT). 

I desire to work in the field of accounting as I have graduated from university with a degree in accounting. Right now, I do have the ability to apply to jobs but I am still studying for my CPA exam. I also have a part-time job which may interfere with the interview hours. But to overcome these barriers, I can still continue to apply and see what I can get. I can also ask to get my shifts switched in order to make it to the interviews. (GROW). 

I aim to take on more freelance photography projects throughout the year. I like to create different art forms and work with companies and businesses. Once I achieve this goal, I will feel content that more people are enjoying and being exposed to my work. This goal is important to me as my art is a direct reflection of my emotions. To achieve my professional goals, I will continuously need to promote my services on social media and word of mouth, while practicing my skills. (HARD). 

My big goal is to become an assistant manager at my community centre. In order to do this, I need to take on a few leadership positions. I will apply to some and go through the interview process. Moreover, I will also ask my current manager for mentorship advice, a performance review, and work more hours in my current position for seniority. Throughout this, I will also become more favorable for a potential employer if I choose to apply for other jobs (OKR). 

Relationship Goal Statements 

We all know how difficult relationships are to navigate during adulthood. This can range from the friends we meet in class, to the Tinder date who continuously bombards us online. But there also can be goals set for relationships and friendships as well: 

I hope my partner and I communicate our issues more transparently. We are in the process of booking couple counselling sessions. We aim to go weekly and we hope that they’ll be able to provide us with a sense of direction. (SMART) 

I hope I can apologize to my friend about what I have done previously. I really valued our friendship and believed that I should not have acted the way I did. If I do, I can hopefully build my communication skills and learn to do the right thing next time. This can perhaps also improve the current friendships in my life as well. (PACT)

I hope to get closer to my family, as we once drifted apart during my teenage years. I agree that there were misunderstandings, but now I feel that since I have grown, I finally realize the intention behind their actions. It’s hard to see them currently as I do live away from home, but I will continuously keep in contact with them and see if it is possible to go on trips with them. (GROW) 

I hope to get along with my sister as we were once best friends. Since I moved away, everything changed. However, once I begin to communicate with her, we can support each other. After all, family is important. I understand it is difficult as our schedules often collide, but I can always try my best to reach out whenever I can. (HARD)

My big goal is to find myself a committed, loyal partner. It will take time but I will need to first understand the other individual’s personality, and see how compatible we can hopefully be. I need to communicate more about myself and hopefully, the right person will come along. (OKR).

Final Thoughts on Practical Goal Statements 

Writing a goal statement is similar to creating a mood-board for your future dreams and career aspirations. It involves knowing what you currently want, and working towards achieving the specified outcome. 

Instead of thinking of specific goals, writing goals in the form of statements allows us to see what we truly want, and work towards them. Such statements can allow us to be motivated in terms of completing our personal vision to the next level. 

There are plenty of different methods to write goal statements with multiple examples. There is the SMART approach, which is for more specified and measured goals. And there is the GROW approach, which is for goals that resonate deeply with your own personal values and beliefs. The right one is the method which resonates the most with your mission, and motivates you the best. 

Once you begin writing down your own goal statements, you may notice small changes in your life. You may notice that you’re more optimistic and perhaps, you may decide to tweak your everyday life routine. 

With that being said, achieving goals is not easy most of the time. There are multiple barriers which do get in the way. But when they do, it’s best to take it one step at a time. After all, we can all work towards change throughout our lives. What matters the most to many of us is to not give up. 

About the Author

Candice is currently attending school for social service work. One of her passions is helping others through my writing. In her downtime, you'll find her listening to music, watching random YouTube videos, and writing about career goals and resumes. She hopes to start freelancing for writing and obtain a leadership position in a public services sector.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

50 Inspiring Examples of Career Goal Statements

By Status.net Editorial Team on February 7, 2024 — 12 minutes to read

A career goal statement is a clear and concise description of your professional aspirations: it outlines what you aim to achieve in your career path, providing direction and serving as a guide for your professional decisions. Crafting this statement requires self-reflection to identify what truly matters to you in your career.

Think of your career goal statement as a compass. It helps you navigate through opportunities and choices, aligning them with your long-term objectives. A well-defined goal statement includes specific job titles or roles, industry preferences, skills you want to acquire or use, and the values that matter to you in a work environment.

For example, your statement might be, “I aim to become a Senior Software Developer at a tech company that values innovation, in the next five years.” This statement is direct, time-bound, and reflects personal and professional values.

When writing your own career goal statement, start by asking yourself some questions:

• What am I passionate about?
• Where do I see myself in five, ten, or fifteen years?
• What skills do I need to develop to reach my goals?

Your statement can evolve as your career advances and your goals change. Remember, it’s a living document meant to grow along with you. Keep it precise, make it inspiring for yourself, and let it reflect who you are and who you want to become professionally. By doing so, you’ll create a powerful tool to steer your career decisions and help achieve your ambitions.

Components of a Strong Career Goal Statement

A strong career goal statement effectively communicates where you see yourself in the future and how you plan to get there. The keys to crafting this include clarity in your aspirations and how your current path aligns with your long-term objectives.

Clarity and Specificity

Your career goal statement should clearly articulate the position you’re aiming for and the steps you plan to take to achieve it. For example, instead of saying “I want to grow in the tech industry,” specify “My goal is to become a Senior Software Engineer at a renowned tech firm within the next five years by honing my skills in mobile applications development and leadership.”

Alignment with Career Objectives

Ensure that your statement aligns with your broader career objectives. For instance, if you’re determined to enter the field of environmental sustainability, your goal statement could specify, “I will secure a role as a Sustainability Project Manager by gaining expertise in renewable energy solutions and contributing to conservation projects.”

Brevity and Conciseness

Keep your statement concise; it shouldn’t be longer than a short paragraph. A crisp, well-worded statement would look like, “Within three years, I aim to advance to a Lead Graphic Designer position by consistently delivering innovative designs and taking on more strategic projects.”

Personal Motivation

Include a sentence about what drives you towards this goal, which gives a personal touch to your career goal statement. You might say, “I am committed to becoming an industry-recognized financial analyst by developing cutting-edge quantitative models, fueled by my passion for data-driven decision making.”

The Purpose of Career Goal Statements

A career goal statement helps you and others understand where you’re aiming in your professional life. It serves as both a guide and a benchmark for your career progression.

Professional Development

Your career goal statement is a powerful tool for professional development. It’s a declaration of your ambitions, which often falls into specific categories like acquiring new skills, achieving certifications, or reaching a new position. For example, you might aim to become a certified project manager within the next two years, highlighting the steps and skills you’ll need to get there.

Job Search Focus

When you’re on the job hunt, having a career goal statement gives you a lens to evaluate potential job opportunities. Imagine you’re an engineer seeking roles in renewable energy projects; your career goal statement would specify this preference, allowing you to target your job search and tailor your applications to match your aspirations.

Performance Management

During performance evaluations, your career goal statement offers a clear outline of what success looks like for you. It can act as a communication tool between you and your supervisor, ensuring that you’re both aligned on your targets. If your goal is to lead a team, your performance metrics might include leadership training and successful project outcomes.

Personal Reflection and Growth

Your career statement doubles as a checkpoint for personal reflection and growth. By setting specific goals like enhancing your public speaking skills or learning a new programming language, you create a framework for personal progress, tying these improvements back to your broader career objectives.

Writing Your Career Goal Statement

A career goal statement is a clear and concise description of your professional aspirations. It’s important to chart a course for your career by setting strategic goals and outlining the steps you plan to take to achieve them.

Self-Assessment

Start by evaluating your interests, strengths, weaknesses, and values. This step helps you align your career trajectory with your personal attributes and ambitions.

• If you enjoy creative problem-solving, you might aim for a role in strategic development.
• Someone with a natural talent for communication might target a career in public relations.

Research and Exploration

Learn about the industries and positions that align with your interests and skills. Find out what qualifications you may need and what career advancement may look like in those roles.

• Researching the field of data science might show you the importance of skills like programming and data analysis.
• Exploring the healthcare industry could lead you to consider roles ranging from a health administrator to a nurse practitioner.

Articulating Your Goals

Clearly state your short-term and long-term career objectives. Make them specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

• Short-term goal: Completing a professional certification in digital marketing within the next year.
• Long-term goal: Becoming a chief marketing officer at a technology company within the next ten years.

Revising and Refining

Your career goals are not set in stone. Periodically review and adjust them to reflect your growing skills, changes in the industry, and personal life changes.

• Revising your goal to include leadership skills if you’re aiming for management positions.
• Refining your goals to focus more on work-life balance if personal circumstances change.

Examples of Career Goal Statements

When crafting your career goal statement, be specific and align your goals with your desired career path. This section will provide examples for different career stages to guide you.

For Recent Graduates

As a recent graduate, your goal statement should reflect your eagerness to apply your education in a practical setting and grow professionally. For example:

• “My goal is to secure a role as a software developer at a forward-thinking tech company where I can contribute to innovative projects and hone my coding skills in real-world applications.”

For Mid-Career Professionals

For you in mid-career, a statement should focus on advancing your current skills and taking on larger responsibilities. For instance:

• “I aim to elevate my expertise in digital marketing to become a marketing manager, where I can lead strategic campaigns and impact the company’s growth directly.”

For Career Changers

As someone looking to change careers, your statement needs to leverage your transferable skills and express your commitment to the new field. Consider this example:

• “I intend to transition into the field of data analysis, leveraging my extensive background in market research to deliver actionable insights and drive decision-making processes.”

For Executive-Level Positions

Your executive career goal statement needs to showcase your vision for leadership and your ability to steer the company to new heights. An example could be:

• “I am determined to apply my 15 years of managerial experience to a Chief Operations Officer role, focusing on optimizing company-wide operations to boost profitability and efficiency.”

50 Examples of Career Goal Statements

• 1. “To secure a challenging position in a reputable organization to expand my learnings, knowledge, and skills.”
• 2. “Seeking a role at (…) Company where I can contribute to the team’s success while developing my skills as an accountant.”
• 3. “To achieve a lead position in software development that allows me to design innovative solutions and manage a dynamic team.”
• 4. “To become a primary school teacher that inspires young minds and fosters a love of learning.”
• 5. “Aiming to leverage my experience in customer service to become a leading sales representative within the next five years.”
• 6. “To grow into a senior role within the marketing department, contributing to the company’s strategic goals and brand development.”
• 7. “Seeking a position as a clinical practice assistant for a health organization that focuses on the development of innovative medical treatments.”
• 8. “To secure a position as a human resources manager and contribute to an organization’s employee engagement and professional development strategies.”
• 9. “My goal is to become a project manager within a progressive tech company, leading innovative projects to successful completion.”
• 10. “Aspiring to be a top journalist within a major media outlet, reporting on significant global events that shape our world.”
• 11. “To develop a career in finance, eventually becoming a chief financial officer for a well-established corporation.”
• 12. “To obtain a managerial position in the hospitality industry, providing exceptional guest experiences and leading a successful team.”
• 13. “Looking to apply my graphic design skills in a dynamic advertising agency, producing high-quality work for a variety of clients.”
• 14. “To establish myself as a leading real estate agent within the community, known for diligently serving clients and achieving their property dreams.”
• 15. “To become a senior software engineer, specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence, contributing to cutting-edge technology advancements.”
• 16. “Aspire to join an international non-profit organization, focusing on human rights advocacy and contributing to meaningful change.”
• 17. “To earn a position as a lead researcher in a top-tier biotech firm, focusing on the development of life-saving pharmaceuticals.”
• 18. “To be recognized as an expert in environmental law, working to protect natural resources and promote sustainability.”
• 19. “To secure a role as an art director within a prestigious agency, driving creative strategy and inspiring a team of designers.”
• 20. “Aiming to become a chief operations officer, optimizing organizational processes and enhancing overall efficiency.”
• 21. “To advance my career in the field of education technology, developing innovative tools that facilitate learning and growth.”
• 22. “Seeking to become a master electrician, overseeing complex projects and mentoring apprentices in the trade.”
• 23. “To climb the ranks to a senior data analyst role, transforming data into actionable insights that drive business strategy.”
• 24. “To become a leading figure in digital marketing, known for crafting high-impact strategies that generate measurable results.”
• 25. “Aspiring to be an executive chef in a Michelin-starred restaurant, creating world-class cuisine and leading a top-tier culinary team.”
• 26. “To secure a position as a cybersecurity expert, protecting sensitive information from threats and vulnerabilities.”
• 27. “Aiming to be a respected leader in the field of public health, influencing policy and improving community health outcomes.”
• 28. “To establish a career as a professional musician, performing internationally and sharing my passion for music with diverse audiences.”
• 29. “Seeking a role as an aerospace engineer with a focus on sustainable design and innovation in air travel.”
• 30. “To become a leading architect, known for designing eco-friendly and innovative structures that enhance the urban landscape.”
• 31. “To grow into a senior role in supply chain management, optimizing logistics and contributing to the company’s profitability.”
• 32. “Aspiring to become a senior content creator, producing engaging and informative content that resonates with a wide audience.”
• 33. “To secure a position as a labor and delivery nurse, providing compassionate care and supporting families during a pivotal life event.”
• 34. “To become a principal consultant, offering expert advice and solutions to businesses in my area of expertise.”
• 35. “Aiming to be a top sales manager, driving team performance and exceeding company sales targets consistently.”
• 36. “To secure a leadership position within the field of environmental science, contributing to research and advocacy for climate change mitigation.”
• 37. “To become a recognized expert in user experience design, creating intuitive and user-friendly digital products.”
• 38. “Seeking a role as a professional event planner, executing unforgettable events that exceed client expectations.”
• 39. “To advance to a senior technical writer position, producing clear and concise documentation that supports product development.”
• 40. “Aspiring to be a chief diversity officer, fostering an inclusive workplace culture where all employees can thrive.”
• 41. “To become a lead mechanical engineer in the automotive industry, contributing to the development of innovative and efficient vehicles.”
• 42. “To secure a position as a business analyst, helping organizations to improve processes and systems for better performance.”
• 43. “Aiming to become a senior environmental consultant, providing actionable strategies for sustainable business practices.”
• 44. “To establish myself as a professional photographer, capturing moments and stories through my lens for global publications.”
• 45. “Seeking a role as an investment banker, helping companies to grow and investors to achieve their financial goals.”
• 46. “To become a thought leader in digital transformation, guiding enterprises through the integration of new technologies.”
• 47. “Aspiring to be a senior policy advisor, influencing legislation and policy decisions that impact the public sector.”
• 48. “To secure a position as a professional interpreter, facilitating communication in multiple languages for international organizations.”
• 49. “Aiming to become a leading expert in nutritional science, contributing to healthier lifestyles and dietary choices.”
• 50. “To establish a career as a professional speaker and author, sharing my expertise and inspiring others in my field.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you write an effective career goal statement for your resume.

When you write a career goal statement for your resume, start by reflecting on your strengths, skills, and experiences. Then, identify the kind of position you’re aiming for and how your career path aligns with the goals of the company. Use action words and quantify achievements where possible.

What are some examples of short-term career goals in professional development?

Short-term career goals might include obtaining a professional certification, improving specific job-related skills such as public speaking or technical proficiency, or networking to connect with industry leaders. These goals are typically achievable within a few months to two years.

What should be included in a personal career goal statement?

Your personal career goal statement should include your career interests, the competencies you wish to utilize, the type of environment you thrive in, and how you see your career progressing. It gives employers a glimpse into your aspirations and professional philosophy.

Can you give examples of comprehensive goal statements for students?

An example for a student might be: “Graduate with a degree in Environmental Science and secure an internship with a leading sustainability organization, to contribute to effective climate change solutions.” This states the education aim and the practical, immediate objective after graduation.

How do you frame a career goal statement for entry into graduate school?

A career goal statement for graduate school should express your academic interests, how the program aligns with your career plans, and what you intend to accomplish professionally with the advanced degree. This could be working towards a specific research field or role in academia.

What elements make up a compelling and succinct one-sentence career goal?

A compelling one-sentence career goal is specific, mentioning the desired industry or role, is realistic, and includes a timeframe. For example, “To become a certified project manager within the next year and lead technology-related projects in a Fortune 500 company.”

• Career Goals Examples [Professional Advancement]
• Goal Setting: Performance Review Examples (Rating 1 - 5)
• Best Mission Statements Examples [Energy and Chemicals]
• How To Write Accomplishment Statements (Inspiring Examples)
• 65 Examples of Career Aspirations for a Job Interview
• Best Mission Statements Examples [for Travel & Accommodation]

How to write a great goal Statement + 20 Examples

In business, we all work towards goals.  Achieving goals is usually what our work life is centered around.  

However, if these goals are not clearly defined, attainable or managed through to delivery then they are not worth the paper they’re written on, there owners often becoming disillusioned.

Why you need great goal statements

In simple terms, clear goals deliver clear results.

Without clear goal statements, we may not know what our company is trying to achieve (or whether it has achieved it), this leads us to typically waste time on non-value add activities (that we may think, incorrectly, are adding value). 

Unfortunately, not all business set great goals (or even understand how the goals they do set relate to corporate strategy) and many fail badly. Usually, this failure is driven by the setting of either large complex unachievable goals or fuzzy, unclear unrelated goals.

In this post we’re going to look at goal setting methods & goal setting examples, we’ll cover 4 different methods:

• SMART objectives
• CLEAR objectives

What is a goal statement

Goals are usually deployed to drive action and provide direction.  As you can see from the diagram below, goals setting forms part of the hierarchy of strategy and sits underneath the companies vision and mission statements.

Goals are there to help us:

• Understand what we have to do
• Drive step changes in results and help us achieve great things
• Link to a bigger corporate mission
• Bind us emotionally to succeeding
• Facilitate collaboration between teams

Why great goal statements matter?

Which of the following is the best goal statement?

Take a look at the two examples below:

1/ I’m going to be a millionaire

2/ By the time I’m 30 I’m going to own a retail business that will drive revenues enabling me to have a net worth of over one million dollars

Which is best and why?

The goal statement does describe an aspirational step change that is being targeted. When you look more closely at the two, perhaps number one could be best referred to as a dream, while the second contains a target and several measurable details that will enable you to track success.

Neither goal statements state how you will achieve the goal (or whether it’ll require new skills or require you to collaborate with other parties) – it merely describes the end state you’re looking to achieve.

Now consider how this applies to goals in a business setting and what happens if you get your goal statement wrong. Your employees fail to add the value that you require (due to confusion) and money and time are wasted.

How to write a goal statement

So a great goal statement describes an objective to be accomplished, and some details around what the end state will look like when it’s complete (i.e. “cost base reduced by 25%”) and when you expect it to happen.

However, a great goal statement isn’t just about delivering something. Great goal statements drive change both in terms of the business and the owner of the goal (through new skills etc). Great goals tie the owner emotionally to them. And if the goal is a stretch target then those changes are likely to be significant.

Alternatives to SMART goal setting

Chances are if you’re researching Goal setting most people will tell you that you need SMART objectives, and yes we’ll cover that here, but there are other methods.  There are question marks over the use of SMART objectives and their effectiveness to drive significant change, they don’t necessarily work for everyone, indeed many of the alternatives try and build in an emotional link to the goal that you’re trying to achieve which is something that SMART doesn’t typically utilize (there’s a belief that a goal without an emotional or aspirational link is unlikely to be successful) SMART also doesn’t directly drive improved working practices (i.e. collaboration).

Ok so let’s look at some examples of goal setting methods.

1/ SMART Goal setting

The first example we’re going to take a look at is Smart Goals

Smart is an acronym for

• Measurable 

Let’s have a look at those attributes in a little more detail:

The whole purpose of a goal statement is to show what is being targeted by your business to accomplish. The use of language here is very important, for example – consider

a) I want to look at the cost structure

b) I want to reduce costs

Statement (a) is a little fuzzy where (b) clearly states the intent.

As we stated above a goal statement should state clearly what is being accomplished. By clearly defining a measurable requirement (i.e. reduce costs by 25%) you are then able to analyze whether you have accomplished it or not. Many business goals do not take five minutes to finish and may take many weeks months or even years to complete so being able to measure progress and see what tangible improvements have been made is crucial.

Setting a goal that you cannot achieve would be stupid. A smart goal is realistic and is attainable. Well, the objective may be hard to achieve (it might require new skills or financial outlay for example) it should still be sensible.

There is no point in having a goal that is not relevant to your organization success. Relevant goals deliver something worthwhile to your company and apply to the current business strategy.

This refers to the requirement to state clearly how long the objective should take.

Let’s look at some Smart goal statements examples:

1/ Increase our click-through rate on our commerce website by 25% in the next 6 months

2/ Reduce our operating costs by 10% within 6 months and a further 5% in the following 6 months

3/ Introduce a minimum of 2 new product ranges to our European market within the next 18 months

4/ Grow our Social Media following by 15% within the next 12 months

5/ Reduce our Supply Chain Procurement costs by 2.5% by the end of the next financial year 

2/ CLEAR objectives

Clear stands for:

• Collaborative – Goals should specifically drive employees/teams to work together
• Limited – Your goal has a clear scope
• Emotional – Achieves emotional buy-in of the team/individual that you’re setting the goal on (it matters to them, they can visualize the results and the importance to them that it happens). One way of achieving this is by aligning it to their objectives. Having an emotional buy into your objective implies you’re far more likely to achieve it.
• Appreciable – this refers to goals being set at a smaller attainable level so that you can build goals in stages (rather than one massive goal you might have a series of smaller – measurable – goals building to the same result.
• Refinable – As your project moves forward and lessons are learned you should be able to refine your goals. While this might seem an alien concept for some (surely your goals are there to be achieved not modified, it does stand to reason that there should be some form of feedback from the work that you’re doing then being fed into updated goals and objectives (and don’t forget your goals don’t have to be reduced as you learn they can be extended!!).

Here are some examples of CLEAR objectives

1/ To participate in Engineering & Supply chain projects to select 5 parts and launch design for cost projects for each, delivering 5% cost savings on each component selected within the next 18 months.

2/ Marketing & Design departments to launch a customer feedback project and utilize results to prototype & launch 10 new products into the European market within the next 12 months

3/ Quality & Supply Chain teams to introduce a minimum of 5 continuous improvement projects within the 5 worst performing suppliers and deliver a minimum of 15% improvement in on-time delivery

4/ Supply Chain and HR to Develop & launch Personal Development plans for all management grade staff within the next 12 months 

5/ Engineering & Quality Department to launch Key Performance Indicators & root cause program delivering 5% reduction in Drawing updates within the next 12 months

3/ Fast goals

FAST stands for 

• Frequently discussed – How many of us have undertaken our annual review, been set a series of objectives by our boss, only to find that 12 months later, they were not really the priority and barely got a look in? In reality, our Goals need to be a priority for us – the meaning behind frequently discusses is that they should be at the front of our to-do list and of key focus.
• Ambitious – FAST goals take the stance that there is little point in starting on a goal if it’s easily achievable – Goals are there to be challenging. Most businesses want a level of incremental change, setting your goals to be ambitious but achievable helps to drive that
• Specific – Similar to the other methods, this sets specific details around the goals (i.e. time and value-based concepts).
• Transparent – This one is an interesting concept (and has pro’s and con’s) that the other goal-setting methods don’t explicitly utilize that is that goals should be transparent and visible to others.  The reason is, of course, that if you share your objectives with others that it helps to make you accountable – I’m not sure whether this would work in all businesses but clearly would help drive the focus of those receiving goals. Let’s face it you wouldn’t want to turn up to too many team reviews and demonstrate that you’ve not made progress.  

Example FAST goal statements:

1/ Increase our online sales by 20% within the next 12 months 

2/ Reduce our Logistics costs by 15% within 6 months 

3/ Launch 5 new sales channels within the next Financial Year

4/ Reduce outsourcing personnel costs by 15% removing all contractor staff within the next 12 months 

5/ Outsource our Supply Chain Management function, reducing costs by 15%, within the next 12 month period. 

4/ Hard goals

Finally in our list is HARD goals – don’t worry these are not impossible goals that are being set HARD is merely another acronym. HARD goals are centered around the why behind the goal and ensuring the goals deliver a step change. For example, is the goal going to help you achieve something great? Are they going to push you to learn new skills?

It’s not that HARD goals (go check out Mark Murphy ) are written very differently from other goal-setting methods, it’s that the intent behind them is VERY different in that the goals aim to have actual meaning and drive step changes and deliver something to the owner of the goal taking them outside of their comfort zone and teaching them new skills along the way.

HARD stands for:

• Heartfelt – Goals that enrich others (i.e. customers)
• Animated – I can comprehend how the goal will make me feel when I achieve it
• Required – my goals are important to the success of the company
• Difficult – my goals will take work and/or skills (some of which will require learning) to help me achieve them.

1/ Reduce product defects delivering an improvement of 10% on customer returns within the next 6 months.

2/ Reduce Customer wait times on support channels by 15% within the next 12 months

3/ Reduce “delays to start” within the manufacturing facility by 25% within the next 12 months

4/ Improve click-through rate on company website by 15% within the next 6 months

5/ Reduce customer lead times by 10% within the next 12 months

Goal setting is extremely useful but think carefully about what you’re setting out to achieve and select a method that works for you!

This has been an interesting journey into goal setting. Traditionally most of us will look to utilize some form of SMART goals but it’s interesting to delve into other methods and see the pro’s/con’s against using SMART. SMART is more black and white and doesn’t explicitly drive cultural behaviors (such as a collaboration) that your business may want to utilize. The other fascinating aspect for me is how to achieve emotional buy into your objectives. This can be a clear enabler for many.

What do you think? Have you tried alternatives to SMART objectives, how did it work out for you? Maybe you utilize something else?  We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments section below or DM us on Twitter.

Our Content

• Calculators
• Career Skills
• Communications
• Human Resources
• Strategy and Leadership
• Supply Chain Management

11 Professional Goals Statement Examples for Your Next Job Search

There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.

Are you among the many who have been professionally affected by the current recession?

Unprecedented unemployment rates have come along with the COVID pandemic.

In fact, all 50 states plus the District of Columbia have reached unemployment rates greater than their highest recorded during the Great Recession–and rates that have not been reached since data started to be collected in 1948.

If you fell victim to layoffs or furloughs, you may still be job hunting, or you may be miserable in a job that you had to settle for in the meantime.

Or, maybe you’ve been able to hang on in your position, but you don’t see it as a “forever” job .

No matter what your professional situation is right now, if you don’t consider it to be your final career destination, you will want to have a plan to help you get wherever you want to go .

When you know what you’re working toward in the long-term , you will feel a sense of direction and purpose that will make going to work each day make a little more sense in the bigger picture of your life.

So in this article, we will look at how you can create your professional plan through a career goals statement by looking at 11 specific examples of these statements that you can use for your next job search.

But first, let’s review what a career goals statement is and why you should create one. Then, after reading the examples provided, you can tweak them to fit your own unique situation.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

What is a Professional Goals Statement?

A professional goals statement is a clear and specific proclamation of the end result you expect to achieve by accomplishing all of your professional objectives.

Similar to a SMART goal , it clearly states why you do your job, what you intend to achieve, how you’re going to achieve it, and when it will be completed.

This concise statement defines your professional vision, which will help you plan your next career move and communicate your intentions to potential employers.

Here's a video that provides a quick overview of the SMART goal setting and various examples for each area of your life.

No matter what industry you’re in, writing a professional goals statement will help you develop a specific action plan that will guide you toward your professional vision. Your finished statement will give you clarity as you’re working toward your goals and it will keep you motivated and accountable.

Without a professional goals statement, your job is likely going to end up being a passionless pursuit of a bi-weekly paycheck.

You need a target to focus on to maintain the motivation to improve and grow in your career. Your goals statement will turn each day at work from “just another day” to one day closer to achieving your professional dream.

But before looking at some examples, let’s review how to write a career goals statement so you can tailor the examples to your unique professional goals.

How to Write a Career Goals Statement

Keep these tips in mind when writing your statement.

The first question you want to answer is “why?” Without having a purpose behind what you’re doing, your work will be meaningless in the long run and you won’t have the motivation to give it your best effort.

Why is your career interesting to you? What type of lasting change (if any) are you hoping to make? How do your natural strengths line up with the job requirements?

Thinking about these things will help you create a goal that you want rather than one that you think you should have. And you have to want to achieve your goal in order to feel inspired to get to work.

Commit to It

Be confident in your statement–and not just the end result you’re working toward, be confident in the process that will get you there as well. In order to commit to your goals statement, you need to be aware of all the steps you have to take to be successful.

This may require doing some research on the specific professions in your field of work so you can make sure the obstacles you could face won’t overpower your will to succeed.

Research and Plan

Speaking of research, make sure you have the skills , education, knowledge, abilities, and experiences that are required to be successful.

Think about all of the steps you will have to take along the way and include them in your statement. Your career goal should have clear instructions that lead you from the present moment to the finish line.

Don’t Invite Change

While things may come up in your life that force you to alter your course, plan on going full speed ahead until you reach your goal. Don’t leave any components of your career goals statement up for interpretation–anyone should be able to read your statement and understand your plan.

…But Be Flexible

Your goals may change over time as you grow and your life circumstances change . Your professional goals statement should look way into your future, so unexpected events or factors are almost guaranteed to pop up. You need to be able to work around life’s challenges and not let them steer you off track.

Let’s take a look at what this looks like when it all comes together.

1. I will take a step up in my career from being an office assistant to a paralegal in the next four years. I will earn any credentials I need through a Paralegal Studies program, get an internship with a reputable law firm, go to legal networking events, and practice my legal writing skills to meet this goal.

2. I will open my own agency in the next five years that provides medical respite for those in need of housing after a hospital discharge. I will accomplish this by setting up informational interviews with those who currently own this type of business, obtaining a business loan and license, purchasing a house in the community to house those in need, and attending social events to make connections in order to properly staff the business.

3. I will be promoted to Senior Case Manager at my current organization within the next two years. To do this, I will obtain a case management certification , refine my case management skills by networking with other case managers, and communicate my goal for advancement to my supervisor to gain her support.

4. I will change careers by 2025 from being a sales manager to being an accountant. In order to do this, I will go back to school to get a bachelor’s degree in accounting and work alongside my current company’s accountant for at least three hours per month in order to gain real-life experience.

5. I will obtain my Real Estate license within a year by completing 60 hours of approved Pre-Licensing courses and creating an intensive study plan that includes two hours of studying four times per week in order to earn an 80% or above on the licensing test.

6. I will become a Clinical Research Manager by 2030 by pursuing a master’s degree in biology and certification with the Society for Clinical Data Management . In doing this, I will gain an in-depth knowledge of regulations and best practices for clinical trials and become familiar with medical terminology, which will help me secure a relevant position.

7. I will learn to speak Spanish fluently within three years to become a more valued and indispensable member of my team. I will do this by using language-learning software , subscribing to Spanish media, and practicing speaking Spanish with those who are already fluent.

8. I will publish five books in two years by writing for 25 hours per week, completing at least 10,000 words on subjects I’m passionate about. I will learn more about self-publishing by reading at least three books on the topic , which will help me keep my skills current. I will land on at least two best-seller lists by creating a website for my books to gain more readers, hold book signings after each book is published, and engage with fans both online and in-person.

9. I will be promoted to a leadership position within my current company in the next 5 years. I will do this by modeling my passion for the industry to my peers, improving my interpersonal communication skills , serving as a role model, holding myself accountable for my work , and inspiring others to do their best work as well.

10. My professional goal is to increase our membership by 20% by 2025. I will do this with my team by holding bi-weekly informational cocktail hours at the facility and offering incentives for current members to refer people they know for membership.

11. I will open a second branch of my business within the next two years by creating a business and marketing plan, building capital and setting up accounting, hiring employees, and purchasing inventory.

Final Thoughts on Professional Goals Statements

Goals are very motivating factors to have in your professional life. They will help inspire you to get your work done because you will have a clear vision of what you’re working toward and what you need to do to get there. ( Learn the differences between vision and goals. )

Once your goal is documented, you will feel a sense of personal responsibility to complete it.

Take the examples of statements in this article and see if you can tailor any of them to your individual career goals. Doing this is sure to make your goals stick and increase your chances of being successful in your next job search.

The process of writing this statement will force you to consider the hard questions– like what you want for your professional life down the road.

And if you're looking for more resources to help you write professional goal statements, here are some articles that might help:

• 87 Action Verbs for SMART Goals
• 365 Positive Words to Use Daily [A to Z]
• 4 Simple Steps to Write a Career Goal Statement for Work

Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals .

Connie Mathers is a professional editor and freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. When she is not writing, Connie is either spending time with her daughter and two dogs, running, or working at her full-time job as a social worker in Richmond, VA.

Soft Skills

11 minute read

Your Guide to Career Goals Statements (and Why You Need One)

Kat Boogaard

Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Pocket Email

Imagine that it’s a Monday morning, and you’ve just arrived at the office. You sit down at your desk, ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Now, tell me this: What’s on your mind?

Are you thinking through the meetings on your schedule? The emails that need to be answered? The tasks that must be completed that day? All of the above?

If so, you aren’t alone. Our workdays are busy, which means our minds are often consumed by what’s right in front of us. We take things day by day.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with that (after all, that stuff does need to get done). But here’s the problem: It’s far too easy to become overwhelmed by those immediate things, that we neglect to zoom out and get a broader view of what we’re actually working toward (beyond completing that day’s to-do list).

This is exactly where a career goals statement comes in handy. It reminds you of your main objective and gives you a greater sense of direction. So let's look at some career goals statement examples!

What exactly is a career goals statement?

As the name implies, a career goals statement is your personal vision for the future of your career. Think of it as the ultimate target that you’re aiming toward.

For example, perhaps you’re currently employed as a marketing analyst, but your long-term career plan is to start your own marketing agency that primarily serves software clients. Or maybe you’re interested in  starting a small business  in a different field. Your career goals statement should formally document that objective.   Your career goals statement should formally document that objective.

What exactly is meant by “formally document”? Put simply, your goals statement should be written down—it’s not just something that lives in the back of your brain. We’ll talk more about why that’s important soon. But with all of that in mind, here’s what that career goals statement could look like:

I will start my own agency that provides an array of marketing services to clients in the software industry by the year 2025. I will accomplish this by maximizing any marketing position I fill in order to refine my skills, getting involved at community and social events to strengthen my connections, and scheduling informational interviews with current agency owners.

Many graduate schools actually require that a goals statement (otherwise referred to as a personal statement or statement of purpose) or a similar essay be submitted with a student’s application materials.

However, for the sake of simplicity, we’re going to focus on career goals statements that are used personally—for people who want to formalize their objectives and increase their understanding of what they’re working toward in their careers.

Want to learn more?

Take your soft skills to the next level with our comprehensive (and free) ebook!

Why does your career goals statement matter?

At first glance, a career goals statement might seem like an unnecessary formality. But make no mistake, working on your own career goals statement comes with several benefits.

1. It forces you to ask yourself the hard questions

Chances are, your average workday is full of questions. Should you do this or that first? Where’d you put that important file? What should you grab for lunch? Do you have time to snag another coffee ahead of that meeting?

Yes, you’re asking yourself plenty of questions—but you probably aren’t taking any time to reflect on the really important ones. When’s the last time you’ve checked in with yourself about things like:

• What do you envision for your career in another 10 years?
• What more can you do to work toward that vision?
• What tasks or projects make you feel most fulfilled ?
• What tasks or projects make you feel most drained?

Those are exactly the types of questions you’ll need to answer when creating your own career goals statement, and that chance for reflection is valuable for ensuring you don’t get caught up in the minutiae of your day-to-day.

2. It gives you a sense of direction

Have you ever felt sort of rudderless in your career? Like you were just clocking in and out each day for nothing more than a paycheck?

This is another benefit of creating your own career goals statement: It breaks you out of the monotony, dangles a carrot in front of your face, and renews your sense of motivation.

That’s because, as the Goal-Setting Theory explains, goals themselves are incredibly motivating. You feel much more inspired to get to work when you actually have a clear idea of what you’re working toward.

Additionally, focusing on the end game allows you to get a stronger grasp on what skills you’ll need to develop or refine in order to make that goal a reality.

3. It increases your accountability

There’s something almost intimidating about writing your goal down, isn’t there? You’ve documented it—it’s real, and now there’s a greater sense of accountability.

As frightening as it might seem, that’s actually a positive thing. Research shows that people who are able to vividly picture or describe their own goals are anywhere from 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to actually achieve them. What better way to get that clarity than by writing that objective down?

Plus, doing so will help make that goal stick. Other studies show that writing things down improves your memory of them.

5 tips to write your own career goals statement

A career goals statement offers numerous benefits. But what do you need to know to write one for yourself? Let’s cover five tips you should put into play.

1. Invest the time in reflection

Remember when we talked about the opportunity for self-reflection above? Before jumping right in with scribbling down your career goals statement, make sure you actually take the time to do that

This will help you avoid setting a goal that you think you should have and instead focus on one that you want to have.

That’s the most important piece of a goal: It should be something that you actually want to achieve. Setting one only because you think it’s expected of you ultimately won’t do you any good.

2. Get specific

In order for a goal to be impactful and provide the necessary sense of direction, it needs to be specific. Something general like “climb the ladder” or “earn more money” is too ambiguous to ignite any motivation.

When establishing your career goals statement, try using the SMART goals framework. Here’s what that stands for:

Specific: Clearly state what you plan to accomplish (i.e. “start my own marketing agency focused on software clients”).

Measurable: Similarly, outline what your benchmark for success is so that you know when you’ve actually achieved your goal.

Achievable: You don’t want to set yourself up for disappointment, so make sure that your goal isn’t so lofty that it’s unattainable.

Relevant: Ensure that what you want to accomplish is actually relevant to you (this is where that self-reflection really comes in handy!).

Time-bound: A goal is nothing without a deadline for when you plan to achieve it by. Your career goals statement should be somewhat long-term (and not something you want to accomplish by next week). But “long-term” can mean six months to some people and 20 years to others. Get clear on exactly when you want to reach this objective.

3. Use confident language

Your career goals statement isn’t the place for wishy-washy and noncommittal phrases. There’s no starting with, “I really want to...” or “I really hope I can…”

Open your career goals statement with a certain and confident, “ I will .” Not only does that phrase further remove any ambiguity, but it also gives you a nice nugget of encouragement whenever you refer back to it.

4. Develop an action plan

Setting a goal is a great start, but setting a finish line for yourself means nothing if you don’t understand what you’ll do to cross it.

The latter part of your career goals statement should outline the steps you’ll take to accomplish that goal. This gives you a roadmap that you can follow, rather than just saddling yourself with an objective and feeling clueless about how to get started.

5. Be flexible

Here’s one more thing that’s important to recognize: Goals change. Of course, the very purpose of your career goals statement is to give yourself something long-term to work toward, but that doesn’t mean it’ll always be set in stone.

What if after talking to some other agency owners you decide that business ownership really isn’t for you? Or what if you have personal circumstances come up that require you to remain in traditional employment for a while—meaning the 2025 deadline is no longer realistic? Or what if you achieve your goal and need to come up with a brand new one?

Whether good or bad, these things happen, and you need to be flexible and willing to roll with the punches.

If and when your goal shifts, don’t completely trash or delete your previous goal. Instead, keep it and write an entirely new one. It’s interesting to see how your objectives evolve over time, and that progression can actually be quite enlightening and motivating.

Get inspired: 5 career goals statement examples you can learn from

Nothing helps provide some clarity like a solid sample. So with all of the above tips in mind, let’s take a look at a few different career goals statement examples that you can use as inspiration for writing your own .

Career goals statement example #1:

I will be promoted to a Project Lead at CompanyXYZ within the next five years. To do so, I will refine my project management skills, obtain my PMP Certification , and express my desire for growth and advancement to my current supervisor.

Career goals statement example #2:

I will land a job as a Data Analyst at a large financial institution by the end of the year. To accomplish this goal, I will improve my skills in Excel and PowerQuery and connect with other Data Analysts in my network to find out more about their job search processes.

Career goals statement example #3:

I will foster a positive reputation and secure a public speaking gig for a session of over 300 attendees within the next calendar year. I will do this by continuing to refine my public speaking abilities and networking with conference planners in my industry.

Career goals statement example #4:

I will pursue and complete a career change from a Graphic Designer to a Web Developer within three years. To make this happen, I will return to school to get my Associate Degree in Web Development and complete online courses that cover all of the major programming languages.

Career goals statement example #5:

I will gain a Certified Public Accountant license within a year. In order to achieve this, I'll create a study plan and I'll take a CPA exam review course . I'm going to study each day for 2-3 hours after work to pass the CPA exam.

What should you do with your career goals statement?

You did it—you implemented the tips and followed the examples, and now you’re equipped with your own career goals statement. Uhh...now what? What do you do with it?

Keep it somewhere safe. Better yet, keep it somewhere you can easily accessible so that you can refer to it whenever you need a gentle reminder of what you’re working so hard for.

Whether you had a bad day or just need to be encouraged that your career is about so much more than churning through your daily to-do list, your career goals statement will help you step back and get the perspective that’s so easy to lose sight of in your everyday life.

Need to level-up your own skills to make your career goal a reality? Check out all of GoSkills courses and start making things happen.

Gain the soft skills you need to succeed

Start learning for free with GoSkills courses

Loved this? Subscribe, and join 442,030 others.

Get our latest content before everyone else. Unsubscribe whenever.

Kat is a writer specializing in career, self-development, and productivity topics. When she escapes her computer, she enjoys reading, hiking, golfing, and dishing out tips for prospective freelancers on her website.

Recommended

How to Hire the Right Candidate for the Right Job

When using the right strategies, hiring the right job candidate can be seamless and effective.

7 Essential Skills To Help Startups Meet New Challenges

Startups and SMEs face specific challenges that threaten their survival. Make sure your business' growth doesn't lead to its downfall with these 7 tips.

The Future of Sales Careers: How Training, Methods, and Software are Changing

The nature of sales has evolved due to automation, specialization, and changing consumer expectations. This guide explores how such changes are reshaping sales careers.

© 2024 GoSkills Ltd. Skills for career advancement

How it works

Transform your enterprise with the scalable mindsets, skills, & behavior change that drive performance.

Explore how BetterUp connects to your core business systems.

We pair AI with the latest in human-centered coaching to drive powerful, lasting learning and behavior change.

Build leaders that accelerate team performance and engagement.

Unlock performance potential at scale with AI-powered curated growth journeys.

Build resilience, well-being and agility to drive performance across your entire enterprise.

Transform your business, starting with your sales leaders.

Unlock business impact from the top with executive coaching.

Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Accelerate the performance and potential of your agencies and employees.

See how innovative organizations use BetterUp to build a thriving workforce.

Discover how BetterUp measurably impacts key business outcomes for organizations like yours.

A demo is the first step to transforming your business. Meet with us to develop a plan for attaining your goals.

• What is coaching?

Learn how 1:1 coaching works, who its for, and if it's right for you.

Accelerate your personal and professional growth with the expert guidance of a BetterUp Coach.

Types of Coaching

Navigate career transitions, accelerate your professional growth, and achieve your career goals with expert coaching.

Enhance your communication skills for better personal and professional relationships, with tailored coaching that focuses on your needs.

Find balance, resilience, and well-being in all areas of your life with holistic coaching designed to empower you.

Discover your perfect match : Take our 5-minute assessment and let us pair you with one of our top Coaches tailored just for you.

Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth.

View on-demand BetterUp events and learn about upcoming live discussions.

The latest insights and ideas for building a high-performing workplace.

• BetterUp Briefing

The online magazine that helps you understand tomorrow's workforce trends, today.

Innovative research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and more.

Founded in 2022 to deepen the understanding of the intersection of well-being, purpose, and performance

We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion.

Join us and create impactful change.

Read the buzz about BetterUp.

Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce.

For Business

For Individuals

Personal goals that work: 20 examples to get started

Transform your life

Make meaningful changes and become the best version of yourself. BetterUp's professional Coaches are here to support your personal growth journey.

Jump to section

What are personal goals?

How to set personal goals

4 types of personal goals to set for yourself

20 examples of personal goals to get inspired

Start to set personal goals the S.M.A.R.T. way

Are you looking for a feeling of fulfillment and self-development?

Personal goals can help you get there. 

If you’re feeling uninspired with your own personal goals, let’s dive into why they matter so much, how to set them efficiently, and what real personal goals can look like.

Personal development goals help you grow as a person . They exist to give you a long-term vision of how you want to improve yourself over time.

Using your personal goals, you can also create your own personal vision statement . This type of statement can make you more focused and help you make decisions according to your priorities.

Psychology professor Dr. Gail Matthews found that 70% of participants who wrote weekly goal updates to friends achieved their goals successfully. On the other hand, only 35% of people who didn’t write their goals achieved them successfully. 

So not only can you create a personal vision for your life, but you’re also more likely to achieve it by writing those goals down.

Setting personal goals can also help improve your well-being. That’s because you’ll be able to measure your progress and gain more self-confidence and pride in your ability to improve.

To know whether you achieved a goal, you need to set it in a way that’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound . This is also known as setting S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Here’s what it means to set a S.M.A.R.T. goal:

• Specific : Your goal is clear and well-defined
• Measurable : You can measure the progress clearly
• Achievable : Your goal is possible and attainable for you to achieve
• Realistic : Not only should your goal be within reach, but it should also be relevant for your life purpose
• Time-bound : Your goal has a clearly defined timeline and due date

If you set vague goals for yourself, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure. That’s because you will have no way to measure your progress to see if you are moving in the right direction. 

You may not even know when you’ve achieved the goal.

For example, let’s say you set the goal of becoming a great leader . It’s a great thing to aim for, but it’s not specific enough.

How will you know if you are moving in the right direction? At what point do you know you’ve succeeded?

You can set smaller goals towards your bigger goal of becoming a leader instead. For example, you can aim to help at least one person on your team get a raise before the end of the year.

Here are some other tips to help you set your S.M.A.R.T. goals:

• Get in the mindset of setting life goals by reading personal growth books
• Ask yourself why you’re setting a goal before you set it do so
• Set goals about things you can control
• Phrase your goal in a positive tone — for example, “Do one hour of physical activity each evening” instead of “Watch less TV in the evening”
• For each goal, create an action plan and a to-do list

There are several types of personal goals to set for yourself as you do your inner work . Here are four examples:

1. Financial goals

Financial goals are related to your personal finances. They can help you stay on top of your budget or work towards a specific investment strategy.

2. Personal goals for work

You can set big goals for your career, not just for your personal life. These development goals should be centered on you, not your organization.

Some professional goals can be personal, but others can be related to the betterment of your organization. For example, developing an inclusive leadership and team isn’t as personal as completing a degree or certification.

3. Growth goals

Growth goals can relate to self-improvement. But they don’t have to be directly related to your career. You can improve yourself for the sake of fulfillment and self-confidence.

4. Health goals

Health goals are personal goals that can help you improve your health. These can be fitness goals, or they can relate to mental health and mental fitness.

20 examples of personal goals to get inspired 

Here is a personal goals list you can use to inspire your own personal goal-setting journey in all areas of your life.

Financial goals

Let’s take a look at five financial goals:

• Pay off all your debt within one year

Clearing your debt will allow you to put more money into your savings. It can also improve your credit.

Choose a timeline that makes sense for you. Some people can realistically clear their debt within a year. Others can do so within two or three years. Some may be able to do it within a few months.

You should also write down all your debts so that your goal is clear.

• Save $10,000 (or a month's paycheck) per year for retirement

Saving for retirement is a long-term goal. You can save a specific amount every year. Or you can aim for a specific number to have by your retirement.

Every year, you’ll be able to measure your progress. That’s as long as you set a specific number as your goal.

• Reduce your spending by 20%

If you’ve realized you’re spending too much, you can strive to cut down that spending. But just saying “spend less” isn’t specific enough.

There are several ways to set a spending goal. You can choose to reduce your spending by a certain percentage. Or you can create categories and aim to spend no more than a specific amount in each category.

Finally, you can set the goal of reducing your spending in certain categories only, like restaurants or online shopping.

• Build an emergency fund for three months of living expenses within one year

Short-term goals for savings are also important, too. Having an emergency fund is helpful in the case of unemployment or a medical emergency or illness. 

But this fund can also help if you have unexpected expenses like car or home repairs.

A fund that could cover your living expenses for three to six months is a good number to strive for. So, if the cost of living in your household is $2,500 per month, aim to save between $7,500–$15,000.

Once again, your timeline should be realistic and tailored to your own financial situation.

• Save for a down payment for a home within two years

If you want to purchase a home or upgrade your current home, you can set the goal of saving for a down payment. 

You should choose a specific number for your down payment. Take a look at the current market. If you think you need a house that will be worth $350,000, you’ll need to save at least $70,000 if you plan on to putting down 20%.

You may also want to save up for more if you anticipate needing renovations.

Career goals

Let’s take a look at five goals you can set for your career:

• Expand your network by introducing yourself to at least 10 people once a month

Building your network is vital to furthering your career. It can also improve your social well-being . 31% of job seekers find new job listings through professional people they know. 23% of people also submit their resumes through friends and former colleagues.

However, ‘build my network’ isn’t a S.M.A.R.T. goal. You can instead plan to attend one networking event every month. You can also push this goal further by aiming to introduce yourself to at least 10 people (or less or more) at each event.

• Get your master’s degree within five years

Sometimes getting a new or more advanced degree can help further your career. You can also aim for this type of goal if you want to change careers.

But if you set the personal goal of getting a new degree, you should specify which one and how long it will take to complete. 

You should also set a timeline for yourself. A timeline that’s appropriate for you will depend on how much free time you have.

• Learn a new programming language in six months to keep your skills more relevant

Even if your job doesn’t require you to learn a programming language, there may be some elements of job tasks that learning this skill could improve. And, given the prominence of code in our lives, making an effort to learn will give you a greater understanding of other issues, even if your work doesn't require programming.

This is just an example of a new skill to learn. Any skill that can make your work more efficient can be a good goal.

• Become manager within two years

It’s important to know where you’re headed in your career. When you know where you want to go, you can make the right decisions and develop the necessary skills to get there .

You can set a long-term goal, like becoming CEO before you retire. But you can also set mid-term goals, like becoming a manager within two years.

• Mentor a coworker until they get a promotion

Helping others achieve their own goals can be a gratifying experience. 

Wanting to mentor someone is a vague goal, but you can refine it. For instance, you can aim to support a specific coworker’s career until they get their next promotion.

You can also create a plan for how you want to mentor them.

Growth goals

Let’s take a look at five goal examples for personal growth:

• Wake up at 5 a.m. every morning

Running out of time to work on improving yourself? Getting up earlier could be your solution.

Waking up at 5 a.m. isn’t for everyone. If you concentrate better in the evening, maybe you need to carve out an hour before bed instead.

• Become conversational in a foreign language before a trip

Many people aim to learn a new language. But it can take years to see true progress without S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Determine why you want to learn a new language. Let’s say you’re going on a trip to Japan. You’ll need to know enough of the language to have a basic conversation. You’ll also need to know how to read.

These can be your specific goals before your trip.

Afterward, you can set a new milestone for yourself. For example, you can learn how to write in a foreign language within the next year.

• Learn how to grow leaf lettuce before the summer is over

Learning how to garden can help you grow your own food. Aim to succeed with specific produce every year.

You can start with easy ones like leaf lettuce. As you become better, you can set the goal of succeeding with more difficult produce like artichokes.

• Become good enough at public speaking skills to give your next project presentation to the entire company 

When you’re improving soft skills, like communication skills , it can be difficult to track your progress. With public speaking, for example, there’s no objective test to measure your progress.

However, you can find public speaking opportunities to practice your skills. You can then measure your comfort level.

When you’re ready for a specific event — like the next project presentation in front of your entire company — you can aim to practice until you feel confident enough to do it.

• Volunteer once a month at the local shelter

People who volunteer with the goal of helping others tend to live longer .

If you want to start volunteering, determine what you’ll do and how often. If you have several causes you want to support, you can have a list of volunteering goals.

Health goals

Finally, let’s take a look at five goals you could set to improve your health:

• Train three times a week for 45 minutes at the gym

Want to be more active? Be specific about it. Choose an activity that excites you.

Perhaps you want to power lift at the gym. Or maybe you prefer to run. Whatever activity you choose, make sure to specify how often and for how long you’ll do it.

• Perform a triathlon within a year

Instead of weekly training goals, you can also aim for an outcome.

A triathlon is a specific physical outcome that’s the same everywhere you go. Look up your local triathlons to see how long you have to train for the next one.

• Meditate every morning for five minutes (and work up to 10 minutes within a month)

Meditation can help you fine-tune your gratitude practice . But it can be difficult to start with 10-20 minutes at once.

Instead, aim to work up to your goal time on a specific date.

• Start journaling for 10 minutes every evening before bed

Journaling is another way to develop gratitude. You can measure journaling with time.

But, you can also measure it with the number of pages. For example, you can aim to write one page every evening.

• Eat at least five portions of vegetables every day

If you want to develop a diet that fuels you, make sure to set specific guidelines. You can start with one aspect of your diet. For example, you can aim to eat at least five portions of veggies each day.

When you get used to it, you can add another goal, like increasing your water intake.

Personal goals can provide structure and focus.

But make sure you make every goal a S.M.A.R.T. goal so that you can effectively work towards them.

With BetterUp coaching, you can get help to set fulfilling personal goals. 

Get a demo to start your goal-setting journey today .

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

Emotional goals: 20 examples and how to reach them

Empower your work with stretch goals (plus examples), moving toward your dreams or just moving yearly goals can help, feel better with help from personal health goals, do goal statements actually work find out here, 4 steps to create a personal vision statement and change your life, how lifestyle coaching can change your life, 8 examples for setting professional development goals at work, going somewhere write the 5-year plan you need to achieve it, similar articles, 20 family goals to practice with your loved ones, what is a short-term goal 44 examples to jump-start your year, 60 goals for 2024 to inspire you to take action, get closer to your dreams: 20 examples of monthly goals that work, own your personal development: self-improvement goals that motivate, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702

• Platform Overview
• Integrations
• Powered by AI
• BetterUp Lead
• BetterUp Manage™
• BetterUp Care™
• Sales Performance
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Case Studies
• Why BetterUp?
• About Coaching
• Find your Coach
• Career Coaching
• Communication Coaching
• Life Coaching
• News and Press
• Leadership Team
• Become a BetterUp Coach
• BetterUp Labs
• Center for Purpose & Performance
• Leadership Training
• Business Coaching
• Contact Support
• Contact Sales
• Privacy Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Trust & Security
• Cookie Preferences

Work Life is Atlassian’s flagship publication dedicated to unleashing the potential of every team through real-life advice, inspiring stories, and thoughtful perspectives from leaders around the world.

Contributing Writer

Work Futurist

Senior Quantitative Researcher, People Insights

Principal Writer

How to write SMART goals

It’s easier to succeed when you have clearly defined objectives that are based in reality.

Get stories about tech and teams in your inbox

5-second summary

• Teams often fall short of meeting their goals due to a lack of consensus on the definition of success.
• SMART goals use a specific set of criteria to help ensure that objectives are clearly defined and attainable within a certain timeframe.
• Working through each step of creating a SMART goal can reveal instances where priorities and resources are out of alignment.

Meet Jane. She’s a product manager at a mid-sized tech company – let’s call it Techfirm, Inc. Jane has been tasked with increasing usage of Techfirm’s mobile app.

She knows she’ll need all hands on deck to make this happen, but when Jane has set team-wide goals in the past, they’ve quickly fallen off track. Nobody seemed to have a clear understanding of what success should look like; progress wasn’t monitored closely enough, and inevitably, that important objective slipped to the back burner (before toppling off the stove entirely).

That’s why, this time around, Jane plans to leverage SMART goals for setting an action plan and staying the course.

Want to get started right now?

Use our template to define the different components of your SMART goal.

What are SMART goals?

The SMART in SMART goals stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

Defining these parameters as they pertain to your goal helps ensure that your objectives are attainable within a certain time frame. This approach eliminates generalities and guesswork, sets a clear timeline, and makes it easier to track progress and identify missed milestones.

An example of a SMART-goal statement might look like this: Our goal is to [quantifiable objective] by [timeframe or deadline]. [Key players or teams] will accomplish this goal by [what steps you’ll take to achieve the goal]. Accomplishing this goal will [result or benefit].

Let’s use Jane’s objective to work through each component.

S: Specific

In order for a goal to be effective, it needs to be specific. A specific goal answers questions like:

• What needs to be accomplished?
• Who’s responsible for it?
• What steps need to be taken to achieve it?

Thinking through these questions helps get to the heart of what you’re aiming for. Here’s an example of a specific goal Jane might come up with:

Grow the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns.

M: Measurable

Don’t underestimate the outsized impact of short-term goals

Specificity is a solid start, but quantifying your goals (that is, making sure they’re measurable) makes it easier to track progress and know when you’ve reached the finish line.

Jane and her product team want to grow the number of their mobile app users – but by how much? If they get even one new signup, that’s technically positive growth – so does that mean they’re done? Same goes for their strategy – how many platforms will they advertise on? 

To make this SMART objective more impactful, Jane should incorporate measurable, trackable benchmarks.

Increase the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by 1,000 by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns for four social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

A: Achievable

This is the point in the process when you give yourself a serious reality check. Goals should be realistic –  not  pedestals from which you inevitably tumble. Ask yourself: is your objective something your team can reasonably accomplish?

Jane might look at her goal and realize that, given her small team and their heavy workload, creating ad campaigns for four social platforms might be biting off more than they can chew. She decides to scale back to the three social networks where she’s most likely to find new clients.

Increase the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by 1,000 by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns for three social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Safeguarding the achievability of your goal is much easier when you’re the one setting it. However, that’s not always the case. When goals are handed down from elsewhere, make sure to communicate any restraints you may be working under. Even if you can’t shift the end goal, at least you can make your position (and any potential roadblocks) known up-front.

R: Relevant

Here’s where you need to think about the big picture. Why are you setting the goal that you’re setting? Jane knows that the app is a huge driver of customer loyalty, and that an uptick in their app usage could mean big things for the company’s bottom-line revenue goals. Now she revises her statement to reflect that context.

Grow the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by 1,000 by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns for three social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Because mobile users tend to use our product longer, growing our app usage will ultimately increase profitability.

T: Time-bound

To properly measure success, you and your team need to be on the same page about when a goal has been reached. What’s your time horizon? When will the team start creating and implementing the tasks they’ve identified? When will they finish?

SMART goals should have time-related parameters built in, so everybody knows how to stay on track within a designated time frame.

When Jane incorporates those dates, her SMART goal is complete.

Grow the number of monthly users of Techfirm’s mobile app by 1,000 within Q1 of 2022. This will be accomplished by optimizing our app-store listing and creating targeted social media campaigns, which will begin running in February 2022, on three social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Since mobile is our primary point of conversion for paid-customer signups, growing our app usage will ultimately increase sales.

Knowing how to set goals using the SMART framework can help you succeed in setting and attaining goals, no matter how large or small.

Get stories like this in your inbox

Advice, stories, and expertise about work life today.

The Essential Guide to Writing SMART Goals

By Kate Eby | January 9, 2019

• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn

Link copied

In this article, you’ll find the latest tips and examples to help you create and execute on SMART goals. We’ve also provided a free, downloadable SMART goals template to get you started.

Included on this page, you’ll find examples of SMART goals , a customizable SMART goals worksheet , and the best project management tool to use to put your plan in action.

What Are SMART Goals?

SMART goals are a relatively new idea. In 1981, George T. Doran, a consultant and former director of corporate planning for Washington Water Power Company, published a paper called, “There’s a SMART Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives.” In the document, he introduces SMART goals as a tool to create criteria to help improve the chances of succeeding in accomplishing a goal.

See how Smartsheet can help you deliver on SMART goals

Smartsheet is a cloud-based platform that allows teams and organizations to plan, manage, and report on work, helping you move faster and achieve your goals. See Smartsheet in action.  

Watch a free demo

What Does the SMART Acronym Stand For?

The acronym stands for:

S – Specific

When setting a goal, be specific about what you want to accomplish. Think about this as the mission statement for your goal. This isn’t a detailed list of how you’re going to meet a goal, but it should include an answer to the popular ‘w’ questions:

• Who – Consider who needs to be involved to achieve the goal (this is especially important when you’re working on a group project).
• What – Think about exactly what you are trying to accomplish and don’t be afraid to get very detailed.
• When – You’ll get more specific about this question under the “time-bound” section of defining SMART goals, but you should at least set a time frame.
• Where – This question may not always apply, especially if you’re setting personal goals, but if there’s a location or relevant event, identify it here.
• Which – Determine any related obstacles or requirements. This question can be beneficial in deciding if your goal is realistic. For example, if the goal is to open a baking business, but you’ve never baked anything before, that might be an issue. As a result, you may refine the specifics of the goal to be “Learn how to bake in order to open a baking business."
• Why – What is the reason for the goal? When it comes to using this method for employees, the answer will likely be along the lines of company advancement or career development.

M – Measurable

What metrics are you going to use to determine if you meet the goal? This makes a goal more tangible because it provides a way to measure progress. If it’s a project that’s going to take a few months to complete, then set some milestones by considering specific tasks to accomplish.

A – Achievable

This focuses on how important a goal is to you and what you can do to make it attainable and may require developing new skills and changing attitudes. The goal is meant to inspire motivation, not discouragement. Think about how to accomplish the goal and if you have the tools/skills needed. If you don’t currently possess those tools/skills, consider what it would take to attain them.

R – Relevant

Relevance refers focusing on something that makes sense with the broader business goals. For example, if the goal is to launch a new product, it should be something that’s in alignment with the overall business objectives. Your team may be able to launch a new consumer product, but if your company is a B2B that is not expanding into the consumer market, then the goal wouldn’t be relevant.

T – Time-Bound

Anyone can set goals, but if it lacks realistic timing, chances are you’re not going to succeed. Providing a target date for deliverables is imperative. Ask specific questions about the goal deadline and what can be accomplished within that time period. If the goal will take three months to complete, it’s useful to define what should be achieved half-way through the process. Providing time constraints also creates a sense of urgency.

The Easiest Way to Write SMART Goals

When it comes to writing SMART goals, be prepared to ask yourself and other team members a lot of questions. The answers will help fine-tune your strategy, ensuring the goals are something that’s actually attainable. While you should be as realistic as possible, it’s important to approach writing SMART goals with a positive attitude. After all, this is something that you want to achieve.

This doesn’t have to be a daunting experience; in fact, it should be quite illuminating. Later in the article, we demonstrate how to write SMART goals for two typical business scenarios: completing a project and improving personal performance. Below, we’ve included an easy-to-use SMART goals template in Word, along with a template to help you plan and manage your goals in Smartsheet.  

‌ Download the SMART Goals Template in Word

Execute on SMART Goals with Project Management in Smartsheet

Once you’ve defined your SMART goals, it’s essential to put a plan in place to achieve them. To help with execution, you need a tool that enables you to plan, track, manage, automate, and report on your goals in real-time.

One such tool is Smartsheet, a work execution platform that enables enterprises and teams to get from idea to impact - fast. With a collaborative, real-time objectives tracker in Smartsheet, you can increase transparency and improve accountability across your initiatives.

Get the Team Objectives Tracker for Free

Plus, top project management leaders rely on Smartsheet to help align the right people, resources, and schedules to get work done. Use Smartsheet to create consistent project elements, increase speed, and improve collaboration with scalable options that fit individual work preferences. Hold yourself and your team accountable, improve visibility into team priorities, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Discover how Smartsheet can help maximize your project management efforts, today.

Try Smartsheet for Free

Examples of SMART Goals

Here are two examples of initial goals we'll use to walk through this process:

• I want to complete a project
• I want to improve my performance

This is a typical approach to creating goals, but both of these are very vague. With the current wording, the goals probably aren’t going to be attainable. The statements lack specifics, timelines, motivation, and a reality check.

Now, let’s use the SMART goals formula to clarify both and create new and improved goals.

Goal 1: I want to complete a project

• Specific: Many people are accessing our current site from their mobile devices. Since it’s not a responsive site, it provides a poor experience for customers. I want to launch a mobile app for my company website by the end of Q2, which requires involvement from software development, design, and marketing.
• Measurable: Creating a mobile app for our company site will require a lot of resources. To make it worthwhile, I’d like to have 50,000 installs of the site within six months of launch. I’d also like to show a 5% conversion rate from customers using the mobile site.
• Achievable: The departments that will be involved have signed-off on creating a mobile app. I’ll need to manage the project and set milestones to keep everyone motivated and on target.
• Relevant: Improving the customer experience on mobile devices is a core initiative for my company this year.
• Time-Bound: In order to achieve 50,000 mobile app installs and a 5% conversion rate by the end of the fiscal year, the app will need to be launched by Q2 with a robust marketing campaign that should continue through the end of the year.

Goal 2: I want to improve my performance

• Specific: I received low marks on my ability to use PowerPoint at my last performance review. Improving my skills requires that I learn how to use PowerPoint efficiently and practice using it by creating various presentations. I’d like to be more proficient using PowerPoint in time for my next review in six months.
• Measurable: By the time of my next review, I should be able to create presentations that incorporate graphs, images, and other media in a couple of hours. I should also be able to efficiently use and create templates in PowerPoint that my coworkers can also use.
• Achievable: Improving my PowerPoint skills is instrumental in moving forward in my career and receiving a better performance review. I can set time aside every week to watch PowerPoint tutorials and even enroll in an online class that can teach me new skills. I can also ask coworkers and my manager for PowerPoint tips.
• Relevant: Working with PowerPoint is currently 25% of my job. As I move up in the company, I’ll need to spend 50% of my time creating PowerPoint presentations. I enjoy my career and want to continue to grow within this company.
• Time-Bound: In six months, I should be proficient in PowerPoint ensuring it only occupies 25% of my workload instead of the nearly 40% of the time it occupies now.

Once you go through and write your goals according to each SMART characteristic, you can then combine and consolidate all the work you’ve done into one SMART goal.

SMART goal: I want to complete a project

• Description: Improving the customer experience on mobile devices is a core initiative for my company this year, so we are going to create a mobile app. By the end of the fiscal year, there should be 50,000 installs of the mobile app we develop, and it should produce a 5% conversion rate. We’ll build the mobile app in-house and launch it by the end of Q2 with an app-related marketing campaign that will continue to the end of the year.
• Milestone: Mobile app launches end of Q2.
• Deadline: End of the fiscal year.

SMART goal: I want to improve my performance

• Description: To grow in my career, I need to improve my PowerPoint skills. By taking online classes and reviewing tutorials, I’ll improve my PowerPoint skills so that it only requires 25% of my work time.
• Milestone: Complete an online PowerPoint course in three months.
• Deadline: Next employee review in six months.

Discover more project management tips, template, and best practices in our comprehensive Project Management Guide .

Establishing Clarity Around Success and Failure of Goals

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

Looking for more

See why Smartsheet is the leading enterprise platform for modern work management.

Recommended articles.

28 SMART Goals for Smart Project Managers

SMART Project Objective Templates

OKRs vs SMART Goals

Discover why over 90% of fortune 100 companies trust smartsheet to get work done..

10 Smart Goal Examples (and How to Use Them)

You can’t beat the feeling of achieving a hard-earned goal. But no matter how fulfilling the payoff is, it’s often not enough to push us past our comfort zone to cross the finish line. Often, we need some help keeping ourselves and our teams focused, efficient, and motivated.

This is where SMART goals come in. With the SMART goal framework, you can set meaningful goals and track your progress toward completing them. Let’s take a look at the framework, how to use it, and some examples and tips to help you make and nail your own SMART goals.

Start selling online now with Shopify

What are SMART goals?

→ Click Here to Launch Your Online Business with Shopify

SMART goals are a methodology for setting goals in a structured, well-defined, and actionable way. SMART is an acronym that stands for:

• Specific. What is it exactly that you’re trying to achieve?
• Measurable. What things will change to tell you that you’ve achieved the goal?
• Attainable. Is it a reasonable, achievable goal, or is it too much to pull off?
• Relevant. How does it tie into the “bigger picture” of what you’re trying to accomplish, whether it’s business or life goals?
• Time-bound. What day and/or time will you achieve the goal by?

The origin of the SMART framework

The SMART framework was created by consultant and corporate planning director George T. Doran . It was first published in a 1981 issue of the journal Management Review to help write management goals and objectives in a better way.

It’s been adapted over time—you can see this by the fact that his original SMART acronym was slightly different from the one we’re using. (Doran’s was Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, and Time-bound.)

How to write SMART goals

Let’s look at some fundamentals as you set your SMART objectives. We’ll break them down based on each of the five elements.

Specific. Be as granular as possible in describing exactly what it is you want to do, instead of vague language that’s hard to track and measure. For example, instead of saying “Get more sales,” try something more specific, like “Increase revenue by 50% by the end of the year.”

Measurable. Outline how you’ll be sure you’ve achieved the goal, using numbers or milestones if possible. In the example above, you could keep the milestone at a 50% increase, or you can use the specific dollar amount that the extra 50% would bring you to, like $100,000. Some milestone examples that meet the smart criteria include getting a certification, submitting a competition entry, or building a functional prototype.

Attainable. Make sure it’s a reasonable, achievable goal within the timeline you set. For example, if there are only 2 months left in the year, it’s probably going to be unrealistic to increase your revenue by that much. You should always dream big, but keep those big dreams in a place where you can reach them.

Relevant. Think about how this smaller goal ties into the “bigger picture,” whether you’re working toward business or life goals. In this example, an increase in revenue is almost always aligned with a long-term goal of many businesses, which is to keep growing and becoming more profitable.

Time-bound. Choose a target date or deadline to keep you motivated and able to track progress. In our example, the deadline is the end of the year. We know what needs to be done in the interim, which helps us to further break the task down into smaller actionable steps.

10 examples of SMART goals

Now that you understand what they are and how to write them, let’s look at some SMART goal examples to inspire you.

These 10 SMART goal-setting examples showcase how you can create powerful personal, business, work, and leadership goals.

1. SMART goal for getting fit

I’m going to follow the Nike app training program to run a marathon without stopping, six months from now.

Interpretation:

• Specific: I’m going to start running daily and train for a marathon.
• Measurable: I will follow the Nike app training program to run a full marathon without stopping.
• Achievable: I have done some running before, my body is reasonably healthy, and the marathon is six months from now.
• Relevant: I want to become a fit, healthy, and strong person—I want to be full of vitality, energy, and zest for life.
• Time-bound: I have signed up for a marathon six months from now.

2. SMART goal for completing a personal project

I’m going to write a 60,000-word novel in six months, finishing on June 30. I will do this by writing 2,500 words per week.

• Specific: I’m going to write a 60,000-word sci-fi novel.
• Measurable: I will finish writing 60,000 words in six months.
• Achievable: I will write 2,500 words per week.
• Relevant: I’ve always dreamed of becoming a professional writer.
• Time-bound: I will start writing tomorrow, January 1, and finish June 30.

3. SMART goal for improving relationships

I will call David, Sarah, and Mom twice per week for three months to develop my relationships with them.

• Specific: I will develop my relationships with David, Sarah, and Mom.
• Measurable: I will call each of these people twice per week.
• Achievable: I talk to these people regularly, and we always say how it would be nice to talk more.
• Relevant: I want to deepen my social ties, feel more loved and supported in my life, and support those I love.
• Time-bound: I will stick to this plan for three months, then re-evaluate and plan my next steps.

4. SMART goal example for starting a business

I will start a dropshipping business with Shopify on Saturday. I will spend one hour on this business each day and work to land my first sale within two weeks.

• Specific: I will start a dropshipping business .
• Measurable: I will work on my business for one hour each day, and the goal is to land my first sale within two weeks.
• Achievable: I have watched some videos on dropshipping and know that I can use Shopify to start a business quickly .
• Relevant: I want to quit my job, work from home, and be my own boss .
• Time-bound: I will begin on Saturday and land my first sale within two weeks.

5. SMART goal example for marketing a business

I will begin a Facebook Ads course tomorrow and start investing 30% of my business profits into paid campaigns within one week. I will continue to learn and invest in Facebook Ads to double my sales within three months.

• Specific: I’m going to learn how to use Facebook Ads and invest 30% of my profits into this marketing channel.
• Measurable: The goal is to double my sales within three months.
• Achievable: I have a reasonably successful small business that is ready to handle a growth in sales.
• Relevant: I want to make six-figures per year working from home.
• Time-bound: I will start a Facebook Ads course tomorrow and start running paid campaigns within one week. Then, I’ll continue to learn and scale-up, and evaluate my results in three months.

6. SMART goal example for growing a business

I will hire a VA to manage customer service inquiries within two weeks to free up time. I’ll use this time to research and add five new products to my store before the end of the month.

• Specific: I’m going to hire a virtual assistant (VA) to manage customer service inquiries for me. That way, I can free up time to conduct product research and add new products to my store.
• Measurable: The goal is to hire a VA and add five new products to my store.
• Achievable: I have some experience hiring freelancers on Upwork, and I understand how to find winning products .
• Relevant: I aim to work on my business, not in my business so that I can grow my income and work less hours.
• Time-bound: I will hire a VA within two weeks and then add five new products to my store within one month.

7. SMART goal example for landing a dream job

I will land my dream job working for a SaaS company like Shopify and travel long-term as a digital nomad. To achieve this, I will apply to one job per week for two months—submitting a total of eight job applications.

• Specific: I’m going to become a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist for a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) company like Shopify and work remotely.
• Measurable: I will apply to a minimum of eight job applications within two months.
• Achievable: I’ve worked as an SEO specialist for two years in an office for an accounting firm, and I’m good at my job.
• Relevant: I want to collaborate with interesting people, contribute to something innovative, and join a company with room for me to grow. Also, I want to travel long term as a digital nomad .
• Time-bound: I will apply to eight suitable job applications within two months by submitting one application per week.

8. SMART goal example for earning a promotion

I’m going to land a promotion to become a senior SEO specialist at my company. I will do this by taking on an additional work project within two weeks, completing the required training within six weeks, and submitting my application within eight weeks.

• Specific: I’m going to earn a promotion and become a senior SEO specialist.
• Measurable: I will complete the required training and submit my application. I will also take on an additional work project to demonstrate my readiness to shoulder more responsibility.
• Achievable: I’ve worked as an SEO specialist for three years, and my work has produced significant results. Also, my company is looking to take on another senior SEO specialist at the end of this quarter.
• Relevant: I want to keep learning and challenging myself as I progress in my career.
• Time-bound: I will take on one additional work project within the next two weeks, complete the required training within six weeks, and submit my application within eight weeks.

9. SMART goal example for improving team results

I will lead my team to improve our qualification process so that the team only calls high qualified leads that are likely to purchase. We aim to increase sales by 5% within three months.

• Specific: I’m going to help my team qualify sales leads better, so they only spend their time selling to people who are likely to purchase.
• Measurable: The goal is to increase the team’s sales by 5%.
• Achievable: We’ve identified the top reason our leads don’t purchase: they don’t fully match our target market . If we can ensure everyone we call matches our target market, our sales will likely increase.
• Relevant: Our core aim is to grow company sales by more than 20% this year.
• Time-bound: We aim to increase sales by 5% within three months before re-evaluating our strategy.

10. SMART goal example for managing a team

I will improve team communication and free up wasted time by implementing a team messaging solution within two weeks. The aim is to cut the time spent on messaging from an average of 1.5 hours to 45 minutes per day per team member within onbe month.

• Specific: I’m going to help the team communicate better to free up time wasted on communication inefficiencies. This way, the team can spend this time on their core responsibilities instead.
• Measurable: Our time-tracking software shows that team members spend an average of 1.5 hours per day on email. We aim to cut this time in half to 45 minutes per day.
• Achievable: We can avoid the confusion created by long email chains with a team messaging solution like Slack. If we implement a messaging solution, it’s plausible that we can drastically reduce the time spent on email.
• Relevant: I want to empower my team to produce their best work and increase their impact by reducing time wasted on unnecessary and inefficient tasks.
• Time-bound : We will implement a messaging solution within two weeks and half the time spent on communication within the next month

5 tips for using SMART goals

1. Break larger goals into smaller ones

If your goal feels overwhelming, or if you feel like there are a lot of moving parts to keep track of, break it down into smaller goals. This way, you’ll be able to move through the process in a linear way, clearing out any dependencies that are getting in the way of advancing.

2. Share with everyone involved

Naturally, you’ll share your SMART goals with anyone who’s directly involved in making them happen. But you might also consider sharing with others who are involved, but not necessarily in a direct way. These third parties can help keep you accountable and motivated, and you’ll all be on the same page.

3. Physically write them down

If you keep the goal in your head, the odds dramatically increase that you might forget or unintentionally move the target. By writing them down, you’re ensuring that they stay crystal clear. Try putting your goal somewhere noticeable, like a sticky note on your desk or a calendar alert as you hit critical milestones.

4. Pivot or tweak as needed

As with many things in life, it might not work out as you planned. (It’s practically a guarantee that this will happen eventually.) When roadblocks or changes come up, keep a flexible and creative mindset so you can roll with the punches. Think about how you can make adjustments while still keeping the main objective intact.

5. Failure is OK—learn from it

Building off the previous point: sometimes, staying flexible isn’t enough. Don’t be deterred by failure. It’s a natural part of life, and even the world’s most successful people have plenty of failures that taught them valuable lessons to get where they are now.

Leading with your own smart goal

If you’re struggling to meet your goals, or looking for an interesting new way to frame them, SMART goal setting might be right up your alley. When you follow each of the five steps, you’ll have a clear and straightforward path to work toward. You’ll also be able to better coordinate and collaborate with others, whether they’re your team, stakeholders, or friends and family.

Want to learn more?

• How to Improve Yourself: 20 Practical Self-Improvement Tips
• 10 Benefits of Reading Books: Why You Should Read Every Day
• How to Motivate Yourself: 20 Ways to Find Motivation
• 11 Best Motivational Podcasts That Will Unleash Your Potential

Ecommerce CRM: Definition, Function, and How to Choose

Discover how ecommerce CRM can revolutionize your operations and business. Get insights on functions and choosing the r…

56 Small Business Ideas To Make Money in 2024

Find a list of 56 small business ideas that’ll make you money in 2024. Thousands of entrepreneurs have implemented them…

300+ Best Instagram Captions to Boost Engagement and Branding

Looking for the best Instagram captions? Here are 300+ ideas you can use for campaigns

Oberlo uses cookies to provide necessary site functionality and improve your experience. By using our website, you agree to our privacy policy.

• AI Content Shield
• AI KW Research
• AI Assistant
• SEO Optimizer
• AI KW Clustering
• Customer reviews
• The NLO Revolution
• Press Center
• Help Center
• Content Resources
• Facebook Group

Goal Statement Examples: How to Craft Unique Goal Statements

Table of Contents

Words say the most. Writing goal statements can be lengthy, and the most difficult part for many is the challenge of wording a goal well.

As you craft your own goals, there are certain aspects that you may not be thinking about at first. The future tense is one of those aspects that many people neglect. Future-tense verbs show a sense of dedication and commitment.

In this post, We will address the techniques for crafting unique goal statements and give various examples to guide you in writing yours. Let’s dive in!

What Exactly Is a Goal?

A goal is a word, sentence, or paragraph that indicates the outcome you are shooting for. A goal can also be called a “thesis statement,” “personal statement,” or “statement of purpose.”

The term ‘goal’ refers to the main objective you wish to achieve. It is the result you are pursuing. It revolves around two essential factors: Purpose and time frame.

What Is a Goal Statement?

A goal statement is a document that spells out your objective . It’s a summary of the reasons you want to accomplish a goal.

They are usually one to three pages. A goal statement is not meant to be a step-by-step guide that gets you to your goal but describes it. It should also feel like a story that encourages you to keep going and reading.

When applying for a job or graduate school, you’ll want to include a goal statement in your resume or cover letter. It’s a good idea to craft a goal statement to show potential employers or college admissions officers what drives you.

Why Do You Need a Goal Statement?

A goal statement defines the specific goal you wish to achieve, how you will achieve it, and why you are pursuing this goal. A goal statement serves as a guideline on how to achieve your goal.

It is crucial since it will help you plan the measures you need to take to get there. Other reasons are as follows:

1. Motivation Purposes

Your daily duties can be more enjoyable if you know where you’re going and what you want to achieve. While attending a conference or participating in a significant project can help you maintain momentum and gain new skills.

2. Accountability

With stated goals, you can feel certain accountability for completing them. As a result of this information, you’ll know exactly what you’re aiming for and how to get there.

Others can hold you to account as well. For example, sharing your career goal statement with a coworker can help you keep track of your progress towards achieving it.

As a result of having an accountability partner, you’ll be able to

• Help each other with advice
• Look for changes that will benefit the other
• Celebrate victories, and offer encouragement.

3. Direction

There is less guesswork when you have a goal statement since you have spelled out specific actions to follow to achieve your ultimate target. It’s a good idea to consider your goal statement as a road map to your desired future.

How to Craft Unique Goal Statements

Keep these things in mind when you’re creating your thesis statement.

1. What Is Your “Why?”

If you don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing, you won’t be able to give it your all. There won’t be any drive to succeed.

Why are you interested in your job? In what ways do you intend to create a lasting impact, if at all? How well do your innate talents match the demands of the job?

When considering these factors, you are more likely to set a goal you want to achieve rather than one you feel obligated to perform. To be motivated to get to work, you must desire to attain your goal.

2. Involve Yourself

Don’t simply focus on the final goal you’re aiming for, but also on the process that will lead you there. You must be aware of all the measures you must follow to achieve your goals.

To avoid being overwhelmed by the challenges you may face, it’s a good idea to study the specific professions in your field of work.

3. Study and Preparation

In terms of research, ensure you have the requisite qualifications, education, training, expertise, and experiences to succeed. In your statement, list all the steps you’ll need to take to reach your goal. To achieve your career goal, you need to establish a clear path that will bring you there.

4. Don’t Allow for Change

You may have to change your plans due to unexpected events in your life, but don’t let that stop you from moving forward. Don’t leave anything in your goal statement open to interpretation; it should be easy for everyone to grasp. However, you must remain adaptable.

As you mature and your life circumstances change, your goals may shift. Unexpected occurrences or factors are almost inevitable when writing a professional goal statement that looks far into the future.

If you want to succeed in life, you must be able to deal with obstacles and not allow them to derail you.

Goal Statement Examples

Imagine your life as a row of heads. You are the first head in the first column, and your goal is to advance to the third column in your life. That is all you need to know.

So what is the goal statement? “I want to advance to the third column in my life.” That is it! Let’s see some goal statement examples below.

“I will get promoted from Assistant Manager to Executive manager in two years or less. To do this, I will exceed my sales target by 15%, further my education in marketing and leadership. I will also ask my manager for more responsibilities that will establish me as a sales lead.”

“My career goal is to be a full-time graphic designer in two years. To achieve this, I will work on freelance graphic design projects to help build my portfolio. I will also attend graphic design competitions and workshops to sharpen my skills.

“I will secure a career change from banking to writing. To do this, I will enroll in writing programs and earn certificates in the field. I will intern with a content producing firm, and practice my writing communication.”

You followed the advice and examples, and now you have a goal statement of your own. So, what’s next? What are you going to do with this?

Keep it in a secure location. Maintaining it in an easily accessible area will constantly remind you of your goals and aspirations.

It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when rushing through your daily tasks. Your goals statement can help you take a step back and focus on the essentials.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

Explore All Brand Vision Statement Articles

Vision statement examples that you should know.

The mission and vision of an institution embody its aim for the present and the future. Without these two, businesses…

• Brand Vision Statement

Vision Statement in a Business Plan

Every business begins with an inspiration or a concept for a fresh endeavor. It may have started as a thought…

What’s a Strategy Statement? —Explained With Examples

The strategy statement is vital because it provides every employee with a clear set of instructions. That’s why, we’re dedicating…

Personal Mission Statement — What Is It?

You may define what matters most to you professionally by creating a personal mission statement that outlines your beliefs and…

What’s a Branding Statement? — Explained With Examples

Whether you’re the founder of a business, an executive, or an entrepreneur, building your personal brand provides several competitive benefits.…

Speech Writing: An Interesting Specific Purpose Statement Guide

A specific purpose statement (SPS) explains what the speaker will discuss and why they are speaking to an audience. It…

• Relationships
• Mindfulness

15 Practical Goal Statement Examples & How to Write Them

It’s the start of a new year, which often means new beginnings. With that said, many of us decide to set goals known as ‘resolutions.’ However, goals can come in other forms as well, with one of them being a goal statement.

Instead of setting a new habit, writing a goal statement allows us to pinpoint the ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ of our lives. This allows us to see how we can make the change from our current self to our future self. If we want a better job or a promotion, we can be sure to write this goal down as a sentence, track it, and work towards it. 

Now, you surely have heard of a mission statement and they are typically associated with businesses. So, you may be wondering; “What exactly is a goal statement?” 

What is a Goal Statement? 

Whenever you thought of a personal goal, you probably would have written it down Then over time, kept track of it, and continued to manifest results. You probably thought of something that you really wanted to achieve, and decided that the outcome would be worth it.

So, you decided to work hard towards the goal, regardless of any obstacles or situations that may arise. But in the end, the goals that many of us write in our notebooks are usually results-oriented.

We typically think of the end picture and write what we want to happen, kind of like a vision statement. But we rarely break these goals down into steps and we rarely describe why we want to achieve such goals. 

However, writing a goal statement will solve all of those issues. Instead of outlining the specific results, the goal statement will allow us to analyze why we want to achieve the goal and how we will achieve it. This makes it action and process-oriented. 

Whenever we are feeling devastated and hopeless, we can read our goal statement for some motivation. Plus, we can also add this statement on our cover letter and resume. 

The Benefits of Writing a Goal Statement 

Goal statements do come in handy when needed. Though they may be difficult to brainstorm, there are multiple advantages which outweigh the costs. Some of these benefits include: 

1. They provide direction and motivation 

Whenever our goals and processes aren’t written down, we may find it difficult to focus on one path or outcome. Our personal life circumstances in are always changing, which makes it difficult to stick to a previous goal we’ve set. And due to all of this, we may forget about our goals before attempting to try.

But there’s a way to remember them! When you write these goals down and explain the process in terms of achieving the outcomes, you’re more likely to work towards them.

The statements can provide you with a sense of direction in life as they will help you identify your own values. In fact, research even supports this strategy as well. 

Hence, having a goal statement will give you a sense of direction and motivation. You know what you’ll aim for, and you’ll be able to track your progress towards the ultimate goal. This way, you’ll never lose sight of the bigger picture. 

2. Goal statements allow you to work towards your own true values 

Your goal statement is entirely personal and customizable, depending on your needs and characteristics. By writing down a goal statement you’ll be able to pave your own path towards self-development.

You can chose one which which resonates with your current aspirations, without worrying about the needs of others around you. Hence, goal statements allow you to see the potential you have within yourself. 

Once you identify your own potential, you’ll feel more confident. This can also bring some clarity on long-term career goals or relationship goals.

3. They emphasize the importance of action, not just words. 

Oftentimes, we rely on words in order to motivate ourselves. For example, remember when you have to do chores? Throughout the process, you’re probably thinking of how good it must be to have some chores completed.

After all, your house will look tidy and organized. To remind yourself, or motivate yourself, you may tell a friend, “Oh, I do my chores on Sunday.”  However, Sunday arrives, and you’re exhausted and find yourself recuperating for the week ahead. 

Sometimes, we use words to give ourselves a confidence boost. We tell others what we’re doing to remind ourselves to get started on a particular task. But although words are a great motivator, they won’t necessarily help you complete a task. 

In order to reach the finish line, we’ll have to work towards action. Fortunately, goal statements will help us with that. 

When we’re writing the goal statement, we’re not just thinking about the words and the result. We’re instead thinking about the actions, and the process, which puts us on the right track to reach our long-term goals. 

How to Write a Goal Statement 

There are many methods in terms of writing a goal statement. You can take inspiration from a few, but you shouldn’t just be regurgitating the goal. Remember, you want a goal with results!

Instead, you need to think of the process and the value of the goal. Now, you may ask, “How can I identify that?” Well, let’s explore how to get that started: 

1. Ask yourself what you desire to achieve 

You know those days when we all lie in bed, and wonder what happened to our previous dreams and desires? If you have a previous dream or desire which you still think about fulfilling, keep track of this and perhaps jot it down.

There may be a reason why you continue to think about it. Our passions and callings in life tend to keep making themselves evident. You may find yourself considering a career change or re-examining your social networks.

Perhaps this dream can be one of the smart goals you wish to fulfill in the future. Write down this vision statement as a spring-board for your goal statement and you’ll be headed in the right direction.

2. Focus on the things that bring you joy 

I know it sounds cliché as we probably have heard from multiple people to pursue and “focus on things that we’re passionate about.” However, there’s actually some validity behind the statement. 

Imagine working on a goal that you do not necessarily want to achieve, but feel the need to due to external factors. Would you actually be happy once you achieve it? You may answer “No,” because the goal was not something you have envisioned or planned out for yourself.  

So, pinpoint a few hobbies or activities that bring you joy. Then, list some of your core values or beliefs. You can tie these elements together and work towards your own personal vision for the future. 

3. Identify and believe in the goal statement process 

Goals are perceived as destinations. But in order to get to a destination, we must go through a journey. And the journey in itself is a never ending process. Once you set a goal, you shouldn’t forget about this journey.

The journey is filled with wins and losses. Sometimes, you’ll feel as if you’re near your goal, just to have everything robbed from you. However, you should believe that everything that happens is a lesson. 

You could also incorporate some smaller steps into your outlined goal as well. These small steps will allow you to allocate your goal into other short-term goals, which can be a benchmark for you to work towards. 

When you achieve these smaller goals, you’ll be able to track your progress. Then, you will be fueled by these accomplishments when you feel the need to take on long-term goals. 

4. Remember to incorporate action 

Many goal statements include an action plan and strategy, which outline the process of achieving the outcome. So, whenever you think of a specific goal, be sure to describe what you will do to achieve it in your statement.

Keep the steps involved reasonable to your skills and abilities so they are practical and achievable. This way, you’ll find a way to take initiative and control of your progress. And, this will allow you to track your own results. 

5. Remember there are always external factors 

Often when we set a goal, we are so focused on accomplishing it and start to forget about other external factors which may influence our progress. Unexpected events or changes can be discouraging, or even devastating.

For example, when we want to achieve a perfect attendance rate in school or at work. We often forget that there are times when we may be sick, which will prevent us from going to class in the first place. 

As a result, when such things happen, it’s best to acknowledge that they’re simply out of your control. And you could only react to them by finding a different way to solve the problem. 

In this case, aim for a more realistic goal of 90% attendance rate to account for unforeseen circumstances. Give yourself grace and recognize how the variability of everyday life can influence your goals.

Practical Goal Statement Formats

Now that we covered the basics of writing goal statements, there are multiple goal formulas which we can consider when writing our statement. You can pick any depending on your preferences or goal needs: 

1. SMART Goals

I’m sure we have heard of this term from someone, whether it was from the resume and cover letter sessions or the class reflections which we’re required to finish. 

The SMART goal acronym stands for: 

• Specific: Goals should be specific to you and answer the 5 Ws; who, what, when, where and why. 
• Measurable: Goals should be quantified or have a specific metric assigned to them to ensure that you fulfill them. 
• Attainable: Ensure that you are not setting too high or too low expectations of the specific goal, and that they are attainable with the current or predicted resources. 
• Relevant : Goals should align with your own core values and missions. 
• Time-bound: Make sure to specify when the goal can be achieved by outlining the time expected to achieve each step. 

Example of a SMART goal: 

I want to get a 4.00 GPA next semester by studying and reviewing 2-3 different courses every day for one to two hours, doing the practice questions required, and participating in lectures by answering or asking questions. Before the first midterm, I aim to obtain at least an 80 on one to two assignments. 

This goal is specific, as it identifies the situation in the beginning, which is aiming for a higher GPA. It is also measurable as well, as every aspect of the SMART goal is quantified by a number. For example, the 4.00 GPA and the “80 percent on one or two assignments.”

This SMART goal is attainable as the student is not reviewing a full course load everyday. They are only reviewing some portions of the lecture which is a good idea to keep themselves on track toward the ultimate goal. 

If the student is looking to improve their study habits, the goal is relevant as well. Moreover, this goal is time-bound as it specifies how much time is needed to reach that finish line. 

2. PACT Goals

Another option for a goal-setting method is the PACT formula. The PACT focuses more on the core values and actions of an individual, which may be more of a fit for those looking to write a goal statement. 

In a way this is a statement of purpose and with so much potential for personal development. This formula can also be implemented to create a good mission statement.

PACT stands for: 

• Purposeful: What does the goal mean to you? How can it change you and lead you to develop into a better person? 
• Actionable: What steps can you take towards your goal? 
• Continuous: Even if you do achieve the resulting goal, how can you utilize the new skills you gained towards your own personal or professional development? 
• Trackable: How can you track your goals? What metrics can you use? 

Instead of focusing on specific and measurable goals, PACT goals aim to focus on an individual’s future development based on their own values and characteristics. 

Example of a PACT goal: 

I aim to try out more activities this year based on my own interests as I aim to prioritize my mental and physical well-being more. Since I prefer moving around on my own instead of going to the gym, I will sign up for a weekly beginner’s dance class. Throughout the weeks, I can see how I progress and see which genres I like. If I do end up enjoying the activity, I will try out more dance genres. I’ll be able to find a new activity and prioritize my physical well-being. 

This goal is purposeful, as it outlines the individual’s purpose on why they wanted to set a specific goal. Moreover, steps are also outlined in order to achieve the ultimate goal. For example, signing up for a weekly beginner’s dance class is a good way to start and commit time towards the activity. 

The goal is continuous as well, since it states how the activity can benefit the individual in the future. Since the goal is broken down into time periods (weekly), it easily tracks by week as well. 

3. GROW Goals 

GROW goals require some self-reflection and awareness when analyzing the outcome. However, being able to reflect on your current situation will definitely allow you to realize that you’re able to be in control of your personal life no matter what. 

The acronym stands for: 

• Goal: What is the desired result? 
• Reality: What is happening in your current life right now? 
• Obstacles : What are some of the barriers you’re facing? 
• Will: How can you overcome these barriers and achieve your dreams? 

Example of a GROW goal: 

I hope to find a co-op position in the field of sales and communications. Currently, I’m a student and I work two part-time jobs in retail and customer service. I also have rent and other living expenses to pay. Therefore, I do not have much time to apply to positions or to network. However, I do have a decent amount of savings. So, maybe I can switch my work hours and take a week off in order to prepare for interviews and networking sessions. I will be sure to communicate this with my employer.  

The example above outlines a GROW goal because the first sentence states the desired result, which is securing a co-op position. Then, the student writes about their current living situation and the obstacles that they are facing.

However, they then decide to address these barriers and find new solutions. This is a vital part of the GROW goal statement to ensure success. 

4. HARD Goals 

Sometimes in life we all have to make tough decisions and face difficult situations. We often wonder why we made such a challenging decision, and what was the purpose of the decision we made. 

When we’re questioning these aspects, a good formula to remember is the “HARD” goal formula. These include: 

• Heartfelt: What is your intention when setting this goal? What motivates you to achieve this goal? 
• Animated : How will you feel once you achieve this goal? 
• Required: What makes it important to achieve this goal? 
• Difficult: How difficult will it be to fulfill your desired outcome? 

Example of a HARD goal: 

A fter I complete my bachelor’s degree, I aim to hopefully pursue more studies . I noticed that I enjoy being in a classroom setting and learning new topics, and to me, being educated on different subjects is important. I want to learn more about the world and see the world through various perspectives. It is difficult, as I’ll have to sacrifice lots of time and financial resources. But in the end, the time and financial resources will be worth the fulfillment from my education. 

In this goal, the writer clearly states the intention by writing why they decided to set the goal in the first place. Moreover, the writer touched upon feelings as well, such as “feeling fulfilled.”

The writer also states the importance of learning more about the world through different topics. Difficulties and challenges are also addressed as well, which include the time and financial resources. 

5. OKR Goals 

Sometimes, the complexity behind the other goal-setting formulas can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there is an option to goals in a more simple manner. 

The OKR goals are a simple way to set measurable outcomes, which are broken down into different benchmarks. It works similar to a vision statement and stands for: 

• Objective: What is your big goal? 
• Key Results: What results will you need to achieve in order to reach your big goal? 

Example of OKR Goal: 

My big goal is to one day launch my own startup company. In order to do so, I need to be trained in business operations, accounting, finance, and human resources. I also need to know how to promote and market my brand to my targeted audience as well. I can begin by noticing my interests, creating an inception plan, and pitching my ideas to different ventures. Then once I receive the funding, I can begin with product design and implementation. 

In this goal, the objective defined is an individual launching their own start up company. Then, they decide to describe some key results, which include action items such as creating an inception plan. Also, benchmarks such as pitching ideas and receiving funding are outlined. 

Goal Statement Examples

Now that we have covered some different formulas regarding goal statements we have a toolbox to get started. It is a good idea to brainstorm some of our most recent needs and see how they can impact our goal setting frameworks as well. 

As we have seen, goal statements can be written in a variety of manners. Goal statements are flexible and can be dedicated towards plenty of different industries and settings. 

For now, let’s consider three important aspects of our 20s in terms of goal setting: academic, career, and relationship. 

Academic Goal Statements 

Below are some sample goal statements for those who are in college and university. These goal statements mainly focus on academic performance. 

I hope to make it onto the Dean’s Honor List by obtaining over a ___ GPA (as determined by the school) this year. I need at least a ____ GPA for the first and second semester in order to do so. To do this, I’ll set a schedule and dedicate around 2 hours of studying each day and ensure that I attend lectures on time. When I need help, I will be sure to utilize the tutoring sessions offered by the department.  (SMART). 

I hope to obtain a GPA of 4.00 in one of my human resources courses. Learning about human resources resonates with me as I want to learn more about human behaviour and organizational structures. Being a good student is also what I aim to continue to be as well, since I want more options when I apply to graduate schools. To do this, I can request to seek advice from the professor in regards to unclear instructions, and dedicate around 3 hours of study in this course. I can then utilize these new skills for future courses. My short-term goals can be tracked through the grades of my assignments, whether I see an increase in trend or not. (PACT). 

I hope to increase my GPA from 3.8 to 4.0 this semester. Currently, I have to work and fulfill some extracurricular obligations which may take around 20 hours a week. Therefore, I have limited time for studying. However, I can always decide to study efficiently; perhaps, I can decrease some free time and skip Friday nights. (GROW) 

I aim to get into law school because I am passionate about the legal industry. I have always read books about law and want to learn more about the subject. Once I achieve this goal, I will feel content and realize that I’ll be able to hopefully achieve my dream job as a lawyer. I do need a good CGPA in order to make it into law school, so I need to put in more effort in terms of studying and consult with my professor for my assignments. (HARD)

I aim to get into medical school after graduation. In order to do this, I will have to dedicate some time to study, perhaps volunteer at the hospital, and join a few extracurricular clubs which are focused on health research. I hope to also gain a research assistant position as well. Then, in my third or fourth year, I’ll prepare and take the MCAT exam. (OKR). 

Career Goal Statement Examples 

Whether you’re eyeing on a new promotion, or wanting to improve your professional life, having a career path is a big part of being in your 20s. Below are some sample statements of professional goals:

I hope to gain a new promotion from my current position. I can do this by taking on more initiative in tasks, and trying to see what my supervisor may need assistance with. For now, I will try to take on at least one extra project and see if I can collaborate with my fellow team members. Then, in the next month or so, I can perhaps tackle more projects with others and assist my supervisor with more of their tasks (SMART). 

I hope to get a position related to my degree, as I studied the subject and enjoyed the material. Then, I can apply my academic coursework into my experience. I will start looking for jobs immediately, and ensure that the jobs I apply to are related to the subject I learned at school. Hopefully, this job will bring me new career growth and opportunities. And overtime, through the interviews, I can see what worked or did not work. (PACT). 

I desire to work in the field of accounting as I have graduated from university with a degree in accounting. Right now, I do have the ability to apply to jobs but I am still studying for my CPA exam. I also have a part-time job which may interfere with the interview hours. But to overcome these barriers, I can still continue to apply and see what I can get. I can also ask to get my shifts switched in order to make it to the interviews. (GROW). 

I aim to take on more freelance photography projects throughout the year. I like to create different art forms and work with companies and businesses. Once I achieve this goal, I will feel content that more people are enjoying and being exposed to my work. This goal is important to me as my art is a direct reflection of my emotions. To achieve my professional goals, I will continuously need to promote my services on social media and word of mouth, while practicing my skills. (HARD). 

My big goal is to become an assistant manager at my community centre. In order to do this, I need to take on a few leadership positions. I will apply to some and go through the interview process. Moreover, I will also ask my current manager for mentorship advice, a performance review, and work more hours in my current position for seniority. Throughout this, I will also become more favorable for a potential employer if I choose to apply for other jobs (OKR). 

Relationship Goal Statements 

We all know how difficult relationships are to navigate during adulthood. This can range from the friends we meet in class, to the Tinder date who continuously bombards us online. But there also can be goals set for relationships and friendships as well: 

I hope my partner and I communicate our issues more transparently. We are in the process of booking couple counselling sessions. We aim to go weekly and we hope that they’ll be able to provide us with a sense of direction. (SMART) 

I hope I can apologize to my friend about what I have done previously. I really valued our friendship and believed that I should not have acted the way I did. If I do, I can hopefully build my communication skills and learn to do the right thing next time. This can perhaps also improve the current friendships in my life as well. (PACT)

I hope to get closer to my family, as we once drifted apart during my teenage years. I agree that there were misunderstandings, but now I feel that since I have grown, I finally realize the intention behind their actions. It’s hard to see them currently as I do live away from home, but I will continuously keep in contact with them and see if it is possible to go on trips with them. (GROW) 

I hope to get along with my sister as we were once best friends. Since I moved away, everything changed. However, once I begin to communicate with her, we can support each other. After all, family is important. I understand it is difficult as our schedules often collide, but I can always try my best to reach out whenever I can. (HARD)

My big goal is to find myself a committed, loyal partner. It will take time but I will need to first understand the other individual’s personality, and see how compatible we can hopefully be. I need to communicate more about myself and hopefully, the right person will come along. (OKR).

Final Thoughts on Practical Goal Statements 

Writing a goal statement is similar to creating a mood-board for your future dreams and career aspirations. It involves knowing what you currently want, and working towards achieving the specified outcome. 

Instead of thinking of specific goals, writing goals in the form of statements allows us to see what we truly want, and work towards them. Such statements can allow us to be motivated in terms of completing our personal vision to the next level. 

There are plenty of different methods to write goal statements with multiple examples. There is the SMART approach, which is for more specified and measured goals. And there is the GROW approach, which is for goals that resonate deeply with your own personal values and beliefs. The right one is the method which resonates the most with your mission, and motivates you the best. 

Once you begin writing down your own goal statements, you may notice small changes in your life. You may notice that you’re more optimistic and perhaps, you may decide to tweak your everyday life routine. 

With that being said, achieving goals is not easy most of the time. There are multiple barriers which do get in the way. But when they do, it’s best to take it one step at a time. After all, we can all work towards change throughout our lives. What matters the most to many of us is to not give up. 

About the Author

Candice is currently attending school for social service work. One of her passions is helping others through my writing. In her downtime, you’ll find her listening to music, watching random YouTube videos, and writing about career goals and resumes. She hopes to start freelancing for writing and obtain a leadership position in a public services sector.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

9 Brands Making a Difference In Your Relationship

23 Epic Things To Do Before Graduating College

Cultivate a Positive Mindset – zen habits zen habits

Editor picks, popular posts.

19 Affordable Non-Toxic Makeup Brands You Have To Try

Sexy Jenga + 50 Jenga Questions for Adults

How to Choke Her Into a Mindblowing Orgasm

Popular category.

• Dating 3069
• Mindfulness 1550
• Relationships 1216
• Over 50 122