How to Set (& Achieve!) Your Career Goals in 2019

At any holiday gathering, you’re likely to get asked by an inquisitive relative:

“What are you up to these days?”
“Where are you working?”
“Do you like your boss?”

While these questions can be annoying, in reality, the turn of the year is a great time to think about your career and reevaluate your goals. Here are some strategies to consider when you’re taking a look at the year ahead and what you want to accomplish at your job.

Reevaluate 2018

A lot can happen in a year.

From promotions to downsizing, you’ll likely have plenty to think about. Before you set goals for 2019, take a look at the good and bad of 2018. See what went well, and didn’t go so smoothly. From there, you’ll be able to set realistic expectations and get a better idea of which direction to take your career.

Set a Big Career Goal, Then Set Smaller Goals

It’s important to set giant, monstrous goals for your career. Would you like to one day own your own dental practice or become an RDH in a quiet beach town? The bigger goals should align with your passions and help drive you forward when things get tough in the day-to-day.

However, the big goals can’t be achieved overnight; you need to set smaller, actionable goals that can help get you there. Thinking about your career a month at a time will help guide you all year long. For example, if owning your own practice is something you’d like to do, try setting a goal to become a manager within the first six months of the new year.

Be Willing to Pivot

While goals are things to always strive toward, life happens. Sometimes you have a make a few changes based on circumstances out of your control. Remember that goals should drive you, but not define you. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t reach every goal exactly as you’ve planned.

Reward Yourself Along the Way

As you achieve those smaller goals throughout the year, reward yourself. You’ve been working hard, and those bite-size accomplishments will drive you forward. Those little rewards make an impact on your overall morale—don’t neglect them.

Don’t Give Up

Despite the challenges you’ll face, keep your head up; fortune favors the bold, as they say. Don’t let little obstacles keep you from reaching your career goals. As long as you continue to push forward, you’ll break new ground.

If you are you looking for a career change in the new year (and aren’t sure where to start) our job listings can be a great place to browse. Set up a free job seeker account in minutes and see what’s out there. It could give you the insight you need to plan a big career change in 2019!