Reach Your Career Goals in No Time

by Robin Ryan

If you want to SOAR in the months ahead you need a solid, actionable plan. That’s the trick that worked for Tanya, a hurricane Katrina survivor, who sought me out to coach her on the job search process. I had heartfelt compassion for this woman who was a college registrar for a community college in New Orleans. Her home had sustained a great deal of damage; her family relocated to Atlanta; her campus was underwater.  She worked out of temporary offices that the college had set up 85 miles from New Orleans.

But in January the college president announced they could no longer pay the staff salaries since so few students had returned to school. Tanya HAD to job hunt. The type of job she held was rare -- most colleges only have one person in that role, which meant only thirty such jobs existed in all of Atlanta! She had a needle-in-a-haystack chance of finding the right position. When her resume failed to get her an interview at Spellman College, she realized she needed help to reach her goal. She sat down and searched the Internet for a career counselor … and found me. Having lost so much, I was amazed that she was NOT bitter or resorting to playing the victim card. We created a topnotch resume that really emphasized her talents, strengths and skills.  This time she got an interview. In fact, my eyes just welled up with tears as I read her email that said, “I got the job!!!”

If Tanya can overcom their horrific circumstances and land a great job against all odds, you can do it too.

Goals are the secret to accomplishing great things.  

Success is no accident. You need to clearly define what you want in a new job, a promotion, a BIG salary increase, and then identify and start conducting the action steps to achieve that goal. In the last several months, I’ve see a significant increase in the number of career counseling clients who are talented people (some employed, some not), but each one had decided that they could get a better job. If you feel you are being underpaid, or you are dissatisfied at work, the time to move on is NOW!

These guidelines will jump-start you toward reaching your goals.  

1. Set goals with defined outcomes. Goals and outcomes are NOT the same thing.  Goals are conceptual.  Outcomes are what actually happens … the end result. Write down your goals clearly.  Make them specific and measurable.  Outline everything you need to do to achieve your goals.  Step by step, date by date, outline your plan. If you want a new job note the job title, the kind of company you’ll flourish in, the dollar amount of salary you want, and any special benefits you seek.  

2. Make outcomes achievable.  Thinking you’ll double your salary next year is a fantasy.  Make a reachable goal such as, “I’ll increase my salary 20% when I land my next promotion within the next four months. Then, I’ll earn $95,000.”

3. Picture your success.  The American Psychologists Association noted that envisioning a goal’s outcome does lead to its success.  You need to believe in yourself to achieve your goals, since that translates into more effective self-marketing.

4. Break your goals into doable segments.  Set a deadline for achieving your goal and, if necessary, interim deadlines. Some major goals, such as becoming CEO when you’re far from the top, require several action steps over time.  It also requires a well-established personal brand. (Go to http://soaringon.com/brandyourself.htm) Incremental baby steps, put down on paper, is key to delivering your success.  Set up a timeline and put a completion date next to each step.  Identify what obstacles you will need to overcome and note how you’ll overcome them. Do you need to take a special class to meet the requirements for that dream job? List people who are in a position to help you … NETWORK! What books or resources can help your solve problems?

5. Act on your plan immediately.  Do something, anything, but get started.  It is amazing how many people fail because they don’t take action toward their goals and plans.  Network, research openings, update your resume, read a career guide on interviewing, learn how to better negotiate salary, find a career counselor, etc. So, to get you going, answer this question, I’ll start today by doing _________________________________(What is your first step?)

© Copyright 2008 Robin Ryan. All rights reserved.

Need more assistance?  Robin is available to help you achieve your goals and dreams with individual career counseling. Click here to learn more.

Robin Ryan has appeared on Oprah and Dr. Phil and is considered to be America’s top career coach. Robin has a busy career counseling practice providing individual career coaching, resume writing services, interview preparation, salary negotiations, and outplacement to clients nationwide. She is the best-selling author of : "60 Seconds & You're Hired!," "Soaring On Your Strengths," "What to Do With the Rest of Your Life," "Winning Resumes," and "Winning Cover Letters." A dynamic national speaker, Robin has spoken to over 1200 audiences sharing her insights on how to improve their lives and obtain greater success. Contact Robin at: 425.226.0414, or email: robin@robinryan.com, or visit her website: http://www.robinryan.com

Reprints release: Newspapers, magazines, online websites are granted permission to reprint this in part or whole but are required to credit the author including author's bio, book credits, and include author's website information (with link if online); PLUS email author at robin@robinryan.com and state when and where reprint publication will occur. Questions: contact author at robin@robinryan.com or 425.226.0414.