Published on September 27, 2019
By SFL-TAP HQ
“I want to get a job.”
“I’m
planning on getting my degree.”
“I’m
moving back to my hometown.”
These are
all fairly common answers Soldiers give when they’re asked about their
post-transition goals. They seem fine, and they all make sense, but they aren’t
helping set the Soldier up for success. The Soldier needs to develop and define
their goal to have the best chance of reaching it.
There are
several components to making sure your goals are fully developed. An easy way
to do it is make sure your goals are SMART - Specific, Measurable,
Action-Oriented, Reachable, and Time-Driven.
First, you
need to make sure your goal is specific.
Instead of saying, “I want to get a job,” say “I want to get a job in the same
field as my MOS, in the automotive industry.” It narrows down your search field
and helps you focus. Then, make sure it’s measurable –
what numbers are you using to measure your success? For a job search, it might
be a salary range, or a date that you want to have an offer by.
Next, make
sure it’s action-oriented.
What will you do to achieve your goal? For our example, this could include
submitting applications, networking, improving your resume, and practicing
interview skills. It also has to be realistic –
it isn’t very reasonable to say “I want to get a job offer tomorrow” or “I want
to be making six figures by the time I’m 25.” Could these happen? Possibly. Are
they very likely? Not really. Set your goals high, but make sure that they are
attainable, or you’re just setting yourself up for disappointment.
Lastly,
set a time-driven goal.
Set timelines for yourself to stay motivated and driven. With all of these
components, “I want to get a job” becomes “I will go to a networking event once
a month and practice for interviews once a week. I want to receive an offer
from a company in the automotive industry for a position related to my MOS
within six months.”
While
having your goal written out like that is important, it can also be a little
overwhelming. To combat this, you can break your goal into smaller, short-term
goals. These will outline steps you need to take, and help you appreciate the
achievements you make on the way. This could sound like “I will go to a career
fair next month to network with the automotive companies in attendance” or “I
will attend a webinar in two weeks about interview skills, and I will write
down three things that I learn from it that will help me practice.” These will
help you keep moving forward toward your main goal.
This
method can be used for professional, personal, financial, or any other type of
goal you’re trying to reach. As you’re transitioning, looking for a job,
planning your retirement, trying to start your own business, or whatever you’re
aiming for, make sure that your goals are smart.
