SMART goals will help you achieve your dreams by keeping you on the right track. Use this guide to create SMART goals for your future.
You have probably heard of SMART goals. You might have even seen them referenced here on Youth Employment UK. We love the SMART framework—it’s a fantastic tool to help you get a step closer to achieving those goals.
But what is SMART and how can it help you in work, life, study, and job hunting?
What are SMART Goals?
SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound:
- Specific goals are precise and the parameters for success are clearly defined. There can be no vague language in SMART goals.
- Measurable goals can be tracked, allowing you to monitor your progress. How will you know when the goal is achieved? If you don’t know, then your goal may not be measurable.
- Achievable goals are realistic and attainable. This doesn’t necessarily mean “easy”, of course. But if your goal is unrealistic, you are setting yourself up for failure before you even begin.
- Relevant goals align with the bigger picture, whether that’s the overall plan for a project at work, or your long-term career goals. Is it the right time and are you the right person to be taking on this goal?
- Time-bound goals are anchored to a specific time-period or deadline. Whether that goal is in the next hour or ten years from now, tethering your goals to a timeframe gives you motivation and clarity as you move towards them. Remember the saying: a goal is just a dream with a deadline.
SMART goals can be big or small. They can relate to small steps that will make your day easier, or big projects that take months or years to complete. The beauty of the SMART system is that it works for goals at every level.
SMART Goals for Studying
When you are studying at school, college, or university, you will likely have many different priorities and deadlines to juggle. This means that setting appropriate goals is vital for keeping you on track and ensuring you can get everything done.
Your SMART goals for studying are likely to be tied to your assignments, coursework deadlines, and exam dates. This means that staying organised is essential. Whether it’s a paper planner, a digital calendar, or an old-fashioned to-do list, building an organisational system that works for you will help you set and prioritise your goals.
By learning how to set and work with SMART goals while you’re a student, you will equip yourself with vital self-management skills that will help when you enter the world of work.
Here are three examples of SMART goals for students:
- “I will work on my English Literature paper for two hours before I go out with my friends this evening.”
- “I will revise for my Maths exam for 30 minutes per day, five days per week, until the day before the exam.”
- “I will take ten minutes each evening to pack my bag for school the next day to ensure I have everything I need with me.”
SMART Goals when Job Hunting
Job hunting can be time-consuming and stressful, especially for young people and new graduates who may not have much experience in the working world yet.
The best way to approach job hunting is to treat it like a job. This means being disciplined, keeping to a schedule, and showing up every day. Setting SMART goals can bring extra structure to your job hunting challenge and help you get into the right mindset for work.
Here are three SMART goals for job hunting that you might like to try:
- “I will spend 30 minutes each day looking through relevant jobs boards and identifying opportunities that might suit me.”
- “I will submit at least three high-quality job applications per week until I receive a job offer.”
- “I will spend at least half a day each week working on something that enhances my employability, such as improving my CV, doing practice interviews, attending online workshops, or reading books relevant to my industry.”
SMART Goals for Work
In most jobs, you will have a manager or supervisor overseeing your work. However, they will also expect you to be self-motivated and show the ability to manage your own workload effectively. Goal-setting is a great way to ensure you’re focusing on the right things and to hold yourself accountable.
No matter your job, you can use SMART goals to keep yourself on track with your daily tasks and advance your larger career goals.
Here are three work-related SMART goals to help you out:
- “I will achieve a 10% increase in my sales during the next quarter by studying effective sales skills and learning from my more experienced colleagues.”
- “I will attend one industry event per month for the next six months to network and enhance my knowledge.”
- “I will advance to a role with managerial responsibility within three years, either inside my current company or elsewhere.”
SMART Goals for Life
SMART goals are not just for school, university, and the workplace. Whether in the realm of relationships, money, hobbies, or health, they can also help you to achieve the things you want in your personal life.
Here are three examples of SMART goals for life that you can use for inspiration:
- “I will sign up for a half marathon next year and follow a training plan to ensure I can finish the race in under two hours.”
- “I want to make new friends, so I will join a club for my hobby and commit to going every week for three months.”
- “I will set aside 10% of my pay cheque into a savings account every month this year.”
Challenge: Set Your Own SMART Goals
For this challenge, choose two of the categories we’ve covered in this piece (work, life, study, or job-hunting). Create a SMART goal for each of those categories. Write it down and put it somewhere where you will see it every day.
Next, break those goals down into 3-5 smaller steps. What will you do today to get you a step closer to achieving those goals?
