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Written by Heather Resnick
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Tuesday, 19 April 2005 |
| PART 2: Goal Setting & Plan of Action |
Last issue – PART 1: Self-Assessment
In the last article, we talked about the first step to take if you are contemplating a return to the workforce after a lengthy absence: self-assessment. You need to take the time to evaluate who you are now: your career aspirations, likes, dislikes, abilities, aptitudes, responsibilities and experience. Now, set some goals.
Goal-setting
Setting goals is a map showing you how to get where you want to go. It is a concrete way of checking to see if you are on the right track. Your inner motivation derives from knowing that you are taking positive steps and empowering yourself to take control of the life you want to live.
Be Creative
Goals can be as unique as you are — there are no set rules. Shape them to fit the lifestyle that you envision for yourself. If you are observant and allow new ideas to enter your realm, wonderful unexpected possibilities may open up. You may discover on your search a way of creating a career that you had never considered before. For example, you may start out believing that you want to work for somebody else based on your self-assessment, but your exploration leads you to find a niche that has not been tapped into yet and you may have the solution. With careful planning, dreams can become a reality.
Check In
Everyday, check over your goals; see what you have accomplished and what did not work. Rearrange next day’s goals if necessary. Do not forget to celebrate all of your daily achievements—a relaxing bath, watching a favourite movie, listening to music that soothes your soul. Most importantly, talk with your friends and family, get feedback and keep taking one step after the other. Bumps in the road are inevitable, but if you are diligent and persevere you will reach your goals.
- Goal setting (modified from Dr. Judy Goss, Sports Psychology Consultant New Year’s Resolutions, March/April 2004 (Active Women Canada)
Commit & Define
Goals have to be specific and realistic. Use positive, definite words to describe what you want to do or be. GOALS NEED TO BE WRITTEN DOWN AND POSTED WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM. LET OTHERS KNOW OF YOUR COMMITMENTS. For example, your ultimate goal could read, “I will be gainfully employed in the career of my choice within six months [if you know the specific career, name it],” but not “I would like a job right away.”
- Set mini-goals:
- “During this week I am going to job search.”
- “By the end of this week [or within a feasible timeframe], I will find out where I can get help.”
- “I will prepare to follow through with the advice that is being offered to me.”
- Make a copy of your goals and give it to someone you trust.
- In six months (or whatever time you determined your main goal would be accomplished) have that person mail your goals back to you. Did you accomplish your goals? Congratulate yourself if you did and celebrate; if you did not, ask yourself why, and try to rectify it.
Action Plan
Once you have specified and written down your goals, the next step is to create an action plan. Goals are ineffective unless you break each one down into a step-by-step action plan in writing. An action plan is a day-to-day schedule of the short-term tasks you need to complete in order to eventually achieve your long-term goals. Again, as with your goals, your action plan tasks need to be defined, specific and timely.
- Use a manual daily planner or a computer planner.
- Only schedule the amount of things you can do that are realistic for your life.
- Plan what you will do.
- Refer to it the day before so you will know what you will be doing the next day.
- Try to stick to this schedule.
- Plan appointments so that you have time to get to them. (*Not too many in one day.)
- Cross out things as you do them. Breathe a sigh of relief.
Review and update your plan regularly and always have back-up plans. (Remember, getting a job requires the assistance of others. Use all sources available to you.)
Sample Action plan if your goal is to find a job.
Note: These are suggestions only. Schedule your action plan tasks so you move towards your overall goals in a steady, timely way but at a comfortable pace.
| Monday |
- Make a list of all the people I know to ask for their help in getting a job.
- Contact as many of these people as possible this week.
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| Tuesday |
- Find out what programs are out there that can help me find a job.
- Go to the library and speak to a librarian for information on job search books and resources, i.e. (Internet, career counseling, etc.)
- Make a list of any job search resources that apply to my situation and research each one.
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| Wednesday |
- Contact as many of the sources provided to me as possible, i.e. employment centres, job websites, etc. If there is a suitable job search program, inquire as to what the criteria and registration requirements are.
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| Thursday |
- Register for chosen job search program.
- Continue to speak to my contacts about looking for work.
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| Friday |
- Get supplies I need for the registered programs.
- Continue speaking to people about finding a job.
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If you know the career you want, your action plan may look like this*:
| Monday |
- Check advertisements in newspapers/employment websites for jobs in my area of interest to see what requirements are necessary for the job.
- Determine if I have any of those skills and, if not, find out what I need to do to attain them. For instance, are there programs/courses out there that could help me acquire the necessary skills? What are the criteria and, if I qualify, how do I register?
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| Tuesday |
- Research and make a list of companies that employ people in my chosen career, via the Internet, library, contacts, etc.
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| Wednesday |
- Call as many of those companies as possible to find out the name of the person with whom I would like to arrange an information interview. [See below for details about setting up information interviews.]
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| Thursday |
- Check newspapers and magazines to see trends in that industry.
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| Friday |
- Meet contact people for information interviews that I can arrange within traveling distance of one another.” ***Always, always send a thank you note, first via e-mail the same day and then with a card to anyone who has helped you in any way, immediately.
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Information Interviews
Information interviews are a common business research tool. They are meetings that you set up with people in the industry you wish to explore. They do not have to be with people you know. In fact, you may find many of your leads through referrals from friends and acquaintances.
For potential interviewees, check:
- company websites
- your network of contacts
- libraries
- Yellow Pages, etc.
To set up an interview:
- Call the company and talk with the receptionist.
- Tell them your name and what your purpose is.
- Ask them who they could recommend for you to talk to.
- Try and connect with that person and arrange a time to meet/chat. Make sure you tell the person you want to interview that you will only require 15 minutes of their time, because you are exploring the industry and that they were referred to you as the perfect person to talk to. Most people are flattered that they were chosen by you as an authority and don’t mind giving some time.
- These interviews should be at the convenience of the person you are interviewing and never go over 15 minutes. Take notes and keep the questions general in nature. For instance, you might ask:
- How they got into the business?
- What they like about it, dislike?
- What is required to get into business now?
- Is there a future for your career field?
- Referrals to talk to others?
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Other Career Resources:
Next issue: PART 3: Finding Assistance
Kinds of accessible government programs and Temporary agencies: how they can help you find a career.
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Heather Resnick
Email Heather
Heather is committed to writing words that provoke positive change. Her first novel, Ms. Humpty Dumpty, a “powerhouse of emotions” about a woman who keeps falling off the wall and tries to put back the pieces (www.mshumptydumpty.com). |
Share your success stories, hopes, and fears by visiting www.womenreworked.com and completing an on-line survey to help Heather with her upcoming book Women Reworked for women considering entering the workplace after an extended absence or for the first time.
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