Setting SMART Career Goals

This document must be completed in full and sent to the Mentorship

Program Assistant before your appointment to register will be set.
This document will help you set SMART goals to enhance your job search strategies. Setting SMART goals is
the first step to achieving excellence and the starting point for discussion with your Career Advisor. For your
first meeting with your Career Advisor, you will focus on your immediate short-term goals (achievable within
one year). This document will help you set those goals.
Steps to complete:
1. Start by setting your Career Objective. Your Career Objective is the main goal you are working towards.
What is the position you want to attain?
2. Consider short-term goals that are achievable within one year for different areas that will ultimately help
you reach your Career Objective. Make sure your short-term goals are SMART goals to help ensure your
success in reaching them. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound,
as defined below.
S Specific: Goals need to be clearly understood and easy to remember. A vague goal is unlikely to be
accomplished. A complex goal may need to be broken down into smaller goals to ensure success.
M Measurable: It helps to determine success if you have some way to measure it, and you know how you
want to get there. I will achieve (insert objective) by (insert date).
A Achievable: Impossible goals guarantee failure. To ensure success, make your goals realistic and
achievable.
R Realistic: State your goals in terms of expected outcomes. Define the tasks to achieve your goal.
T Time-bound: Deadlines help you stay focused and avoid procrastination.

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Example of Setting SMART Goals

TIP
Start by writing a Career Objective that is your goal to work towards. Make sure this is clear and specific.
Recognizing it may take years to accomplish your career objective, begin thinking of short-term goals that can be achieved in the next year.
Begin each goal by writing a Short-term Goal Statement that is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound).

Examples:
My Career Objective:
Before moving to Canada, I was a senior Project Manager and Exploration Engineer in the oil and gas industry. I
want to work towards having a job in that field at a similar level to what I left.
SMART Short-term Goal Statement #1
Start the process to obtain P.Eng designation through APEGA by the end of this month.
Where am I now? (think of qualifications, achievements, & technical skills)
I have:
Level 8 CLB
BSc. Exploration Engineering
Strong study and organizational skills
Commitment and determination
Money
Time
Challenges/Barriers:
Completing the accreditation process with APEGA
can take a lot of time
Receiving original transcripts from my university
may be difficult

I dont have the years of local experience needed

by APEGA
I am hearing contradicting advice on how to get
accredited

Possible solutions:
Getting the process started right away is the best
option
I will begin the process right away, and I will
begin to look into options to obtain the original
transcripts (e.g. have a family member who is
in that country go to the university or begin
budgeting to make a trip there myself )
I will check directly with APEGA to see what the
options are, such as starting as an EIT
Speaking directly with APEGA about what
is required will ensure I receive the correct
information

What do I need to do to reach this SMART goal?

Contact APEGA directly to determine the steps required
Compile all documents, including original university transcripts
Table adapted from: TQM Consulting in association with the Kamloops Work Search Centres