THEME: Goal Setting, Reflections and Self-Assessment
Lesson: Setting SMART Career Goals
Learning Outcomes
 Students will be able to identify career goals and develop action plans using the SMART goal
setting process.
Essential Question
 Do you have “SMART” career goals?
Level
 Grade 12
Time
 4 x 15 minutes
Materials
 SMART Goals Handout
 Careers and Goal Setting Handout
 Setting Up Smart Goals Worksheet
Procedure
Lesson 1 – 15 minutes
1. Write essential question on the board.
2. Review the SMART goal setting acronym; ask students what each of the letters in the acronym
represent. Review the S.M.A.R.T. principle to goal setting. (See SMART Goals Handout). Have
students write examples of goals that follow the SMART goal principle. (See the blank area on the
SMART Goals Handout, titled, “Your Example________________”).
3. Read through the “Tips to setting Effective Goals” on the SMART Goals Handout.
Lesson 2 – 15 minutes
4. Briefly review the S.M.A.R.T. principle to goal setting (Once again, see the SMART Goals
Handout). Handout Careers and Goal setting Handout. Have students complete this individually.
5. When students are finished the Career and Goal setting Handout, they will hare some of their goals
with a partner or small group.
Lesson 3 – 15 minutes
6. Ensure the students have complete the Career and Goal setting Handout. Give a few minutes to
complete if needed.
7. Hand out Setting Up SMART Goals Worksheet. Students must choose one goal from their first list
(See the Careers and Goal setting Handout) and write it at the top of this worksheet. Working
individually, students must describe the necessary steps to achieve their goal, where they are now,
and the potential obstacles and solutions.
Lesson 4 – 15 minutes
8. Give some time to complete the Setting Up SMART Goals Worksheet.
9. After the Setting Up SMART Goals Worksheet is completed, they may share goals with a partner or
small group.
Extending
 Students may want to search online to investigate job opportunities as a first step towards
achieving their career goals.
Reference: http://ccd.me.edu/careerprep/CareerPrepCurriculum_LP-7.pdf
S.M.A.R.T. GOALS
Specific – The goal should identify a specific action or event that will take place.
 Is your goal well defined?
 Do you have short term goals to help you reach your long term goals?
 Example: It is difficult to pursue the goal to "work harder". It is easier to accomplish "Write a

paper".
Your Example: _____________________________________________________________
Measurable – The goal and its benefits should be quantifiable.
 Do you have steps you can check off on your way to your goal?
 Can you “measure” whether or not you attained your goal?
 Example: “Getting over 80 percent on your English paper” is measurable.
 Your Example: _____________________________________________________________
Action Oriented – The goal should be action oriented and attainable given available
resources.
 Is this something you can work toward?
 What do I need to attain this goal? What do I need to do?
 Example: “I will work on my English paper every night for one hour this week.”
 Your Example: _____________________________________________________________
Realistic – The goal should be a challenge, but allow the likelihood of success.
 Is this something you can actually achieve?
 Have you looked at your past successes to decide if this goal is realistic?
 Example: “My overall average in English is currently 75 percent, so it is realistic to aim
for over 80 percent on my next paper.”
 Your Example: _____________________________________________________________
Timely – The goal should state the time period in which it will be accomplished.
 Do you have enough time to complete your goal?
 Did you set a time limit to have your goal completed?
 Example: “I will complete the English paper and hand it in before the due date, which is
….”
 Your Example: _____________________________________________________________
Tips to setting Effective Goals…
1. Develop several goals. A list of 5 to 7 items gives you several things to work on over a period of time.
2. State goals as declarations of intention, not just items on a “wish list”. Ex: “I want to apply to three
universities” lacks power, “I will apply to three universities” is intentional and powerful.
3. Attach a date to each goal. State what you intend to accomplish and by when. A good list should include
some short term and long term goals. You may want a few goals for the year, and some for two or three
month intervals.
4. Be specific. “To find a job” is too general; “to research and find 5 job opportunities before the end of the
month” is better. A general goal may become the long term aim, however identify some more specific goals
to get there.
5. Share your goals with another person. Sharing your intentions with parents, best friend or teach will
provide steps towards reaching the goal. This “support network” will be there to help cheer you on as you
pursue your goals.
6. Write down your goals and display them where you will be able to see them everyday. The more often you
read your list, the more results you will get.
7. Review and revise your list. Experiment with different ways of stating your goals. Goal setting improves
with practice!
Careers and Goal Setting
My key Occupation Objective or Career Goal:
______________________________________________________________________________
The following intermediate goals will be focused upon over the next ______ months.
Education/Training Goals:
Action Steps:
Occupational Goals:
Action Steps:
Personal Health/Wellness Goals:
Action Steps:
Setting Up SMART Goals Worksheet
Goal Statement:
What do I need to do reach this goal?
Where am I now?
Obstacles
Solutions