California Career Center
What is a Goal?
A goal is something you intend to do, something
you want to achieve—the end that you strive for.
There are two types of goals.
One is a short-term goal.
A short-term goal is something you want to
achieve soon, something you intend to do which
can be done in a time period of less than three
years.
The other type of goal is
a long-term goal.
A long-term goal is something you intend to do
which can be done in a longer period of time from
about three years through a lifetime.
S.M.A.R.T. goals are:
 SPECIFIC
 MEASURABLE
 ACTION-ORIENTED
 REALISTIC
 TIMELY
Personal Goal
SPECIFIC
State exactly what you are aiming at knowing
that it is within your ability. Goals are not
vague or confusing.
• My goal is to buy an iPod.
Personal Goal
MEASURABLE
It is important to measure your progress; state
what and when you want it.
• My goal is to buy my iPod five
months from today.
Personal Goal
ACTION-ORIENTED
Spell out exactly how you will achieve the goal;
what will you do?
• My goal is to by my iPod five
months from today. I will save $10 a
month from my allowance money.
Personal Goal
REALISTIC
Realistic goals are possible; they may be hard, but
they are not just a dream.
• My goal is to buy an iPod five months
from today. I will save $10 a month
from my allowance starting today
knowing that I still have another $10 a
month to do other things with.
Personal Goal
TIMELY
Give yourself enough time to achieve your goal
but not so much that you lose sight of your goal.
• My goal is to buy an iPod five months
from today; I will save $10 a month from
allowance money netting me $50 in five
months; I have priced iPods and can get
one for $50.
Career Goal
SPECIFIC
State exactly what you are aiming at knowing
that it is within your ability. Goals are not vague
or confusing.
• My goal is to volunteer at the nearby
hospital.
Career Goal
MEASURABLE
It is important to measure your progress; state
what and when you want it.
• My goal is to volunteer at the nearby
hospital this summer.
Career Goal
ACTION-ORIENTED
Spell out exactly how you will achieve the goal;
what will you do?
• My goal is to take the required firstaid class so I can volunteer at the
hospital.
Career Goal
REALISTIC
Realistic goals are possible; they may be hard,
but they are not just a dream.
• My goal is to take the required firstaid class next month at the local Red
Cross office.
Career Goal
TIMELY
Give yourself enough time to achieve your goal
but not so much that you lose sight of your goal.
• My goal is to pass the required firstaid class before summer begins.
Educational Goal
SPECIFIC
State exactly what you are aiming at knowing
that it is within your ability. Goals are not vague
or confusing.
• My goal is to get an “A” on a unit
spelling test.
Educational Goal
MEASURABLE
It is important to measure your progress; state
what and when you want it.
• My goal is to get an “A” on the next
unit spelling test in three weeks.
Educational Goal
ACTION-ORIENTED
Spell out exactly how you will achieve the goal;
what will you do?
• My goal is to learn three spelling
words a day.
Educational Goal
REALISTIC
Realistic goals are possible; they may be hard,
but they are not just a dream.
• My goal is to start today learning
three new words.
Educational Goal
TIMELY
Give yourself enough time to achieve your goal
but not so much that you lose sight of your goal.
• My goal is to get an “A” on the next unit
spelling test in three weeks. Learning
three words each school day means I will
know all forty-five words by the test date.