Transitions2success

Are you achieving success in your job hunt? Setting clear objectives will help you attain that success over time. It will also give you the satisfaction that you are doing all you can to find the type of job you want.

There is always a process that you should implement to achieve a goal.  The following process is to streamline and analyze your objectives. The objective or goal is a way of  knowing what action or plan needs to be taken, then identifying the expected results.

There are several important steps to take to meet the guidelines. This plan provides a set of directions so that making the decisions to reach the goal considered will not be as complicated as it seems at first.

Peter Ducker published a book in 1954 entitled “Practiced Management” where MBO which stands for Management by Objectives, was introduced.  This program consists of simple but very useful processes in order to meet commitments in an organization.  But don’t worry, this is applicable to personal plans as well. Begin at the very beginning at the smallest, specific part.

MBO consists of 5 steps:

1. Must be SPECIFIC.  It is better to accomplish one goal at a time rather than thinking of several different plans at one time.  A single objective can’t be achieved if  there are several results expected.  What’s important is that you need to clarify what is to be achieved and that should have your full attention until it is accomplished. This must be taken as seriously as possible.

2. Must be MEASURABLE.  Things that are not tangible are hard to measure. Other things  are measurable because they include numbers or ratings.  For example, in a company with service crews, it is hard to measure how the service was delivered. But if the number of complaints is counted then that specific number can be used to rate the effectiveness of the service. In an office, the number of tasks or assignments that were accomplished can be used as a basis for the measurement. 

Cooperation, is a very vague concept but it can be measured by getting a subordinate and peer survey.  The speed that assistance was provided to a certain individual is enough to provide information on how situations can be measured.  Try to use concrete terms when making an objective statement.  It should be something clear and specific:  to write, to recite, to perform, to fix, to process, to designate, to purchase, to choose, to reprogram, etc.

3. Must be ATTAINABLE.  Resources available give information on how an objective can be attained.  It must be something that is derived from fact and very realistic.  It could be that a certain objective is indeed realistic but the time frame for the result may not be. It is better to set objectives that can be factual because this promotes motivation. An objective taken from belief may cause failure and discouragement.

4. Must be RESULTS-ORIENTED.  The objective should be stated clearly so the expectation is firm. Focus on the end result since this will be the guide whether or not the objective to reach the goal is effective and meaningful.  Is the objective going to help you grow or succeed?  Will it be beneficial to each one involved?  Once the goal has been reached then that part of your plan  is a success.

5. Must be TIME BOUND.  There should be a limit to all the things needed to be accomplished.  This is important since the root of any plan can be traced.  It will also tell you the objective is real enough not to cause any delay.  There will also be more of a sense of fulfillment for you if the goal is attained earlier than the deadline.

To sum it all up, develop an objective that is easily measured, and can be attained within  a limited time. This will help you determine if the objective is realistic enough, meaningful, and worthwhile. A chart or journal can be kept to keep track of opportunities taken and strengths achieved along the way.  It will indicate to you the time that was consumed to develop your objective.  A successful completion of the objective will help motivate you to develop goals toward greater achievements.

In the case of your job search, how’s it going with the resume? Have you gotten it cleaned up and ready as we discussed the last time? A goal for you right now might be to send out a specific number of resumes this week. A second goal might be then to follow up on a certain number of those resumes next week. Can you see how this works and how it will give you the satisfaction that you are really working on that job search?

Blessings to you and good success in your search.

Dr. Kary

Hope you aren’t in the above category! It sure isn’t a good place to be – been there, done that! Just in case you are lookin for a job, I’m going to be posting some good information in the next few posts that will help get rid of the knot in the pit of your stomach.

Speaking of stomachs, some bug got me so I haven’t posted for a few days. But, if you’ve been keeping track and are planning on holding me account-able, I have been working on those goal sheets that I mentioned last time. It has been complicated but extremely interesting. Not only does it ask you to write out your goals, it also asks what would comprise your perfect life. In other words, not only things you want to work toward but things that you’d like to eliminate from your life. One of mine was to clean off my desk – get rid of the clutter – and it asks for a date. I did get it cleaned off!However, the piles are still sitting here to be sorted through! That’s part two of the goal.

Some of the things involved in your perfect life may not cost money but can be taken care of by making a decision to do it or not to do it. Getting rid of that clutter is one good example. It asks you to list what will be improved by the achieving of eliminating that thing from your life. Another goal might be to improve your social life. That may not cost you anything but a decision to get off the couch and get involved in some kind of activity.

Something else that is included in this study are inventory sheets. The inventory includes your skills, talents and training. Another asks for an inventory of the equipment and software you already have, and another has you list assets and liabilities and money available for developing a product or doing advertising. Very comprehensive.

Further in the study, you have to take the goals and develop them backwards. This is a concept that I first learned from a book by Stephen Covey. The idea goes like this – say, as a student, you have a term paper due on April 3rd. In order for that paper to be finished on time, how far do you need to be with it by March 3rd and how far by February 3rd. Then  you can break that down into weeks and figure out how much needs to be done this week and then each day. That way, you can keep yourself on track to be finished without that last minute all-nighter that made you hate term papers to begin with. (I can say that I learned that concept, but it doesn’t mean I always use it! Some of us actually do work better under pressure!)

So, enough for today. I’ll soon have some hints for job seekers and for that important interview. Have you done your homework on what you are good at and where you want your career to go from here? Have you worked on any goals? I’d like to hear what they are. Leave me your comments or questions. I’ll set a goal to respond quickly!

Blessings,

Dr. Kary