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Career Development Program · Week 2

SMART Goals

Now that you've started building your confidence, it's time to decide where you want to go and how you'll get there.

Download the workbook (PDF)

Goals are easier to reach when they're clear and realistic. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. It turns a big idea like "get a job" into something you can act on and track.

By the end of this week you'll have one SMART goal for your job search. You'll use it for the rest of the program.

This week you’ll learn

  • What each letter of SMART means
  • How to turn a vague goal into a SMART goal
  • How to write your own SMART goal for your job search

This week’s lessons

Read each short lesson, then answer the questions in the worksheet below.

Lesson 1

What makes a goal SMART?

A SMART goal says exactly what you'll do, how you'll count it, and when it will be done.

  • S — Specific. What exactly will you do? "Apply to food service jobs" is clearer than "find work."
  • M — Measurable. How will you count it? Add a number: three applications, two certifications.
  • A — Achievable. Is it realistic with your time and support? Stretch, but don't set yourself up to fail.
  • R — Relevant. Does it move your career forward? It should connect to the job you want.
  • T — Time-bound. What's the deadline? A date makes it real.
Lesson 2

Example: Jasmine's SMART goal

Jasmine wants a food service job. She wants to reach her goal by March 1st.

Apply to three food service jobs by March 1st.

  • S She named the kind of job: food service.
  • M She added a number: three applications.
  • A Last month she applied to two jobs, so three is realistic.
  • R She wants to start her career in food service.
  • T She'll check on March 1st to see if she reached it.
Lesson 3

From vague to SMART

Vague goalSMART goal
Get a job.Apply to five warehouse jobs within 20 miles of home by the end of this month.
Get certified.Complete my ServSafe Food Handler certification in the next three weeks.
Fix my resume.Finish my resume and have my coach review it by Friday.

Worksheet: My SMART goal

These questions match the Week 2 worksheet in the workbook. You can type your answers into the PDF, write them by hand, or submit this form. Your coach sees what you submit online.

Download the workbook (PDF)

* Required

Section 1 — Your name

Staff match this form to your CDP record. Use the name we have on file.

My SMART goal

A SMART goal says exactly what you'll do, how you'll count it, and when it will be done.

Review the lessons

Which letters of SMART can you explain?

Build your goal one letter at a time

S — Specific. What exactly will you do? "Apply to food service jobs" is clearer than "find work."

M — Measurable. How will you count it? Add a number: three applications, two certifications.

A — Achievable. Is it realistic with your time and support? Stretch, but don't set yourself up to fail.

R — Relevant. Does it move your career forward? It should connect to the job you want.

T — Time-bound. What's the deadline? A date makes it real.

Review the lessons

Put it together

Example: Jasmine's SMART goal

Jasmine wants a food service job. She wants to reach her goal by March 1st.

Apply to three food service jobs by March 1st.

Review the lessons

Check every letter your goal includes.

If you can’t check all five, go back and adjust your goal.

Thank you!

Thank you. Your Week 2 SMART Goals work is in. Come back to the CDP page next week for Backplanning.