Business career goals may be based on academic qualifications, compensation levels, job titles or even career longevity. Additionally, many professionals use a variety of short-term and long-term goals and judge themselves by tracking the progress they have made towards each of these targets. For many people, business career goals are first formulated prior to enrolling in college.
Completing a business administration undergraduate degree program within a certain time frame may be a student's initial target. To apply for high-level positions an individual may be required to complete a masters or even a doctorate degree program in business. Therefore, students and existing professionals with aspirations for promotion may see completing these types of courses as an important milestone within an overall career plan. Additionally, executives working in certain industries such as the engineering or medical sectors may to have complete industry specific courses in addition to generic business degrees. Completing these courses may represent another business career goal.
Some people judge success in monetary terms, in which case business career goals are often based around salaries. An individual may set a goal of earning a certain amount of money within the current year through wages and bonuses but also set a series of longer term goals for earning more money in subsequent years. In some instances, an experienced worker may calculate how much money is needed to fund a comfortable retirement, and then set a goal of earning and saving that much money within a specific period of time.
While money drives many people, others are more concerned with status; therefore, business career goals are often based around job titles and promotions. Someone may set a target of earning a promotion within a specific period of time but also set related targets based around progressing through the ranks. The ultimate goal may be to reach a certain level in the company, and some people add an extra element to the equation by placing time limits on the planned career progression.
During times of economic uncertainty, long-term career planning can be difficult in which case some people choose to set themselves business career goals based around actions they can take during the next few weeks or months. Sales people often set weekly, monthly and annual earnings as well as performance goals that are tied into multi-year goals. Other people set themselves simpler goals that involve learning new skills or job functions, even if acquiring those skills will not necessarily lead to a promotion or wage increase.