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A career map is a visual representation about how a person will set and meet their goals. Goal setting is the process of figuring out what someone wants to accomplish and how long it will take them to meet their goals. The career map allows for students to plan out their future and become a successful person, in any career field that they so choose.
Purpose and Benefits of a Career Map
The purpose behind goal-setting is to make it easier on someone when it comes to planning out their future; as well as with a career map. The combination of the two is essential for exposing personal growth and development. Without creating a career map, or setting goals, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. This is because you then have no goal to work towards, which can cause a lack of motivation.
Some of the benefits that can come from creating a career map and setting goals, include improving your preparation and time management skills. As a college student, going into the future with a plan of action will put you ahead of the game. The career map can also give a person the ability to explore a variety of options when it comes to extracurricular activities and possible work experience.
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Importance of Setting Goals
The importance of setting goals is that it helps show the specific steps needed to be an accomplished individual. Goals help when it comes to deciding on what you want out of the future. Whether that means bettering yourself professionally, or even under general circumstances. Specific and realistic goals for me include:
- Obtaining a B.S.B.A in Finance with a concentration in Finance from the Belk College of Business, at UNC Charlotte by May 2022.
- Earn a minimum, overall GPA of 3.7 by graduation in May 2022.
- Join and participate in one of the Belk College of Business student organizations, specifically Alpha Kappa Psi by Fall 2018.
- Join and participate in one of the student organizations at UNC Charlotte, specifically Men’s Club Soccer by Fall 2020.
- Obtain the position of an Orientation Counselor at UNC Charlotte by Fall 2019.
- Apply and get accepted into the Business Honors Program at UNC Charlotte by Fall 2021.
- Participate in a minimum of one major-related internship before Spring 2021.
- Obtain a full-time career within a Charlotte banking company immediately, after graduation, May 2022.
These are some of the goals that I have created during my Fall 2018 semester and will strive to achieve them by graduation. On a personal level, it is important that I fulfill these goals because they will give me success in the future.
Strategies for Achieving Goals
While some goals may be easier to achieve than others, it is still important to have a strategy. Having a strategy increases the chances of success when it comes to your specific goals. This tends to lead to more confidence and positivity within oneself.
The first strategy that I would implement to efficiently meet my goals is eliminate any bad habits. Some of the habits that one should get rid of include procrastination, negativity, and stress. These potential bad habits can hinder your progress towards having a more successful future. Some resources that can help with overcoming these habits involve attending UCAE Workshops or going to the Counseling Center at UNC Charlotte.
Another strategy that I would consider crucial to achieving goals is time management. Time management is a great way to keep track of your day and tasks that need to be completed. My time management skills have been put to the test throughout the Fall 2018 semester. For example, while pledging for the business fraternity of Alpha Kappa Psi, I really had to learn how to balance my schoolwork with the pledging process. Some ways that really helped me improve my time management skills is using a daily planner, or calendar. Simply writing down your day-to-day tasks, every week, significantly increases progress towards having better time management skills and a successful future.
Need for Flexibility & Changes in Developing the Career Map
Although it is important to develop a career map, it is also critical to note that it is never complete. A career map is always changing because people are constantly adjusting themselves as well. Therefore, you must be content and accepting to the idea of change. This is because you never know what can happen in life. For example, one semester you may love being a finance major, but then the next semester you decide to switch majors. That is why a career should be viewed in terms of life, it must continuously adapt to become successful.
