Career Sandwich | Spring Clean your goals Resource

When Q2 rolls around, it's a great time to reflect on where you're at in your career. Doing so helps clarify where you should continue spending energy and spaces you should stop investing your time. Use these simple 5 steps to give your goals a quick Spring Cleaning:

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Step 1: Reflect on your progress in Q1

Look back at your career goals for the first quarter. What did you accomplished, what fell behind, and what no longer feels relevant? Ask yourself: Why was I able to accomplish some of my goals but not others? What was in my control and what was out of my control? There is no right or wrong amount of progress here; the goal is simply to have an honest conversation with yourself about where you are.
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Step 2: Get clear on your Q2 goals

Pick one to three key goals you want to accomplish in Q2. There is no goal too big or small: simply decide what would feel like meaningful progress to you and declare it! Wherever possible, make sure the goals are specific and realistic (e.g., "Build a portfolio with three case studies" instead of just "Improve my portfolio").
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Step 3: Build the plan with actionable steps

We love the classic SMART method for goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). For each of your goals, identify the smaller tasks required - with deadlines.

Example: If your goal is to "Grow my professional network," your tasks might be:

Research 3 industry events to attend this quarter (one per month)
Reach out to one past colleagues for catch-up calls each week
Post one LinkedIn update per month (Ongoing)
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Step 4: Track your progress on a regular basis

The easiest way to keep making progress is to track your progress! Use checklists, recurring meetings, or program management tools to help ensure you're delivering your actionable steps in service of your bigger quarterly goals.
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Step 5: Stay Accountable

Lastly, consider sharing your goals with a mentor, coach, or accountability partner. And most importantly, remember to reward yourself when you hit milestones to stay motivated!

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