Career Goals (or lack thereof)

Nov 3 17:29 UTC 1991

How many of you have career goals?  I don't mean something like, "I
want to make a lot of money when I grow up," but something along the 
lines of "I want to have a Ph.D. by the time I'm 30, and do applied
research in software interfaces."

Do you have these goals written down anywhere (as so many career
books suggest)?

If you do have clear goals, do you feel that they are helping you
be successful?  If your goals are not so clear-cut, do you feel this
is hindering your career?

response 2 of 21:

Nov 3 22:34 UTC 1991

I would like an academic position in Germanic Linguistics.  If I were
defending right now, this would probably be a ridiculous goal, but I've
heard that by the time I am finished, there should be a lot of professors
retiring, opening positions up for aspiring new assistant professors ...
I hope.

I have always been very goal-oriented, and I think that has been both an
advantage and a disadvantage in my career, actually.  I have known for
about three years that I want to go into social dialectology, started
researching graduate schools two years before I went, and published papers
when I was still an undergraduate.  I think such (obsessive? :-) determination
definitely helped me get into graduate school and keeps me going even when
things get difficult, but on the other hand, I have been accused of being
*too* specialized, too early, and I must admit that theory definitely has
its merits.  Sometimes, although I'm embarrassed to admit this, I can't
see the forest for the trees.  My major professor is determined to cure me
of this, though, so we'll see.

I definitely think being too goal-oriented can be a problem, although it's
a problem that is often overlooked because people are so grateful that you're
not flighty.

response 4 of 21:

Nov 4 17:43 UTC 1991

When I first started college, I had a clearly defined goal of obtaining a
degree in Sp. Ed. of the V.I. and then using that degree to get a teaching
position in the public schools teaching blind children.  My professors also
helped to keep that goal narrow by concentrating all of our studies on blind
children.  For example, we were not taught what to do for an insulin reaction
because that only applies to blind adult diabetics.  When I was in my senior
year, I had a unique opportunity to receive CO-OP credit and pay for teaching
computer access to blind adults.  I jumped at it, mostly for the experience,
which I figured wouldn't look bad on my resume.  I found that I loved the job,
relished working with adults and that it was a neat way to make friends.  
Thus, I continued in this area as my career, giving up my chance to teach
in the schools.  I think the initial clear cut goals helped me get through
school when courses seemed particularly tough or when other areas of study
looked appealing.  I think slightly changing my goals later, helped me
tremendously, as I know several people with my degree who are unemployed,
simply because they're afraid working with the adult population would be
too depressing.

My problem now is that I would like to go on and get my MA in Blind Rehab.,
but the nearest university offering that degree is Western which is too
far to attend and work in Washtenaw county.  I'm settling for the experience
and years I chalk up doing my current work in place of dropping everything
to go to WMU.  The majority of the time, I don't mind changing my goals 
slightly.  And yes, we were required all the way through school to write
down, analyze and discuss our goals.  My only complaint with that procedure
that they'll have to move out of state to get the teaching position that they
want.

response 6 of 21:

Nov 4 18:47 UTC 1991

My goals are essentially the same as bad's goals.  This bothers my wife,
though, that I don't have something more lofty to shoot for.  Maybe she's
right, but I have a hard time feeling that I *have* to continually
shoot for something in my life.  What's wrong with "making it"?  Or can
you never really "make it"?

response 8 of 21:

Nov 5 01:22 UTC 1991

Mainly, it shouldn't be interpreted that the general contentedness that
is my goal is all that I would take. That is what I'd need to be relatively
happy, but being happy wouldn't keep me from doing more grandoise things, 
if teh opportunity arose. 
        I mean, I wouldn't get complacent and pass up opportunities, but I
wouldn't always feel dissatisfied with what I have, as a lot of people do.

response 10 of 21:

Nov 6 01:43 UTC 1991

   No, its not.  I recently met my first high school aquaitence who has
had his first heart attack.  He is now trying to unlearn many of the things
that the Ann Arbor Public Schools seem to teach, like never letting go
in a competitive atmosphere.
   Something to remember.

response 12 of 21:

Nov 9 20:04 UTC 1991

Another reason I don't wanna be in software development. :)
But there's a difference between being satisfied with your place in the
world and being satisfied with your product...
Bouncing around, developing software, with any modicum of job security at
least, I could live with.

response 14 of 21:

May 19 02:16 UTC 1994

Career goals?  Personally, no.  

response 16 of 21:

May 23 23:58 UTC 1994

I never put my "goals" into writing until last year when I read Jane
Bryant Quinn's book "Making the Most of Your Money." ...and I haven't
looked at it since.  I went right into a Master's program in M.E.
when I started work in '83.  Would have preferred EE as a second
major, but the Gov. wouldn't pay for EE courses for an ME person.
(pretty stupid, I think...they also won't pay for management training
unless you're *already* a manager.)

Anyway, I never finised the Master's, because I opted for two years
in Hawaii at two different positions...both were great experiences.
I think this is possibly the worst time in decades to be thinking 
about committing yourself to specific "goals" unless they are 
thoughtfully chosen to provide flexibility in the future.  So many
of the rules are being re-written right now, and many people with
lots of intelligence and degrees to match are pounding the pavement for
jobs.  I believe the best thing you can do for yourself today is
to try to keep learning new things, don't be afraid to change jobs
when you feel dissatisfied, and don't assume that a lateral move
is a sign of failure.  I'm as happy as I've ever been in 11 years at my job,
and it was all almost totally new to me a year ago.  

It also doesn't hurt to be lucky.  ;)

response 18 of 21:

Feb 26 01:32 UTC 1995

        Hmmm...so much for that pre-collegiate clear view, eh?... :)
        Hey, Laurence, why not come back and give it ... dare I say it...
                THE OL' COLLEGE TRY again? Just a thought...

response 20 of 21:

Dec 5 03:33 UTC 2006

It's been a year or two :-)  since this item was active...  So how are y'all
progressing in your career goals? Have they changed as new technology becomes
available?