6 Work and life 之四 Planning your career path

Words for describing goals

Use these adjectives to help you describe goals.

• Getting an MBA in the next five years is a realistic goal

• You need more details in your goals. They have to be specific.

• Getting an online certificate in project management within two years is an attainable goal.

• Studying computer programming is consistent with your goal of getting a job in a tech company.

• Your goal of becoming a CEO someday is great because it's ambitious.

Your goal is very ambitious, but you can do it.

These goals support one another. They are consistent.

Your goals are attainable. You can do them.

Can you be more specific about your goals? I need more details.

I’m not sure getting an MBA in one year is a realistic goal. It’s not enough time.

Communicating plans and goals

Use these expressions to communicate your intentions and goals.

• A: Where do you want to be or plan to be in five years?

B: I plan to be a designer in a large corporation.

• A: What are you going to do after college?
  B: I intend to work as an accountant.

• A: Did you look at the questions I gave you?
  B: Yes. They really helped me set my career goals.

• A: What is a next step for today or tomorrow for you to achieve your goals?
  B: I need to do an informational interview.

In five years, I (plan) to be a college professor.

After college, I (intend) to be a real estate agent.

Your questions helped me (set) my career goals.

I need to do an (informational) interview.

What do you need to do to (achieve) your goals?

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Why does Dr. Bickerman want you to answer the questions?

• to set your final goals before the meeting
• to help start a discussion at your meeting (True)
• to see if she really needs to meet with you

How far into the future does she want you to think?

• five years (True)
• next Tuesday
• the immediate future

What kind of goals does the doctor want you to set?

• ambitious but realistic (True)
• attainable but not specific
• challenging but general

From: Sandra.Bickerman.phd@fhtzmail.com
To: efstudent@ef.com

Subject: Our first appointment

I’m looking forward to meeting you at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Before our appointment, please look over the four questions below, and spend some time working out some goals. These will not be final goals, but it will give us a place to start our
discussion.

Where do you hope or (plan to be) in five years?

What would be your (dream job)?

What education or training would you
need to (achieve) these goals?

What do you need to do in the (immediate) future to achieve these goals?

Please be as (specific) as possible. Give details. Also, try to keep a balance between realistic and ambitious. We want your goals to be attainable but still a (challenge).

See you soon!
Sincerely,
Sandra Bickerman, Ph.D.