To say that the tech industry evolves at a rapid pace is an understatement. No matter what your background or role, chances are good that the tools, programming languages, and methodologies you use daily are in a constant state of flux. That adds pressure when you’re trying to come up with goals for your job and current projects that will advance your career while boosting your abilities.
Fortunately, there are some relatively simple methods for translating vague goals and aspirations into actionable steps. One of the more popular is the SMART goal framework, which we’ve covered before in Dice’s Ultimate Guide to a Successful Tech Career.
In essence, SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Sounds good, huh? But how does this framework actually work when you’re trying to advance your tech career? Let’s dig in!
Specific
When plotting out your goals—whether for your career, a personal project, or your job—it never helps to be vague. Instead:
- Ditch those loose aspirations and define a goal that clearly outlines what you want to achieve.
- Ask yourself "What exactly do I want to learn?" or "What specific impact do I want to make on this project?"
- Example: "Learn the fundamentals of machine learning by completing an online course." (vague) vs. "Complete Andrew Ng's Coursera course on Machine Learning by August, focusing on implementing basic algorithms in Python." (specific)
Measurable
What’s a goal if you can’t measure it? Nothing.
- Quantification is key. How will you gauge your progress and ultimately determine success?
- Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) relevant to your goal.
- Example: "Track the number of machine learning projects I complete on Kaggle by the end of the year." (measurable)
Achievable
Everybody loves ambition, but some things are simply impossible. You’re not going to start a tech company and grow it to a billion-dollar business in just a quarter, for example. Setting achievable goals is critical so you don’t get discouraged (and burned out) as you go along.
- Be ambitious, but realistic. Consider your current skillset, available resources, and workload.
- Break down large goals into smaller, manageable milestones.
- Example: "Complete one section of the Machine Learning course each week, dedicating 5 hours of study time." (achievable) vs. "Become a machine learning expert in 3 months." (unrealistic)
Relevant
Ever heard of a “vanity KPI”? It’s when a business sets goals that don’t actually matter to the things that are important, like revenue generation. In a similar spirit, you should set goals that are relevant to you and your needs. To wit:
- Ensure your goals align with your broader career aspirations and your company's objectives.
- Does this skillset complement your current role or open doors to new opportunities?
- Example: "Learning machine learning will allow me to contribute to the development of our company's new AI-powered recommendation engine." (relevant)
Time-Bound
Yes, deadlines suck. But they can also start a fire under you to accomplish whatever you need.
- Procrastination is the enemy of progress. Set a clear deadline for achieving your goal.
- A defined timeframe creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay motivated.
- Example: "I will complete the Machine Learning course and build a simple recommendation system prototype by December." (time-bound)
Incorporating SMART goals will allow you to transform your more abstract ideas into actionable plans, allowing you to achieve your goals. And remember: as you move through these stages, always make sure to adjust as needed to ensure you stay on track.
