Career Objectives

POSITION TITLE

Position title, occupational title, or job title is the name of a specific position one holds. For example: • “To obtain the position of accountant with a public accounting firm and eventually become a partner.” • “Community organizer position where I can use my human relations, administrative, and research skills.”

ORGANIZATIONAL CATEGORY

Organizational category refers to settings in which you might like to work. For example: • “To work within the telecommunications industry as a technical advisor.” • “To secure a position as an editor for a mid-size publishing firm.”

FUNCTIONAL AREA

Functional area refers to the structure of an organization. Most organizations are divided into various departments, each responsible for completion of specific tasks or functions. For example: • “To work in the government relations area within a

Fortune 500 organization.” • “To obtain a management trainee position within the quality control unit of a production department.”

GOALS

Short-term goals are those you wish to achieve immediately. Identifying short-term goals helps you focus on where to begin your professional career. For example: • “To obtain an entry-level position as a weather observer.” Long-term goals are those you wish to achieve in five to 10 years. For example: • “To begin employment in a beverage management position, which will provide opportunities for advancement to a policy-making position in the organization.”

OBJECTIVE

• For your written career objective, choose at least one element but no more than three or your objective may be too lengthy. • You may want to have different career objectives for different career options you are considering. • The key is using elements that match up with your short- and long-term goals!

SAMPLE CAREER OBJECTIVE SKILLS

account administer advertise advise analyze budget calculate clarify communicate compile compose coordinate correct counsel create delegate design direct engineer establish evaluate facilitate guide implement improve initiate lead manage market motivate negotiate organize perform persuade present promote propose raise research sell serve solve supervise teach test train write

In a survey conducted by The Career Center, employers noted that career objectives are not usually helpful unless concrete skills are indicated. Learn more about what employers say on page 18.