	Home
	Our Activities
	Standards & Legislation
	Employers
	Workers
	Publications
		ILO Publications
		Other Publications
		Expert Contributions
	Other Resources

GETTING HIRED: A Guide for Job Seekers Who Face Barriers to Employment
4. Setting Your Job Goal

4. Setting Your Job Goal

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it
you will land among the stars.

Les Brown, American speaker and author

A goal is a clear statement about something you want to do or accomplish. A job goal gives direction to your search. In this section you will:

	Learn the importance of having a job goal;
	Develop your own job goal.

Why Have a Job Goal?

As a job seeker, you need to be clear about the type of job you want. Without a goal, you could easily get lost or confused. A specific goal organizes your job search. It helps you decide which employers or job leads to pursue. It also guides you in preparing for interviews.

Your job goal should be realistic. A realistic goal is a goal that you can expect to achieve. It should be based on your ability to meet the job requirements and on the availability of jobs in your community. If your goal is not realistic, you should change it, get additional training or seek advice from a job placement specialist.

Specific Needs

You may have some specific needs that should become part of your job goal. These may relate to salary, benefits, hours, location or access to public transportation. For example, a disability might require you to work indoors or on the first floor of a building. If you rely on public transportation or do not want to move, location may be important.

Examples of Job Goals

Some of the following examples of job goals include special needs, others do not:

	To get a job as a farm helper, construction helper, painter or doing outdoor work that does not require special training;
	To get a job as a bank teller, office clerk or similar position by March. It must be close to the bus line;
	To get a job as a welder any place in the country. I will need housing or a housing allowance if the job is too far from my home; and
	To find a job as a teacher, counsellor or teacher's aide within the city limits. I must be able to get to the classroom in my wheelchair.

Exercise 4.1: Writing Your Job Goal

Using what you have learned about yourself and jobs and following the job goal examples:

	Write a job goal that includes any special needs that you have;
	Discuss your goal with your job-seeking partner and someone who knows about that type of work; and
	Repeat Exercise 2.3, "What do I have to offer," if your job goal differs from the job selected for that exercise.
	( Now you have a job goal; You need to prepare the job-seeking documents to help you reach it.

4. Setting Your Job Goal
GETTING HIRED: A Guide for Job Seekers Who Face Barriers to Employment

top of the page