Statement of career: How to Write One and Why It Matters

How to Write One and Why It Matters

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What is a career statement?

Why are career statements important?

How to write a career statement

Career statement examples

Start writing

There’s value in living in the present. Checking off a list of to-dos. But when you take each moment as it comes, never turning your attention to the future, the days — and your career — grow stagnant.

Writing a career statement can help.

We know we’re throwing another assignment on your plate when it’s already full. But writing this statement isn’t time-consuming and will help you progress toward real growth.

And if you haven’t taken the time to write down your professional goals, a career goal statement is a good exercise to tackle before jumping in on your career statement.

This might sound like too much work, but it’s well worth it. Studies have shown people who write down their goals are 76% likely to achieve them versus 43% for those who don’t. Dedicating a little time to writing a goal statement today can go a long way toward bettering your tomorrow.

We’ll make it easier with a template. But first, let’s look at what exactly a career statement is — and why we think it’s a valuable tool for professionals.

What is a career statement?

Think of your career statement as an aspiration statement tailored to your professional goals. Aspiration statements express what you’re hoping to achieve in the future and describe your vision for the next chapter of your life. 

Think of them as the end of your life plan: your statement should highlight your dreams, encourage your ambitions, and provide an ideal outcome for your action plan. It’s a few sentences or a short paragraph outlining what you want to accomplish in the future.

Sounds simple enough, right? For career statements, you’re focusing those aspirations on your professional goals and intended career path. A career statement demands you to research what you need to accomplish those goals, as it depends on specific information. It needs specific dates, desired job titles or companies, locations, skills required, and more. 

Why are career statements important?

Career statements keep your objectives top of mind. They never let you lose sight of your long-term goals and why you want to achieve them. Thanks to this focus, a career statement helps you visualize your career path, like a roadmap to success.

Writing a career statement can help you tackle three of the resources key to achieving your goals: 

1. Motivation: What will make you spring out of bed and continue putting in a consistent effort? Increasing your motivation fuels your need to make your career aspirations a reality.
2. Direction: How do you see yourself developing your career? Do you need to go back to school, move to another city, or network more? Direction gives you a clear understanding of the moves you need to make to achieve your goals.
3. Accountability: Goals are great, but who’s holding you to them? Fostering accountability will keep your professional development goals top of mind and help you stay dedicated to them.  

There’s beauty in this journey. Goal-setting can reveal things you didn’t know about yourself, teaching you new skills and helping your well-being along the way. It’s been linked to:

• Higher motivation and ambition to succeed
• Stronger resilience
• Higher self-esteem 
• Greater self-confidence
• More independence and autonomy

Career statements and goal setting go hand in hand. They build off each other to help you turn your dreams into your reality. 

How to write a career statement

You’re not likely to knock out your career statement in five minutes. It takes time — depending on how clearly defined your career goals are. Don’t rush the process.

If you run into writer’s block or can’t decide what goals you want to set, take a break. You might find time for a self-discovery journey to help you understand where you’d like your life to go.

Planning out your career doubles as a great self-discovery technique, too: you can ask yourself what you’d like your work-life balance to be, if you want to work remotely, where you want to live, if you want to be a manager, and more.  

When you’re ready to begin, follow these six steps:

1. Think about your passions and purpose

Your passions and purpose guide your life. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted two-thirds of US employees to reflect on their life’s purpose, with 70% of respondents reporting their purpose is tied to their work. Passions and purpose are a great place first place to look to help identify what goals you want to accomplish.

Example: “My passion is storytelling and writing.”

2. Do plenty of research

This step won’t take long if you’re already clear on what you want. But if you have no idea what professional aspirations will enrich your life, dedicate time to research.

Reach out to people in your network for a chat. Expand your knowledge about your industry, learn the requirements for the jobs that interest you, and familiarize yourself with potential roadblocks. Research will give you the knowledge you need for the planning and execution stages.

Example: “I’m interested in writing a fictional novel and working with a local publisher.”

3. Test the waters 

This is a time for curiosity, intentionality, and reflection. Put your research to the test. If you want to change careers, go to a seminar about your target industry. You might be bored to tears, which could indicate you need to modify your plans.

Ask yourself questions along the way — are you staying engaged with the topics you’re learning about? How do your body and mind feel as you turn in this new direction?

Example: “I’ve written a storyboard, and it’s made me feel excited and motivated, so I’d like to continue and take the next step.”

4. Use the SMART goal template

The SMART goals model will help you set realistic goals. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. This model provides a template that keeps you organized and lets you visualize your goals more clearly.

You should have a pretty good handle on your goals by now. And if you find that your initial goal doesn’t work well after listing the different elements, don’t be afraid to make changes — without adaptability, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure. As you grow and move down your career path, your goals might shift. That’s perfectly fine. 

Example: “I plan on pitching a 300-page novel by the end of this month to three different publishers in my community. I’ll pitch my novel to their fiction team and take notes when they provide any feedback.”

5. Solidify your action plan

So you’ve explored the things that matter to you, spent time researching and experimenting, and defined your goals. Now, it’s time to make a solid action plan. Take a moment to think about each step you’ll take. Do you need to further your education, work on your communication skills, or find a mentor?

Planning ahead has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and make responsibilities feel less overwhelming. Mapping out your steps will eliminate potential stressors and procrastination. 

Example: “I’m going to create a timeline for myself to write the novel, including the brainstorming, writing, and revising process. This will help keep me on pace and focused on each section as it comes.”

6. Make adjustments when needed

You’ve put tons of effort into creating an actionable, well-thought-out career statement. But sometimes life throws a curve ball. Challenges arise, obstacles you may have no control over.

Adopt a growth mindset that welcomes learning from your mistakes and changing your plan when necessary. Adapting to change will help you achieve your goals, not hinder them. 

Example: “My pitch hasn’t been picked up by any of the publishers I’ve pitched my story to, so I’m widening my circle to publishers from other communities. I’ve learned from my network to be more specific with my pitches and to explain more about myself.”

Career statement examples

Career statements differ depending on your goals, industry, and lifestyle. Your life purpose could be tied to working with nonprofit organizations or climbing the ladder in the tech industry. Whatever your professional aspirations, your career statement should reflect them.

Here are three career statement examples to inspire you:

1. I’ll be a full-time writer in two years. I’ll start as a freelance writer and build up my portfolio, expand my network, and tune in to workshops and seminars about writing. I’ll dedicate 30 minutes each week to reading great pieces of writing, and I’ll be ready to do some problem-solving when editors give me feedback. 
2. I’m going to be my own boss and open a café next year. I’ll create a welcoming new culture within my café that values kindness, compassion, and respect. I’ll further my existing business knowledge by taking marketing classes and talking to people within my industry about the financial costs of entrepreneurship.
3. I’ll be promoted to sales manager within two years. I’ll focus on improving my leadership and communication skills by listening to feedback from my manager. I’ll also continue to learn more about sales since it’s my big interest and passion and become familiar with my soon-to-be managerial responsibilities.

Start writing 

We’ve outlined the steps and benefits of writing a career statement. Now it’s time to invest in your future and start writing. 

When you’re happy with your career statement, put it somewhere you’ll notice each day. If you wrote it up by hand or printed out a copy, stick it on your fridge or bathroom mirror, or hang it above your desk.

If you went digital, set your statement as your phone’s lock screen. Keep it close. It’ll remind you of what you’re working toward — and what you’ve already achieved by putting your goals and plans into words.

Give your statement another read when you’re feeling down or unmotivated. They’re yours for the taking.

Steps to an Effective Career Goals Statement with Examples

Setting goals

Setting goals in your personal and professional life can serve as a motivating factor for improvement. Specific and measurable goals are an important incentive to guide your professional development and personal advancement. Employers look for career goal statements because they are an intentional plan and a methodical approach to how you will achieve your intentions. They show you strive for the best, have a growth mindset, and have commitment to your industry. Learn what career goals are, why they are valuable, steps you can when creating them, and some examples to help you create specific and measurable goals to advance your career. 

A career goals statement, also known as a personal statement or a statement of purpose, is a written assertion of your long-term professional goals. A personal statement is your plan for success and the measure for where you want your career to head. They are a statement of your professional intentions and reveal commitment to your craft. Including your statement of purpose on a cover letter or resume shows a hiring manager your motivations and intentions and provides you a clear picture of your career path.

A career goals statement is your written intention and the driving motivator behind your daily actions and habits to advance your career. Your statement of purpose serves as your professional target. Being clear about your intentions and drive helps you create logical steps to achieve it. Career goals statements are also important because they are:

• Motivating factors in your success. If you begin with the end in mind you give your daily actions meaning and purpose. You see the value in the small individual steps you take toward success because you know the expectation. Your overall aim serves as an influence for you to take specific actions like learning new skills, enrolling in continuing education courses, or volunteering for extra hours at work.
• Create accountability for your professional actions. Recording an idea or goal on paper makes it tangible, real, and creates accountability for you. When you physically see your objective, and communicate it to others, you become responsible for creating that reality. Sharing your career objectives with hiring managers or employers can create career opportunities for you as they work toward having the most skilled employees.
• Are a guiding force for career advancement. People can get comfortable in a position and forget their objective. To keep your career from stalling, a written statement provides guidance and direction.

How to write a professional career goals statement

To write a professional goals statement reflect on your career aspirations and your passions. These should be the controlling idea within your statement of purpose. Consider taking the following steps when forming your own statement of professional goals for graduate school or to carve out your career path.

1. Evaluate your motivations.

Analyze your own likes and dislikes to understand where your passions lie. Knowing your motivation and focusing on the values that drive you can help you decide on your own career path. If you haven’t determined what drives you, try volunteering within your community and interviewing different professionals to learn about your interests more.

2. Understand the career path and level of commitment.

Once you have determined your passion and identified a career industry, research your options. Making an informed decision is one of the first steps to creating an effective career goal statement. You can begin by doing a job search and discover companies hiring by location, job title, and industry. You can write a stronger and more specific career goal if you know all the requirements for the job you want. You can determine the level of commitment the career requires and decide if it is the right fit for you. This quiz can also help you narrow down your choices.

Learn more: 8 Ways to Research a Profession Before Changing Careers

3. Be inquisitive and reflective.

It is important to spend your time doing what you love. Job satisfaction is more than earning a paycheck. To create a refined career goal, ask yourself the following questions:

• Where do I want to be in 5 years? Ten years? Fifteen years?
• What kind of job do I need?
• What is my vision?
• How do my personal and career goals align? Or do they differ?
• How can I improve my skills?
• Am I engaged in my work?
• How does my work relate to the quality of life I have and want?

Learn more: Five Questions to Ask to Make Sure Your Career’s on Track

4. Use the SMART goals format.

SMART is an acronym to help you remember effective requirements when creating goals. SMART stands for: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. The goals you include in your career goals statement should follow these guidelines:

• Specific: Goals should be concise and well-defined. Instead of saying you want to write more, rephrase it as “I want to journal daily.”
• Measurable: You want to gauge how much you have progressed. Develop a way to measure your progress. If your goal was to journal daily, review your entries to see if you met that goal. Determining whether you met your goal can help you decide your next steps. You may have to adjust your expectations, but keep in mind your focus on improvement. Create a process that will benefit you and leave room for improvement.
• Achievable: Your goal should be realistic and achievable. Understand your own abilities so you succeed and are encouraged to strive for more. Focus on an attainable goal that can position you for success and set you up for the next step toward your objective.
• Relevant: Your goal should be in line with your life goals and career objectives. Journaling can be a way to record your thoughts about life but also improve your written communication skills for career advancement. You will feel fulfilled personally and encouraged professionally.
• Time-bound: Set a specific deadline for attaining your goal. You can then create smaller steps for yourself and see that progress is slow but steady.

Learn more: SMART Goals: What They Are and How to Write Them

5. Develop steps and strategy.

Plan out specific and actionable steps you can take to reach your goal. For daily journaling, it can be having a pen and notebook by the nightstand, and setting aside five minutes before bed to write about your day. These are simple actions that can impact your success.

6. Accept it as a process.

Revisit your goal often, and determine how far you have progressed. You may need to reevaluate your steps, or determine if you are missing an important aspect, or failing to see an obstacle. Maybe journaling before bed is unreasonable because you are too tired. You can adjust your approach and journal in the morning. Be willing to adapt and alter your process if needed.

Review the following career goals statement examples to plan your own statement of purpose and set your future in motion.

• I plan to be a full-time writer in five years. I will work as a freelance creative to build a portfolio, attend two writing workshops, and read one book per season focused on developing my craft and building my business.
• I will transition careers from executive assistant to paralegal. I plan to enroll in a training and certification program. In two years I will be an intern at a law firm to get some practical training. 
• I will be project manager at RightForMe company within four years. I will enter the company sponsored mentor program to work on my leadership skills. I will focus on improving team productivity by 5% and get feedback from my supervisor on ways to improve. 
• I will be promoted from sales associate to sales specialist within two years. My focus will be on improving cross-selling strategies to increase revenue by 10%. 
• I will graduate and become a certified teacher in two years. I will enroll in the teacher certification program and complete it to earn my code to test the state exam and score satisfactory.

The above career goals statement examples serve as guides to creating your own statement of purpose. Your goals aren’t set in stone, and can be adjusted to fit your needs and evolving lifestyle. The career path you choose should fit your job qualifications, unique skills, help you achieve your dreams, and reveal your work ethic for hiring managers. Use your goals as inspiration to excel in your career.

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Trusova made a statement about her career, Semenenko will not be fined, Kostornaya “remembered” about Eteri Tutberidze

Evgeny Nesyn
Analyst Editor

19. 04.2022

KP Sport talks about the latest sports news for the evening of April 19, 2022

Alexandra Trusova will show her programs at the test skates. Photo: REUTERS

The main sports news of the last 24 hours is an interview with figure skater Alexandra Trusova. One of the top stars of Khrustalny said that she would continue her performances. Well, besides, she intends to get ahead of the men in the performance of the five jump. In addition, the fate of the figure skater Semenenko became clearer, and Kostornaya involuntarily made an “injection” to the former coach Eteri Tutberidze. KP Sport talks about the latest sports news for the evening of April 19, 2022.

Vice-champion of the 2022 Olympics in women’s figure skating Alexandra Trusova said she would not end her sports career. “Queen of Quads” during an interview admitted:

– Why did I say that I could end my career at 22? Because this is another Olympic cycle. Now I am 18, the next cycle is 22. I believe that after the end of my career there are a lot of opportunities. Then everyone starts performing in the show.

Evgeny Plushenko said that all financial obligations to the figure skater Evgeny Semenenko will be fulfilled. The victim will not be fined in any way and, moreover, will receive a full fee for his performance, to which the athlete was invited:

Semenenko hit his head hard on the ice at Plushenko’s show.
Photo: Global Look Press

– If he fell in training, no one would know about it. In training, there are also falls. We are not just engaged in physical education, this is a professional sport. We will pay Evgeny Semenenko the full fee for which he skated.

Figure skater Alena Kostornaya, who started working with Elena Buyanova, in her new interview unwittingly “forged” her former coach Eteri Tutberidze. Speaking about the reasons for the transition to CSKA, Kostornaya said:

– Since childhood, I wanted to skate in this school, in this group. Apparently, this moment has come. Buyanova is primarily famous for working with adult athletes.

Kostornaya, we recall, has been skating at Khrustalny since last spring after a year-long “business trip” to the academy with Evgeni Plushenko.

But the main football news of the last day is the death of Cristiano Ronaldo’s newborn son. After a severe personal tragedy, the Portuguese striker Manchester United refused to take the field in the next game of his club. nine0003
Ronaldo could not enter the field after the tragedy, Photo: Globallookpress

Zenit, as it turned out, led a lot of players who later became stars. And of course, the team admitted that they wanted to take Nikola Vlasic from CSKA.

In hockey, the main news is the appointment of Oleg Znarok as the head coach of Ak Bars. The 2018 Olympic champion will work next season in the capital of Tatarstan. In the NHL, the Russians are in perfect order. Ovechkin scored 778th puck, Podkolzin scored 2 points for Dallas. nine0003

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Yuri Zhirkov made a statement about his career RIA Novosti Sport, 09/24/2021

Yuri Zhirkov made a statement about his career

Midfielder Yuri Zhirkov said whether he was going to continue his sports career. RIA Novosti Sport, 24.09.2021

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Football

Yuri Zhirkov

Russian Premier League (RPL)

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MOSCOW, September 24 – RIA Novosti. Midfielder Yuri Zhirkov said whether he was going to continue his sports career. The contract of 38-year-old Zhirkov with the St. Petersburg “Zenith” expired last summer. The last time the midfielder took to the field in official matches was in the game of the first round of EURO 2020, in which he was injured. During his career, Zhirkov played for CSKA, Zenit, Anji, Dynamo and London Chelsea. nine0003

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MOSCOW, September 24 – RIA Novosti. nine0194 Midfielder Yuri Zhirkov told if he was going to continue his sports career.