A five-year plan can be a powerful tool that moves your career forward. But like any plan, it can’t boost your career by gathering dust in a drawer.

If you’ve made plans in the past only to watch them fall through, here’s how to re-engineer your five-year plan so you can make it work for you.

1. Get SMART

SMART is an acronym commonly used for creating goals. The letters stand for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Based.

As you set goals for your next five years, make sure each goal meets these standards. For example, suppose that five years from now, you want to be head of your own sales or marketing team. Your SMART goal might look like this:

• Specific: “I will have the position of Team Manager.”
• Measurable: “My team will consist of at least five people and we will be responsible for a minimum of $500,000 per year in sales.”
• Achievable: “To do this, I will improve my own numbers by at least 12 percent and also finish two certifications.”
• Realistic: “I will work with my current boss or recruiter to ensure I can make this move within five years.”
• Time-Based: “I will achieve this goal by June 2024.”

Focusing on each step of a SMART goal ensures you create goals you can reach and you will know when you have achieved them.

2. Break it down

As you develop aspects of your five-year SMART goals, you’ll start to see where you’ll need to do specific work in order to stick to your plan. For instance, you may realize you need to complete a certification, improve your sales numbers or take another step.

For each of these steps, set up a SMART goal for achieving it. Include these goals in your overall five-year plan, so you can track when you’ll need to have completed them and you will know what completion entails.

3. Rally your team

Consulting your supervisor for advice on how to achieve your goals can help you gain the insight you need to set your plan in motion. For an additional perspective, don’t hesitate to talk to a recruiter with experience in your industry and professional field.

At SMR Group, our recruiters help sales and marketing professionals execute their career plans by connecting them to some of the best jobs and companies in the biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical industries. Contact us today to learn more.