Research shows that choosing a career aligned with your interests, personality, and values results in greater career well-being and happiness. Milestone 1 guides you through self-reflection and assessment to align your personal attributes with occupations. Whether you’re just beginning your career, transitioning to a new field, or seeking professional growth, the tools and resources below will empower you to create a well-informed career goal that meets your needs.

Steps to Create Your Career Goal
Knowing what is most important to you is an essential first step in making informed career decisions. Clarify your career needs by completing PART 1 on the Self-Assessment & Career Pathways Worksheet.
Save a copy of your Self-Assessment & Career Pathways Worksheet for future reference.

PathwayU is a career tool designed to help you find career paths that align with your values, interests, personality, and workplace preferences. PathwayU provides personalized career recommendations that will empower you to make informed decisions and achieve your professional goals.
Get Started with PathwayU
- Explore your career matches in PathwayU and select 1 to 3 occupations to research further. You can “add to favorites” the careers that interest you for future reference.
- Next, return to your Self-Assessment & Career Pathways Worksheet. In PART 2, document your research findings for the occupations you selected and evaluate how well each one matches the career needs you identified in Part 1.
Now that you’ve discovered more about yourself and potential career paths, it’s time to set a SMART Career Goal. A career goal provides clear direction and keeps you motivated, ensuring your educational and professional pursuits align with your dreams. SMART goals help you understand why your goal matters and outline a plan for success. Watch the video below to learn how to create a SMART goal:
Studies indicate that writing down goals increases your chances of achieving them. Use the appropriate document below to craft a SMART Career Goal that combines knowledge gained from your assessment(s), research, and occupational evaluation.
Save a copy of your Career SMART Goal Worksheet as a continual reminder of your professional aspirations.
Congratulations on completing Milestone 1!
Our career advisors are here to support you along your professional journey. Whether you want to chat about this milestone or need assistance with your career path, please feel encouraged to reach out.
Contact us at careers@wgu.edu or read our FAQs.
Supplemental Enrichment Activities

LinkedIn Learning
Watch “Informational vs. Job Interviews” to learn more about informational interviews.

WGU LinkedIn Alumni Tool
Find professionals with industry experience using LinkedIn!

Learn More About You
Learn more about your personal attributes by completing extra self-assessments.

Informational Interview Questions
Use this list of questions to help you during your informational interviews and conversations.

Employer Research Guide
Use this guide as a research tool for exploring and research employer organizations within your desired field or industry.

Explore More Career Options
Find additional occupations related to your major by viewing WGU Career Guides.

Career Research
Dive deeper into career data using O*NET and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.