AI Quick Guide: SMART Career Goal

"AI Quick Guide" with a circle around it.

Use this guide to quickly create your SMART career goal – just follow the steps!

AI is a tool to help, not replace you. You’re in control, and the more you use it, the better it will work for you.

AI will help you:

  • Set a career goal that fits where you are–starting out, moving up, or changing careers
  • Break your goal down using SMART format
  • Create a final goal statement that provides clear direction

⚠️ Important Tip Before You Use AI: AI can give helpful advice, but make sure your career goal is realistic. When your goal fits your resources and personal life, it will keep you motivated and focused.

Image showing the SMART goal framework with each letter of the acronym—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound—written in a different color.

🤖 STEP 1: CHOOSE A FREE AI TOOL

  • Sign up or log in to a free account on ChatGPT or Perplexity. Note: You can use these without logging in, but features are limited.

💬 STEP 2: USE THE AI PROMPTS BELOW

  • What is a Prompt? – A message you type to tell the AI what you want and guide its responses.
  • Prompt Instructions:
    • ✅ Pick Your Prompt – Choose the prompt that best fits where you are in your career—starting out, moving up, or changing paths.
    • ✅ Copy & paste – Copy your prompt and paste it into the AI chat box.
    • ✅ Fill in the blanks – Add your info where needed in the prompt.
    • ✅ Send it – Press Enter (computer) or tap the send arrow (phone).
  • 👉 Clear Input = Clear Output! The more details you give, the better the AI can help. If the first response isn’t quite right, try rephrasing your prompt, asking follow-up questions, or asking the AI to be more specific.

AI Prompts

▶️Career Starter

Use this prompt if you’re just starting your career and want to land your first job in your field.

💬  Copy & Paste (remember to fill in the blanks):

Create a SMART career goal to start my career as a [target job title]. I’m pursuing a [your degree] with limited professional experience in this field. Include specific skills to develop and outline steps to gain experience for securing an entry-level role within [completion date, e.g., 1.5 years]. Break the goal into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound categories with a clear final goal statement at the end.

👉 Want to personalize your goal even more? Ask a follow-up question!

  • Can you make the goal more specific for someone just starting out?
  • Is my goal realistic for someone with limited experience in this field?
Screenshot of a SMART goal-setting AI-generated response in Perplexity, tailored for someone starting a new career.

▶️Career Advancer

Use this if you’re already working in your field and want to move up to a higher role.

💬  Copy & Paste (remember to fill in the blanks):

Create a SMART career goal to advance into a [target job title] role. I’m currently in a [your current job title] position with [X years of experience in your field]. I’m pursuing a [your degree] and want to enhance my skills in [specific areas or tools] to prepare for a more senior position within [completion date, e.g., 12 months]. Break the goal into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound categories with a clear final goal statement at the end.

👉 Want to personalize your goal even more? Ask a follow-up question!

  • Can you check if the SMART goal is realistic based on my current experience? (Share a few more details about your background and skills to help you get personalized advice.)
  • How can I make the “Measurable” part of my goal even clearer?
Screenshot of a SMART goal-setting prompt and AI-generated response in Perplexity, tailored for someone advancing careers.

▶️Career Changer

Use this if you’re in a different field now and want to change to a new career path.

💬  Copy & Paste (remember to fill in the blanks):

Create a SMART career goal to change my career to a [target job title] role. I’m currently working as a [your current job title] and have [X years of experience in your current field]. I’m pursing a [insert your degree] and want to include specific skills and experience I should develop to transition into this new role within [completion date, e.g., 2 years]. Break the goal into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound categories with a clear final goal statement at the end.

👉 Want to personalize your goal even more? Ask a follow-up question!

  • Ask me a series of questions to strengthen this goal.
  • How can I make the Time-bound part of my goal more realistic if I am working full-time right now?
Screenshot of a SMART goal-setting AI-generated response in ChatGPT, tailored for someone changing careers.

🔍 STEP 3: REVIEW & FINALIZE YOUR GOAL

  • ✅ Double-check your goal – Make sure it matches what you really want.
  • ✅ Transfer your work – Copy each part of your SMART goal into the SMART Career Goal Worksheet.
  • ✅ Make it clear – After adding your goal to the worksheet, edit any parts that don’t make sense or fit your needs, if necessary.
  • ✅ Save it – Save your completed worksheet to your OneDrive, Google Drive, or computer.