Creating smart goals for your career as an animator is an essential step in achieving your career aspirations. Smart goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound objectives that help guide and motivate you to take action. They provide focus on what you want to achieve and how to get there. Smart goals can provide clarity and direction on what you need to do to reach your professional objectives. They also serve to increase your accountability and keep you on track. Setting smart goals as an animator can help you stay motivated, organized and on track to reach your career aspirations. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of establishing smart goals for an animator and how to go about doing it. We will explore strategies to help you create actionable goals that are achievable, relevant, and specific to your career aspirations. By the end of the blog post, you will have the knowledge to create smart goals that are tailored to your individual goals and objectives, and will help you
- Specific – there must be a specific area for improvement.
- Measurable – make sure that indicators of progress can be quantified.
- Assignable – tasks must be assigned to people.
- Realistic – results should be achievable with the use of the proper resources.
What are SMART goals?
The SMART goal framework is a tool that people can use to create specific, attainable goals that will improve their lives. The letters SMART stand for “specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based,” according to the acronym. You can make sure that your target accomplishments are reasonable and feasible by using the SMART technique to create your goals. SMART goals can significantly boost an individual’s overall career confidence and, consequently, success. People tend to feel more confident if they can achieve their goals with relative ease.
Here is a description of each element of a SMART goal:
Specific
When you can narrow down your goals to a specific result, they are specific. You can create a specific goal by determining what you want to achieve in detail. As an animator, for instance, you might have the general goal of working for an animation studio, but you can profit from narrowing this goal to include the specific studios you want to eventually work for because it gives you a clear benchmark for success.
Measurable
A goal must be measurable in order for you to be able to track your development as it is being attained. Think about specifying the quantity of jobs you want to apply for or the level of seniority you want to reach by a certain date. For instance, as an animator, you might set a measurable objective to submit applications for four positions at large, specialized animation studios that you find appealing.
Achievable
When you can reasonably accomplish a goal within a given timeframe, it is considered to be achievable. To avoid potential discouragement from goals that are outside of your field of expertise or education, it is crucial that your goals be achievable. Before formally setting your goals, try to evaluate them to make sure you can achieve them in a reasonable amount of time and under the normal circumstances of your life.
Relevant
Goals must be relevant because this determines whether you can use the results of your goals to further your overall long-term objectives. When you make a list of potential goals, consider whether each one can significantly affect your career trajectory as a whole. You can consider a goal to be relevant if you can see how it will benefit you personally or professionally.
Time-based
Making sure you give yourself a time limit to reach your objectives is a crucial component of creating SMART goals. You can space out any work done to achieve your goals by establishing an end date. If your objective is to become a senior animator at a sizable animation studio, for instance, think about setting a realistic but inspiring timetable for achieving this objective, such as five years.
What is an animator?
An animator is a graphic designer and professional artist who specializes in producing digital illustrations for a variety of media. Animators can find employment in television stations, animation studios, or even in advertising for businesses and brands. They might also pursue careers as video game designers or as independent contractors who make clients’ specific animations. They frequently have training in both visual and digital art, so it’s crucial for them to be familiar with illustration and the various software tools available to help with design.
Additionally, animation professionals frequently hold undergraduate degrees in digital media, visual arts, graphic design, or animation. They can frequently find internships at studios or design firms, where they can gain useful experience and establish long-lasting professional relationships. After earning their credentials, the majority of aspiring animators look for entry-level design and illustration jobs. Some elect to enroll in particular animation courses that can help them earn additional certifications.
How to set animator SMART goals
As an animator, you can use the following steps to set your own SMART objectives:
1. Identify your goals
Finding out exactly what you want your goals to be as an animator is the first step in creating your own set of SMART goals. To more clearly define your objectives and make sure they are feasible in the field of animation, become familiar with the industry norms and hiring procedures. For instance, if you are an entry-level candidate and your goal is to work as an animator for a major animation studio, you might think about starting with a goal that is more compatible with your background.
2. Make sure your goals follow the SMART framework
It’s critical to ensure that the objectives you set for yourself are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based) in nature. Try outlining your objectives in writing and underlining each component that corresponds to a letter of the SMART acronym. This can ensure that whatever you’re pursuing is an informed, doable goal that will advance your career.
3. Share your goals with mentors and colleagues
Informing your mentors or coworkers about your SMART goals will allow outside people to help hold you accountable, which is another way to set and achieve them. If you have a mentor, who could be a current or former boss, professor, coworker, or friend, share your goals with them and seek their guidance on how to accomplish them. To help you stay accountable and build your confidence as you approach your goal, you can also share your goals with your friends and coworkers and keep them updated as you accomplish them.
4. Keep track of your progress
Making sure you are monitoring your progress throughout the entire process is crucial for adhering to your SMART goals. You can achieve this by performing routine self-check-ins where you assess your development in relation to your stated SMART goals and acknowledge your accomplishments. You could also ask a friend or mentor to keep track of your progress and give you encouragement as you work to achieve your objectives.
Examples of SMART goals for animators
Two good examples of objectives you can have for yourself as an animator are as follows:
Setting SMART Goals – How To Properly Set a Goal (animated)
FAQ
What are the 5 SMART goals examples?
- Get Fit. Weak Goal Example: I’m going to get fit. SMART Goal Example: .
- Achieve a Personal Project. Weak Goal Example: I’m going to write a book. SMART Goal Example: .
- Improve Relationships. Weak Goal Example: I’m going to improve my relationships. SMART Goal Example:
What are some good SMART goals?
- Specific: Target a specific area for improvement.
- Measurable: Give your measurable goals a number or a measure of progress.
- Achievable: Specify who will do it and how.
- Realistic: List the outcomes that are possible given the resources you have at your disposal.
What skills do animators need?
- a creative mind and a strong visual imagination.
- an eye for detail and good colour vision.
- the capacity for modeling, drawing, and/or using computer graphics software
- The work is meticulously detailed, and you may need to put in long hours to meet deadlines.
What are the key 3 things SMART goals should include?
Each of your goals should be the following to ensure that they are specific, reasonable, and significant. Measurable (meaningful, motivating). Achievable (agreed, attainable).
