To follow up on your self-assessment, we invite you to use the SMARTS formula presented below in order to transform a few of your checked statements into specific objectives. This exercise will help guide your next steps in further developing your competencies.

According to the SMARTS formula, your objectives must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Rewarding, Time sensitive and Shared.

Specific: Objectives need to be precise.
Often objectives are too vague. An example of a vague objective is “I’ll work hard.” However, they should be formulated with precise details. For example, “I will document all my work and share my progress in weekly team meetings.”

Measurable: Objectives need to be quantifiable.
Measurable objectives give concrete information. For example, “I will produce three interim reports and one final report.” Including quantitative information makes it possible to determine whether the objective has been met.

Achievable: Objectives need to be reasonable and achievable.
Initially, many students believe they can achieve more than what is reasonable given the available time, resources and so on. Frequently, success or failure depends on setting achievable goals. An example of an unachievable objective is “I will revamp the entire SAP system by the end of the project.”

Rewarding: Objectives need to matter in order to make you push yourself.
It is important to stretch ourselves, try new things and feel rewarded by our achievements.

Time sensitive: Objectives need to have a deadline.
A due date gives a sense of urgency—the driving force to take action—and therefore increases the likelihood that the objective will be met. It also makes it possible to monitor progress.

Shared: Objectives need to be shared with others.
Objectives of a project are effective when shared. You will share these with your supervisor. You will also meet with your supervisor to discuss them and get them approved.
Example of transforming a behavioural sentence from the list above into a SMARTS objective
Examples:
 Select and appropriately use the digital tools and resources that promote my learning and take advantage of online learning opportunities (webinars, Twitter threads, etc.).
 Adopt, learn, and develop new technology practices so that I can adapt to different professional environments.
Transformation of sentences using SMARTS format.
1. By April 13, I will have completed five drafts of a major presentation on clinical trial data, as well as having done some classification of the data. This will increase my proficiency with data processing in Microsoft Office, as well as give me insight into Canadian clinical trials.

2. I will study various relevant newspaper articles to find the discourse of advocates, organizations and governments (federal and provincial) on immigration in Ontario. This discourse analysis will allow me to improve my research skills using the Eureka database.
Perfection not required: The objectives pursued are rarely perfect. But if you design them with care, an open mind, and a willingness to change, you’ll be more effective and productive. In fact, with a little planning upfront, you may well exceed your employer’s expectations!

Elements to consider:
1. Your goals may change and evolve over the course of your experiences and should be revised regularly.
2. If you do not achieve 100% of your objectives at the end of your experience, simply explain the reasons in your reflections.
3. Use the SMARTS formula to assess the accuracy of your objectives as well as the actions you took to achieve them, the results, and the outcomes.
4. Use a journal to keep track of your thoughts and experiences, as these valuable notes could be used to evaluate your goals or as anecdotal examples in your reflective evaluation.