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4 OKR examples for Job Search

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Tability is a cheatcode for goal-driven teams. Set perfect OKRs with AI, stay focused on the work that matters.

What are Job Search OKRs?

The Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework is a simple goal-setting methodology that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s. It became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s, and it's now used by teams of all sizes to set and track ambitious goals at scale.

OKRs are quickly gaining popularity as a goal-setting framework. But, it's not always easy to know how to write your goals, especially if it's your first time using OKRs.

We've tailored a list of OKRs examples for Job Search to help you. You can look at any of the templates below to get some inspiration for your own goals.

If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read our OKR guide online.

The best tools for writing perfect Job Search OKRs

Here are 2 tools that can help you draft your OKRs in no time.

Tability AI: to generate OKRs based on a prompt

Tability AI allows you to describe your goals in a prompt, and generate a fully editable OKR template in seconds.

Watch the video below to see it in action 👇

Tability Feedback: to improve existing OKRs

You can use Tability's AI feedback to improve your OKRs if you already have existing goals.

AI feedback for OKRs in Tability

Tability will scan your OKRs and offer different suggestions to improve them. This can range from a small rewrite of a statement to make it clearer to a complete rewrite of the entire OKR.

Job Search OKRs examples

We've added many examples of Job Search Objectives and Key Results, but we did not stop there. Understanding the difference between OKRs and projects is important, so we also added examples of strategic initiatives that relate to the OKRs.

Hope you'll find this helpful!

OKRs to secure employment to considerably escalate financial standing

  • ObjectiveSecure employment to considerably escalate financial standing
  • KRIdentify and apply to 30 relevant job openings within the first month
  • TaskIdentify 30 suitable job openings in the desired field
  • TaskTailor CV and cover letter for each job opening
  • TaskSubmit applications to all identified job openings
  • KRObtain a well-remunerated job offer that multiplies current income by 10
  • TaskNetwork intensively within the desired high-paying industry
  • TaskOptimize job application materials for high salary jobs
  • TaskUpdate skills through additional certifications or advanced education
  • KRSecure at least 5 job interviews within the second month
  • TaskUpdate CV and cover letter to fit targeted job positions
  • TaskApply to at least 20 relevant job postings weekly
  • TaskNetwork with professionals in the chosen field

OKRs to secure a job in product management

  • ObjectiveSecure a job in product management
  • KRApply to at least 15 product management jobs per week
  • TaskIdentify 15 product management job postings weekly
  • TaskUpdate resume to highlight product management skills
  • TaskSubmit applications to these postings
  • KRAttend at least 3 relevant networking events to meet potential employers
  • TaskPrepare introductions and business cards to network effectively
  • TaskRegister and plan attendance for these events
  • TaskResearch and identify relevant networking events within your industry
  • KRImprove skills by completing two project management courses
  • TaskResearch reputable online platforms offering project management courses
  • TaskEnroll in two selected project management courses
  • TaskComplete coursework and assignments on time

OKRs to secure satisfying employment amidst summer distractions

  • ObjectiveSecure satisfying employment amidst summer distractions
  • KRNetwork with at least 2 industry professionals daily
  • TaskAttend online industry-related workshops or webinars
  • TaskRegularly participate in LinkedIn discussions
  • TaskArrange weekly information interviews with industry professionals
  • KRCustomize and fine-tune resume for 100% of applications
  • TaskIdentify job posting requirements and align resume skills accordingly
  • TaskIntegrate relevant keywords into the resume text
  • TaskReview and customize resume layout and design
  • KRApply to at least 15 targeted jobs per week
  • TaskUpdate resume and cover letters for each application
  • TaskSubmit applications and track progress weekly
  • TaskResearch and identify 15 specific jobs to apply to each week

OKRs to secure a software engineer job in the US

  • ObjectiveSecure a software engineer job in the US
  • KRComplete ten coding challenges per week to improve technical skills
  • TaskReview and tweak solutions for efficiency
  • TaskChoose ten different coding challenges each week
  • TaskAllocate specific hours daily to practice coding challenges
  • KRIncrease LinkedIn networking efforts to reach two new contacts per week in target industry
  • TaskEngage in industry-related discussions to improve visibility
  • TaskDedicate 1 hour daily to researching and connecting with industry professionals
  • TaskPersonalize connection requests to increase acceptance rates
  • KRApply to at least five software engineer positions per week
  • TaskSubmit applications to selected companies each week
  • TaskUpdate and proofread resume for software engineer positions
  • TaskResearch five potential companies to apply to weekly

Job Search OKR best practices

Generally speaking, your objectives should be ambitious yet achievable, and your key results should be measurable and time-bound (using the SMART framework can be helpful). It is also recommended to list strategic initiatives under your key results, as it'll help you avoid the common mistake of listing projects in your KRs.

Here are a couple of best practices extracted from our OKR implementation guide 👇

Tip #1: Limit the number of key results

Having too many OKRs is the #1 mistake that teams make when adopting the framework. The problem with tracking too many competing goals is that it will be hard for your team to know what really matters.

We recommend having 3-4 objectives, and 3-4 key results per objective. A platform like Tability can run audits on your data to help you identify the plans that have too many goals.

Tip #2: Commit to weekly OKR check-ins

Setting good goals can be challenging, but without regular check-ins, your team will struggle to make progress. We recommend that you track your OKRs weekly to get the full benefits from the framework.

Being able to see trends for your key results will also keep yourself honest.

Tip #3: No more than 2 yellow statuses in a row

Yes, this is another tip for goal-tracking instead of goal-setting (but you'll get plenty of OKR examples above). But, once you have your goals defined, it will be your ability to keep the right sense of urgency that will make the difference.

As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid having more than 2 yellow/at risk statuses in a row.

Make a call on the 3rd update. You should be either back on track, or off track. This sounds harsh but it's the best way to signal risks early enough to fix things.

Save hours with automated OKR dashboards

AI feedback for OKRs in Tability

The rules of OKRs are simple. Quarterly OKRs should be tracked weekly, and yearly OKRs should be tracked monthly. Reviewing progress periodically has several advantages:

Spreadsheets are enough to get started. Then, once you need to scale you can use Tability to save time with automated OKR dashboards, data connectors, and actionable insights.

How to get Tability dashboards:

That's it! Tability will instantly get access to 10+ dashboards to monitor progress, visualise trends, and identify risks early.

More Job Search OKR templates

We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.

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