8 min read

Setting Achievable Goals: Leveraging Skill Assessments

Setting meaningful goals without understanding current capabilities is like hiking without a map—frustrating and inefficient. RefHub’s skill assessments give professionals, teams, and job seekers across Australia the clarity to set realistic, measurable goals, track progress, and hit development milestones with purpose and confidence.

Ever tried running before learning how to walk? That is exactly what goal setting without self-awareness feels like. In a workplace setting or career planning session, guessing your next step can lead to wasted time, mismatched roles, or stalled progress. That is why using skill assessments is like having a map before heading out on a hike. It shows you where you are, what lies ahead, and how to get to where you want to be.

Whether you are managing people, hiring talent, training staff, or looking to grow professionally, RefHub’s skill assessments can support you in setting achievable goals, tracking progress, and hitting development milestones with clarity and purpose. If you are in Australia and serious about aligning goals with real capabilities, this guide is for you.

Why Goal Setting Matters

You probably already set goals. But how often are they too big, too vague, or just not the right fit? Goals are not just checklists or targets to impress the higher-ups. Good goal setting is like building a house—you start with a strong foundation and work your way up. The stronger the base, the better everything stands.

Done right, goal setting creates:

Clarity on what to focus on
Direction for training, hiring, or promotion decisions
Motivation to keep going when work feels repetitive
Structure for personal and team development

But without knowing what skills are in place, or what is missing, your goals may float without an anchor.

Skill Assessments: Your Starting Line

Think of skill assessments as your compass. Before deciding where to go, you need to know where you stand. RefHub’s assessments can help pinpoint:

Existing capabilities
Hidden strengths
Gaps in skill sets
Readiness for new responsibilities
Training needs

For Human Resources professionals, this means smarter onboarding and succession planning. For Hiring Managers and Recruiters, it means selecting candidates based on facts, not guesses. For Learning and Development specialists, it means building programs around actual needs. And for Job Seekers, it is about seeing your real potential and what steps to take next.

👉 Want to see how assessments work? Visit RefHub's Skill Assessments page.

Setting Achievable Targets

Once you understand where someone stands, it is easier to guide them to where they need to go. But the key word here is “achievable.” Not every employee is ready to jump three levels up. Not every job seeker needs to master twenty things at once.

Instead, set goals that are:

Specific – “Improve communication” is too vague. “Complete a writing module and give two presentations this quarter” is clearer.
Measurable – Track progress with scores or feedback from ongoing assessments.
Relevant – Tie goals to business needs or career aspirations.
Time-bound – Give deadlines, even if they are soft. They provide structure.

Skill assessments give you a concrete way to shape realistic, achievable targets that fit the individual’s current ability and stretch them just enough.

Tracking Progress Without Getting Lost

Remember those old maps that never folded right? Tracking goals without a system can feel just like that—messy and frustrating. With RefHub’s tools, progress tracking becomes straightforward.

Assessments provide:

Baseline data – Know the starting point before any training or upskilling.
Comparative data – Measure how skills change over time.
Insights into strengths and blind spots – Know what to double down on and what to improve.

As a Department Head or Team Leader, you will appreciate being able to show tangible development during reviews or audits. For Career Counselors, these reports offer a way to show clients that progress is more than just a feeling.

Reaching Development Milestones

We all love ticking boxes—especially when those boxes mean real achievement. Whether it is learning a new software, improving leadership communication, or preparing for a promotion, reaching development milestones gives people confidence.

Think of milestones as small wins on the way to a big goal. They break down an intimidating mountain into manageable steps. Skill assessments make it easier to identify and celebrate these milestones.

For example:

After an initial assessment, an employee is assigned three learning modules.
Each module ends with a follow-up assessment.
Improvement is tracked.
At the end, a final review confirms the new skill level.

This builds a record of progress that is clear, fair, and ready to support performance appraisals or career growth plans.

Goal Setting for Different Audiences

For Human Resources and Hiring Managers

Set internal benchmarks. Align team development goals with company strategy. Use assessments to back up training investments.

For Business Owners and Department Heads

No need to rely on gut feel. See who is ready for more responsibility and who needs support. Minimise staff turnover by aligning roles with real skills.

For Job Seekers and Career Changers

Want to shift into a new industry? Or move from admin to people management? Skill assessments help you set clear goals and make your resume shine with confidence, not fluff.

For Educators and Trainers

Design training that fits. Track learning outcomes. Show progress through real skill development, not just course attendance.

Ready to Start Goal Setting with Clarity?

Skill assessments do not replace human judgment—they make it smarter. Whether you are building a team or building your future, RefHub’s platform offers the insight you need to set goals that are not only realistic—but meaningful.

To learn more, visit RefHub’s Skill Assessments page.

Let RefHub Help You Set the Right Goals

Whether you are planning careers or planning your next hire, starting with skill insights means you are not just setting goals—you are setting the right goals.

Visit RefHub’s Assessments page and start building your future—one smart step at a time.