Career goals for a UI designer should be no more or less different than for every career there is out there. Consider what goals are realistic for you and what would make you happy in the long run. Don’t concentrate on short term gains and finding shortcuts to working less or achieving more in quicker order. If you’re just finishing school or college, you have all the time in the world. If you’re just turning 50 and want to make a career change, you also have all the time in the world. You could wake up tomorrow and feel young and don’t let that stop you from achieving your goals.
You should aim to constantly improve your skills and work on projects that you find engaging and fun, but project you feel like you will also learn valuable skills and traits that will make you a better UI designer for the future. Keep up with the current trends and don’t try to wonder and stress over your current situation right now. Things in the industry change in a matter of seconds and you should be adaptable to many of the changes that are about to come. If you just keep on learning no matter what, you will not have a hard day at work for the rest of your life. Self-satisfaction is key here as you should not feel bad about your design career.
As to job opportunities, find what you can and what you are happy doing and fell like you have an opportunity to grow. The best paying job can be a nightmare if it is boring and repetitive.
