Individual Development Plan
Individual Development Plan
Purpose: The creation of an Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a planning process for identifying your career objectives, professional development needs, and academic progress. The IDP can also serve as a goal-setting tool as you begin your professional journey. By customizing and completing this template, you can methodically plan your short- and long-term career goals, monitor your progress, and identify strategies for overcoming obstacles and maximizing opportunities.
How to use this document:
1. Read the entire plan, and then complete each section with thoughtful attention.
2. Save a copy of your strategy and keep it readily available for ongoing review.
3. Actively implement your strategy. Use it as a map and guide for your goals and timeline during the upcoming year.
4. Annually update, follow progress, and revise. An IDP should be a living document; its contents will change as your needs and goals change and as you grow professionally.
1. Identify a Vision, Mission and Values for Your Career
| A career vision statement describes what the world looks and feels like as a result of your professional work. A clear, compelling vision can have a magnetic effect, pulling you towards it as you focus on your work. A career vision statement defines your ideal future state of what you want to achieve over time.
Your vision statement will answer, “WHERE do I want to be?” Example vision statement: “My vision is to be a customer service minded health care professional, providing patients with a nurturing, supportive environment, while pursuing best practices in the workplace.” My vision statement: “ My vision is to be a supervisor at any hospital so I can manage and solve the problems that occur during the work. ” |
| A career mission statement defines what you will do in order to achieve your vision. Your mission is the reason you work at a particular job or institution; it gives meaning to your work life. Simply put, your mission describes the difference you intend to make in the world through your professional accomplishments.
Your mission statement will answer, “HOW will I do my part to achieve the vision, WHAT do I do and WHO do I do it for?” Example mission statement: “My mission is to be always learning and growing, and never complacent with the status quo. I want to be technologically savvy and customer service focused in order to bring the best resources to my patients.” My mission statement: “ My mission is to get the PHD degree in health and administration service which requires too much work and get a high position in the workplace to lead the employees and manage the patients situations.” |
| Values guide your life and decision-making. They are the reason we do things. List your top five values and why they are important to you. Keep in mind that as you grow in your profession, these may change in importance – others may get added to your list.
Your values will tell you “WHAT is important to me?” My values: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. |
2. Identify Strategic Goals (1-2 years) that Align with Your Career Vision, Mission and Values
| Strategic goals are achievable in the stated timeframe and measurable. They are so straightforward that an objective third party can assess whether you achieved them. By reaching these goals, you grow closer to fulfilling your mission and realizing your vision.
Your strategic goals will answer: “One -two years from now, what specific goals will I have met, bringing me closer to achieving my mission?” |
| Example strategic goals for the next 2 years:
1. Complete an internship by the end of my senior year. 2. Present undergraduate research at the EWU Research & Creative Works Symposium May 2018. 3. Find a mentor in my prospective career field this summer. My strategic goals (specify time frame): 1. Getting my bachelor degree by the end of 2019 and working on the master degree admission. 2. Getting the OPT work permission card so I can work in a hospital and practice what I learned after graduating. 3. Start working and doing the master degree as well so I can have more opportunity to find a job and complete goal by achieving the PHD degree. |
3. Declare Annual Goals for Different Areas of Your Work Life
| My annual goals
· Articulate goals for the coming year in all relevant professional development areas. · Feel free to customize this template by deleting, adding, or altering the categories. |
Outline of plans for accomplishing my goals
· What skills do I need to acquire? · What professional development activities will aid me? · What resources do I need? · With whom will I collaborate? · Who are potential mentors? · How will I measure my outcomes and successes? · What timeline and benchmarks will I set? |
| Research, Scholarship | |
| Education | |
| Community Service | |
| Other Types of Involvement | |
| Professional Networking | |
| Leadership | |
| Cultural Diversity |
4. Evaluate Your Prior Successes, Disappointments, and Revelations
| Consider the following:
1. Things you’re doing now that you want to quit 2. Things you’ve just been asked to do that you want to refuse to do 3. Things that you’re doing that you want to continue 4. Things that you’re not doing that you want to start |
5. Implement Your Individual Development Plan
· Filling out your IDP is just the beginning of the career development process. The IDP serves as your roadmap. Don’t just file it away somewhere. Successful and fulfilling careers can be challenging to manage, so paying attention to your milestones and ensuring your efforts are appropriately focused will help ensure a successful career.
· Try to find a mentor or someone you can share your goals with.
· Revise and modify this plan as necessary. It is not cast in concrete; it will need to be updated as circumstances and goals change. The challenge of implementation is to remain flexible and open to change.
Acknowledgments: Portions of this document were drawn or adapted from materials developed at the following institutions: University of Minnesota School of Medicine, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center; Indiana University School of Medicine, Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development; University of California, San Francisco, Office of Academic Affairs and Faculty Development and Advancement. Page 1
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