INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS: CHARTING YOUR COURSE

Philip S. Clifford, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Postdoctoral Education Professor of Anesthesiology and Physiology Medical College of Wisconsin

Which way to Jeff City?

Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to walk from here? That depends a good deal on where you want to get to, said the Cat. I dont much care where -

Then it doesnt matter which way you walk, said the Cat.
-- so long as I get somewhere, Alice added.

Oh, youre sure to do that, said the Cat, if you only walk long enough.

GOALS OF AN IDP
Identify long-term career options and the tools necessary to succeed
Identify short-term needs for improving current performance Develop clearer sense of expectations Set milestones along the way to achieving specific objectives

Step 1. Conduct a Self Assessment

Evaluate your personal values, skills, and interests.
Identify your strengths and areas that need improvement. Get feedback from lab associates, friends, spouse, parents.

SKILLS
(www.the-aps.org/education/skills.htm)

Core Science Knowledge Lab Skills Analytical Skills Teaching Skills Communication Skills Management Skills Career Development Skills

JOB SATISFACTION

SKILLS

VALUES

INTERESTS

Step 2. Survey Career Opportunities Identify realistic career opportunities.

Determine developmental needs by comparing current skills and strengths with those needed for your career choice.

CAREER RESOURCES
Books (www.mcw.edu/research/postdoc) Sciences Next Wave Professional Societies Seminars Personal Interactions
Casual interactions Informational interview

Mentor NSF/NIH Websites National Postdoctoral Association

TWO BEST TOOLS

Networking - connecting to people with useful information Informational interview - inside information on career choices

Step 3. Write an IDP

Identify your career trajectory. List specific skills and strengths that you need to develop.

Define the approaches and time frames to obtain the skills (e.g. courses, technical skills, teaching, supervision). Discuss draft IDP with mentor and revise.

The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen. In conversation you can get away with all kinds of vagueness and nonsense, often without even realizing it. But theres something about putting your thoughts on paper that forces you to get down to specifics. That way, its harder to deceive yourself or anybody else.
Lee Iacocca

Step 4. Implement Your Plan Put your plan into action.

Review the plan and your progress with your mentor regularly. Revise the plan as necessary.

ANNUAL REVIEW
(Short Version)
What have you accomplished over the past year? How has your plan changed?

What are your plans for the future?

OBJECTIVE RESULTS
Sigma Xi Postdoctoral Survey Those with a plan were: more satisfied more productive less likely to have conflict with PI