individual development plans

7/28/2019 Individual Development Plans

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Philip S. Clifford, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Postdoctoral EducationProfessor of Anesthesiology and Physiology

Medical College of Wisconsin

INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS:CHARTING YOUR COURSE


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Which way to Jeff City?


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Would you tell me, please,

which way I ought to walkfrom here?

That depends a good deal

on where you want to get

to, said the Cat.

I dont much care where --


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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 youonly walk long enough.


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GOALS OF AN IDP

Identify long-term career options andthe tools necessary to succeed

Identify short-term needs forimproving current performance

Develop clearer sense of expectations

Set milestones along the way toachieving specific objectives


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Step 1. Conduct a Self Assessment

Evaluate your personal values, skills,and interests.

Identify your strengths and areas thatneed improvement.

Get feedback from lab associates,

friends, spouse, parents.


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SKILLS

(www.the-aps.org/education/skills.htm) Core Science Knowledge

Lab Skills

Analytical Skills Teaching Skills

Communication Skills

Management Skills Career Development Skills


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JOB SATISFACTION

SKILLS VALUES

INTERESTS


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Step 2. Survey Career Opportunities

Identify realistic career opportunities.

Determine developmental needs bycomparing current skills andstrengths with those needed for yourcareer choice.


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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


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TWO BEST TOOLS

Networking - connecting topeople with useful information

Informational interview - insideinformation on career choices


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Step 3. Write an IDP

Identify your career trajectory.

List specific skills and strengths that you needto develop.

Define the approaches and time frames toobtain the skills (e.g. courses, technical skills,teaching, supervision).

Discuss draft IDP with mentor and revise.


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The discipline of writing something

down is the first step toward making ithappen. In conversation you can getaway with all kinds of vagueness andnonsense, often without even realizingit. But theres something about puttingyour thoughts on paper that forces youto get down to specifics. That way, its

harder to deceive yourself or anybodyelse.

Lee Iacocca


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Step 4. Implement Your Plan

Put your plan into action.

Review the plan and your progresswith your mentor regularly.

Revise the plan as necessary.


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ANNUAL REVIEW

(Short Version)

What have you accomplished over thepast year?

How has your plan changed?

What are your plans for the future?


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OBJECTIVE RESULTS

Sigma Xi Postdoctoral Survey

Those with a plan were:

more satisfied

more productive

less likely to have conflict with PI


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individual development plans

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