Monday, 20 March 2017

Career tool: Individual development plan

I just discovered this excellent individual development plan (IDP) that helps you explore career possibilities and set goals to follow the career path that fits you best. The American Association for the Advancement of Science has an online tool for PhD and postdoctoral researchers in the sciences, and provides:    
  • Exercises to help you examine your skills, interests, and values
  • A list of 20 scientific career paths with a prediction of which ones best fit your skills and interests
  • A tool for setting strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to keep you on track
  • Articles and resources to guide you through the process
Help for career planning is all too scarce, so it is well worth the effort of completing the assessment of your skills, interests and values, At the end, all of the inputs (assessments of skills, interests and values, as well as skill goals, project goals, mentors etc.) are collated in a customized individual development plan that you can share with a mentor or supervisor.

https://myidp.sciencecareers.org/