Introduction to Individual Development Plans and the AAAS myIDP

Slides: https://www.andreashandel.com/presentations/

2024-01-10

What is an Individual Development Plan (IDP)?

  • A plan for your (career) development.
  • Individualized to your strengths/goals/setting.
  • A living document.
  • Provides a structure in which to assess/learn/plan.
  • Has goals at multiple levels (long-term/big and short-term/specific).

Other names: personal/self-/career/professional development plan

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Why have an IDP?

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  • Thoughts on IDPs? Anyone done an IDP (or something like it)? How did it go?

Why have an IDP?

  • Greater career success.
  • Greater career satisfaction.
  • Clarity for oneself and colleagues.
  • Other ?

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Reading

A few general IDP Options

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A few career specific IDP Options

Many others - if you find a good one, please share

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AAAS myIDP

AAAS myIDP Components

  1. Start/Overview
  2. Assess yourself
  3. Learn what’s out there
  4. Plan and formulate goals
  5. Implement your IDP (with mentors)
  6. Track, revisit and update

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IDP Part I - Start

  • Free and online at: https://myidp.sciencecareers.org/
  • Create an account.
  • Sign up and look around.
  • Enter your basic information.

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IDP Part II - Assess

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IDP Part II - Assess

  • Do the 3 assessment exercises
    • Use the full range (1-5)
    • Consider comparing yourself to some type of standards, e.g. random person on street = 1 and experts on that topic/skill = 5

Do all of part II before we discuss it.

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IDP Part III - Learn

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IDP Part III - Learn

  • For careers that interest you, check the linked resources
  • Look for additional resources online

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IDP Part III - Learn

  • As possible, learn about careers by engaging with others
    • Speakers that come to UGA (including this class)
    • Conferences/meetings
    • Online meetups
    • Any other opportunity (e.g., LinkedIn)

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IDP Part III - Learn

Do all of part III before we discuss it.

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IDP Part IV - Plan

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IDP Part IV - Plan

  • Write down plans and goals as explained.
  • Use the SMART approach.

Do all of part IV this before we discuss it.

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IDP Part V - Implement

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IDP Part V - Implement

  • Identify mentors
    • Often good to ask them if they agree to be mentors
    • Mentors can cover large or small portions of your IDP
    • You should carefully evaluate what your mentors say, but you don’ have to do it
    • Mentors can be at various career stages, more senior/equal/junior to yourself
    • 2-4 mentors is a good number

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IDP Part V - Implement

  • Engage your mentors
    • Get your mentor(s) to do the skills assessment for you
    • Share your IDP (or parts of it) with your mentor(s)
  • Use your IDP
    • Print it, follow it

Do all of part V before we discuss it.

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Further steps

  • Revisit your IDP regularly
  • Track your progress
  • Update as needed
  • Schedule recurrent (regular or irregular) meetings with your mentors
  • Discuss with mentors how to use your IDP

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Pointers for success

The amount you’ll get out of doing this IDP is proportional to the amount of time and effort you are willing to commit.

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Pointers for success

Reserve a dedicated amount of time each week this semester to work on the IDP.

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Pointers for success

If you are able, team up with someone else in the class and run things by each other, check in weekly (accountability/sounding board buddy). If possible, involve your advisor/mentors.

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Pointers for success

Come prepared to class and use the in-class sessions to get more out of your IDP.

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Questions/Discussion

PhD Comics

  • Any questions/thoughts/comments about the IDP?

  • Any questions/thoughts/comments about the class?