Individual Development Plan

INDIVIDUAL
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
“an Individual Development
Plan (IDP) can be a helpful tool.
A well-prepared IDP might
include occupational
exploration and research,
professional development,
skills training, formal education
or a job search campaign.”
What is an
IDP?
• A written plan that outlines what career goals you want
to accomplish and what steps you can take to meet
those goals.
• A tool you can use to identify, organize and plan your
career.
• A tool for creating a personalized plan that best reflects
your career aspirations, whether you want to plan for
professional development, promotional opportunities
or retirement in the next few years.
Why have an IDP
• To focus your professional efforts and identify

individual work goals.
• To use as a communication, development
and/or
planning tool.
• To assist in obtaining resources, (e.g., scholarships,
fee assistance or training funds); some
departments request an IDP as part of their
professional development program.
• To serve as your career action plan for skill
buildinag,
professional development and career
Guidelines – Consider the following
guidelines for creating and
implementing your IDP
Know the Purpose of Your IDP
• Prioritize and develop a plan of action to reach
your short- and long-term career goals.
• Focus your personal efforts in the areas that you have
selected.
• Identify, outline and use resources.
• Create an action plan that is clear
and achievable.
Ask yourself
What areas of my work do I want to develop?
• What areas of my work do I need to
improve?
• What are some short-term goals for taking on new tasks and
responsibilities in my current position? What skills do I need to
acquire?
• What might be some long-term career goals and what skills
would I need to develop to achieve those goals?
• What are new demands in my job (or career) that require me to
gain additional skills?
• What direction is my department going and what do I need to
grow with it?
• • What can I do to find out about other
career opportunities?
Filling out IDP Form
My Goals – Section 1: What are my overall goals that I want
to accomplish in this time period?
• Write down the overall goals you want to accomplish in the

short-term (next three to six months); mid-term (next six
months to two years); and long-term (next two to three
years).
• You can have more than one goal.
• Examples: Develop skill in computer graphics; Find out
how to become a Student Affairs Officer; Figure out career
direction; Start the “Developing As A Supervisor”
certificate series.
Skills and knowledge to be learned – Section 2: What
specifically do I need to learn?
• You can identify what skills and knowledge you want to

develop; write them down.
• Sometimes, it is appropriate to use the IDP as a time
management tool for a project; for example, maybe your
goal is to revise the procedural manual in your department.
In this case, you don’t need to learn a new skill, but it is still
your work goal for the upcoming year.
• Write down the project you need to complete and in the
Next Steps section, detail the specific action steps you need
to take.
Next Steps – Section 3: How am I going to acquire the skills and
knowledge?
Write down specific action steps you need to take to gain the skills or
acquire the skills and knowledge you identified, for example:
• Go on informational interviews to find out what skills are needed to

become an Analyst I.
• Job shadow a Student Affairs Officer; Enroll in the Student Advising
certificate series.
• Talk with my supervisor regarding my IDP.
Resources – Section 4: What resources do I need?
What resources do you need to complete your goals?
• Often a resource may be as simple as getting release

time to take a course.
• However, other resources you may need include: funds
to pay for outside training, education, memberships,
conferences; coverage for your duties; temporarily
adjusting your work schedule; getting support from
your supervisor or support network.
Time Schedule – Section 5: What is my time
schedule?
• Write down the date you plan to start working on

this goal and the date you plan to finish, for
example, if you are taking a one-day workshop,
then just put down the day of the workshop in
both columns. If you are taking the “Developing
As A Supervisor” certificate series, write down
the day of the first class in the start row and the
day of the last class in the finish row.
Completion – Section 6: When have I
completed each step?
• Check off and date your progress as each

specific step is completed. Congratulations!

Individual Development Plan

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Individual Development Plan

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Individual Development Plan

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

INDIVIDUAL

• To focus your professional efforts and identify

• Write down the overall goals you want to accomplish in the

• You can identify what skills and knowledge you want to

• Go on informational interviews to find out what skills are needed to

What resources do you need to complete your goals?

• Often a resource may be as simple as getting release

• Write down the date you plan to start working on

• Check off and date your progress as each

You might also like