Using an Individual Development Plan (IDP)

An Individual Development Plan is both a product and a process.

As a product: an IDP is a written list of training and career goals mapped to a timeline.
As a process: an IDP is a framework with four phases: 1) assessment, 2) career and professional development considerations, 3) goal setting, and 4) implementation.

Visit this page to learn more about IDPs, including video guidance for how to create and use one.

Having a Career Conversation

A career conversation with your research mentor is essentially a negotiation. It's a time to discuss your career path, what types of support your research mentor is willing and able to offer, and the level of productivity they'll need to see to continue to support you.

We recommend having this conversation at least once per year! Visit this page for more information, or schedule a 1:1 appointment to prepare with one of our career consultants.