Career Development Planning for Graduate Students

Overview

Career planning is generally considered a four-step activity that includes the:

  • self-assessment of your skills, values and interests
  • exploration and evaluation of your career options
  • identification of your career goals and objectives
  • development of an action plan or strategy

What is a CDP?

Career Development Plan (CDP) – also known as an Individual Development Plan (IDP) – is a useful tool to help you map and track your career development strategies. The University has developed templates to help you conceptualize your career development planning.

The graduate CDP template is a useful resource to guide your career development discussions with your graduate program director or advisor. In conceptualizing your CDP, see the specific range of recommended skills for graduate students:

Some schools have developed guidelines for preparing an individualized CDP customized to the needs of their graduate students:

 

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