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?
A 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: