Graduate education extends beyond the classroom. You are now a part of an exceptional academic community, and we encourage you to take advantage of any of career-enhancing opportunities within the University.
Professional development is the continued process of learning and growth throughout a career.
Planning early and engaging in your discipline and in your personal and professional development are key strategies to ensure your success in graduate school and your future job search.
Discuss your career aspirations, your strengths and your weaknesses and how to address them with your advisor.
Look for professional development opportunities within your program of study and use these resources:
The School of Graduate Studies Professional and Academic Success Skills Academy is an initiative of the graduate school launched in Fall 2022. The purpose is to support graduate students in achieving their goals through accessing workshops and experiences that contribute to personal, professional, and academic development. SGS PASS is built around Our Husky Compact and the Individualized Development Plan (IDP).
An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is an opportunity for you to consider your values, interests and goals and to assess your strengths in the knowledge and skills needed to successfully achieve your goals.
IDP Information and Goal-Setting Worksheet (PDF)
The IDP will be unique to you and is a living document that you will continue to evaluate and update as you develop and grow. You will have both short-term and long-term goals and these will change as you develop your skills and your path comes into focus.
As a graduate student, the IDP can be used as a starting point for conversations with your advisor or professional mentors. They can provide feedback on your assessment of your strengths and recommend areas for growth.
The dimensions of Our Husky Compact is one way to organize your thinking and your individual development plan. University workshops and the Involvement Transcript are organized around these dimensions.
Resources