Professional Development Strategy

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The Life After College Blog:

The Life After College Book:
Accompanying Blog Posts:
Create a Professional Development Strategy - Part 1:
Create a Professional Development Strategy - Part 2:

Step One: Explore Your Vision

This is a time to reflect, relax and think of your life from a 10,000 foot-view. Don't worry about filling in every square, or even filling the
much down as you possibly can. Be creative and try not to limit yourself to only what you think will be possible. There are no "shoulds" o
BE
What feelings or state of mind do you want to have?
How do you want to impact others?

6 months

1 year

3 years

Step Two: Bolster Your Background

TALENTS/STRENGTHS
frequently compliment you on? What are you
naturally good at? When do you feel most "in the
 Step Three: Set Specific Goals
Instructions: Now it's time to consolidate your brainstorm from parts one and two (above) into three specific areas for development. Ch
benchmarks and resources
GOAL
What is your developmental goal? What would
success look like? What will you do by when, and
how will you know if you are successful?
Area for
Development #1:
{Fill in}
Area for
Development #2:
{Fill in}
Area for
Development #3:
{Fill in}

Optional—Step Four: Design Your Next Career Move

Choosing your next career move can be a challenging proposition, especially if you know you’re looking for something different than wh
no particular order) by going for quantity, not quality. List anything and everything you could possibly want, and don’t be afraid to drea

CAN'T HAVES / DEAL BREAKERS

What is your developmental goal? What would

AREA success look like? What will you do by when, and
how will you know if you are successful?
Company Size

Salary

Types of People

Culture
Location

Job Role

Industry/Dept

Other

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http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/05/11/create-a-professional-development-strategy-part-1-of-2/
http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/05/18/professional-dev-strategy-part-2/

Step One: Explore Your Vision

0 foot-view. Don't worry about filling in every square, or even filling them in any order. The goal should be to get as
yourself to only what you think will be possible. There are no "shoulds" or wrong answers.
DO LEARN
What do you want to be doing? List tasks, projects What classes do you want to take? Are you
considering graduate school? Also include side
or activities (in or outside of work) interests or hobbies to learn more about.

Step Two: Bolster Your Background

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE PEOPLE TO TALK TO
how can you develop those skills? What will it take you've identified? Who would be able to provide
to become an expert in one specific area of your helpful "one-off" advice as you pursue the goals you
domain? What new skills would take you from identified above? Who could be a mentor to you in
 Step Three: Set Specific Goals
parts one and two (above) into three specific areas for development. Choose the areas first, then fill in your vision, goal,

BENEFITS STEPS
What are the benefits of this goal? What will keep What steps will you take? Come up with 4-5 key
you motivated when you encounter challenges? milestones for each goal.

tional—Step Four: Design Your Next Career Move

n, especially if you know you’re looking for something different than what you have now. Fill out the following table (in
hing and everything you could possibly want, and don’t be afraid to dream big!

NICE TO HAVES MUST-HAVES

What are the benefits of this goal? What will keep What steps will you take? Come up with 4-5 key
you motivated when you encounter challenges? milestones for each goal.
where that came from!

the-scenes monthly round-up. As a thank you, you’ll get

es 20+ kick-ass templates for every area of your life. http://bit.ly/LACMonthlyScoop
e Guide to Getting What You Want: hundreds of tips,
http://amzn.to/jennyblake
rategy-part-1-of-2/