Networking with the Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Succeeding in a graduate program requires more than taking courses or writing a thesis/dissertation.
Start your IDP
Make a copy of an IDP template
Explore Examples of Real Individual Development Plans
- First-Year Master's Student, Social Sciences
- Third-Year PhD Student, Humanities
- Fifth-Year PhD Student, STEM
- Postdoctoral Fellow
Why make an IDP?
A well-crafted IDP serves both as a planning and a communications tool, so you can identify research and career goals, and communicate them to mentors, advisors, and future employers.
Be proactive. Plan for networking opportunities to identify and meet professional goals. Identify needed skills and experiences. Your IDP provides is your roadmap.
The IDP helps to:
- Assess and develop transferable skills for different career paths.
- Effectively communicate academic and professional goals to your advisor, faculty, and mentors.
- Build a solid support network during graduate school and beyond.