Grad15: Individual Development Plan Tools

Career planning isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a journey that evolves with your goals, values and life circumstances. Whether you’re just starting a graduate program or nearing the start of your professional career, your priorities might change. That’s okay!

Understanding how to make good decisions about career is just as important as the decisions themselves. That’s why using tools like Individual Development Plans (IDPs) can be so helpful. They give you the structure to assess, reflect and plan intentionally.

Career planning starts with you

Before you can explore jobs or set goals, it’s essential to start with guided self-inquiry. That means taking a moment to think deeply about your interests, values, skills and priorities. Maybe you’re at a point in your life where financial stability is non-negotiable, or perhaps your family situation prevents relocation. These aren’t just logistics; they’re key decision-making factors, and they should be included in your career planning process without guilt or hesitation.

Helpful IDP tools

MyIDP: Designed for STEM graduate students and postdocs.

ImaginePhD: Tailored to the needs of scholars in the humanities and social sciences.

ChemIDP: Developed by the American Chemical Society for chemistry-focused fields.

These are not your typical online “career quizzes.” They won’t give out a one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, they help you think critically about your goals. 

A look inside MyIDP

MyIDP’s interface is designed to walk you through career planning step-by-step. It starts with assessments, followed by matching to careers, then guides you into actionable planning.

The planning section breaks into:

• Project Goals (e.g., completing your dissertation, finishing coursework)
• Career Advancement (e.g., building your professional network, creating a digital presence)
• Skills Development (e.g., grant writing, public speaking, peer review)

If you’re in your early grad school years, it makes sense to focus first on project goals. As your academic work progresses and you narrow down your career interests, then shift your attention to skill-building and career development.

A peek at ImaginePhD

ImaginePhD offers similar assessments and planning features but with more customization for humanities and social science students.

It includes goal areas like:

• Degree Completion
• Career Development
• Skill Development
• Personal Development
• Money and Funding

You can add your own goals or use their suggested list as inspiration. The tool also lets you map your timeline across multiple time frames (3 months to 7 years), and export it into your calendar for easy tracking.

ChemIDP at a glance

ChemIDP is an IDP tool created specifically for graduate students and postdocs in the chemical sciences.

It was developed by the American Chemical Society (ACS) to help students and early-career researchers:

• Assess skills and interests
• Explore career options
• Set goals
• Track progress

The tool is designed to help chemists think proactively about their careers, rather than waiting until the end of grad school or a postdoc to start planning next steps. Many universities and graduate programs encourage students to use ChemIDP as part of their professional development.

Your career plans can change

We know that people change not only jobs but often careers multiple times over their lifetime. The good news is, both MyIDP and ImaginePhD are flexible enough to grow with you. Maybe today salary is your top priority. Five years from now, location or work-life balance might take center stage. That’s normal. The point is to start planning now with tools that help you understand and articulate your evolving goals.

Whether you're talking to your advisor, your dissertation chair or a mentor, having a documented career plan shows initiative and gives people a way to support you more effectively. So, take some time to explore MyIDP, ImaginePhD or ChemIDP. Do the assessments and start building your roadmap – your future self will thank you!

Grad15 is a mini-webinar series around graduate student professional development, support and resources. See all professional development events on the Graduate College’s Professional Development website.