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Do I Really Need a Professional Development Plan?

Do I Really Need a Professional Development Plan?

If you’ve been following my work for any period of time, you know that I’m a big fan of Professional Development Plans (also referred to as PDPs). I often create these plans in collaboration with my career coaching clients, and I frequently provide training workshops on this topic. However, one question I repeatedly hear is this: Do I really need a professional development plan? What if I don’t have any big career aspirations? Or, what if I already know what I need to do…why should I bother writing it down?

Here’s my honest answer: I believe every professional should always have a PDP. It’s a living document, so it should evolve as you grow in your career. The majority of the work happens up front, when you create the PDP for the first time. After that, it’s just a matter of updating and revising as you go, which usually requires less time and effort.

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How to Write a Professional Development Plan

How to Write a Professional Development Plan

This is the second article in a two-part series on the topic of Professional Development Plans. Read the first article here.

In the first part of this series, you learned that a professional development plan (or PDP) is a written document used to focus, evaluate and prioritize professional development goals and activities. In this article, you’re going to learn exactly what should be included in a PDP document and the simple 10-step process I use to write a PDP.

This process is outlined in more detail in the Build Your Professional Development Plan workbook. There you will also find a variety of exercises and templates to guide you through each step.

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The New Rules of Modern Job Search (Free Webinar)

Join us for this month’s free webinar on the topic of “The New Rules of Modern Job Search.”

In my role as a career coach, I’ve helped a lot of people navigate the complex world of job search. Often, when people come to me for help writing a resume or practicing for an interview, they’re really starting from scratch. Most of my clients haven’t had to search for a job in many, many years. Sadly, job search trends change so quickly, if you haven’t done it in a while, you have to spend some time brushing up on the basics before you can ever hope to get the attention of those incredibly busy recruiters and hiring managers.  

Truth be told, there’s a lot to know. Job search is an entire field of study for folks like me. I don’t expect “regular” professionals to keep up with it. That’s why I’m here! Most people don’t think about job search strategies and trends until they’re deep in the midst of a career transition—and usually they only consider learning more about these things when their current approach isn’t working.

In this month’s webinar, I’m sharing my most essential “rules” for launching a modern job search. These are things every professional needs to know, whether or not you’re planning on making a career transition anytime in the near future. After all, you never know what might happen. By taking a few simple, proactive steps now, you can set yourself up for success if and when you find yourself back in the job market. Don’t wait until you need it!

The New Rules of Modern Job Search (Free Webinar)

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