UNTANGLING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Alisa Howlett | info pro. writer. brisbanite. traveller. !TAFE Brisbane Library - 23 July 2014

WHY HAVE A PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN?

make meaningful contributions to: • our ongoing development • the organisation where we work • the profession we are a part

make strategic and informed decisions about: • our next career step or learning experience • where to direct our energies and focus with PD activities

have productive conversations with managers, etc about our development

WHAT DOES A !

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

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LOOK LIKE?…ummm

WHAT CAN GUIDE PD PLANNING?

your personal career mission, driven by values and passion

defining your current career need (eg. exploring different sectors, gaining a variety of learning experiences, honing specialised skills)

position descriptions of roles you aspire to or want to plan towards

professional interests

priorities

Byron Bay Lighthouse, 2012

FRAMEWORKS AND TOOLS

ALIA Core Knowledge and Skills or any equivalent for specialisations

A list of generic skills and capabilities

SWOT analysis

Gap analysis

by Andrew Menage CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 via Flickr

PARTS AND STRUCTURE

purpose statement - what will the plan help you achieve? (linked to current career need)

goals, mission, directions

what makes you tick, what are you looking for in a workplace, what are your priorities (both work and non-work related)

a roadmap - what you’ll work or focus on, any PD activities or what you aim to achieve and when

learning options and activities to develop knowledge and/or skills (practicing)

essentially…. WHAT HOW WHEN

Puzzle by Liza CC BY 2.0 via Flickr

LEARNING OPTIONS

on the job training, experience, projects

profession - literature, blogs, conferences

personal learning network/ professional community

formal training

other sources (eg. MOOCs)

(Dority, 2006, p.140-142)

KEEPING TRACK: RECORDING PD ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES

the career journal - start one! ALIA PD scheme regularly review and make adjustments

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A CLEAR ENOUGH • PATH • IDEA • DIRECTION !

TO FORGE MEANINGFUL CAREER: • EXPERIENCES • OPPORTUNITIES • OUTCOMES

Ireland, 2009

LEARNING ABOUT THE PROCESS

what I’ll improve with my professional development plan

USEFUL RESOURCES

ALIA Career Planning information and templates

Book: ‘Rethinking Information Work: A career guide for librarians and other information professionals’ G. Kim Dority (2006)

The Bamboo Project blog

info pro. cultural heritage.

discovery & engagement technology.

info & knowledge management innovation.

writer. love to travel.

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Alisa Howlett @acrystelle acrystelle.com