1. Building Your Professional Development Plan
Presented by Nicole Kearse
Krescent Consulting LLP
“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” - Pablo Picasso

2. In this session, we will discuss:
What is a professional development plan
Why a professional development plan is important
Key elements of a professional development plan
Sample professional development plans
Building your professional development plan
Evaluating and updating your professional development plan

3. What is a professional development plan (PDP)?
A written plan in which an individual sets out his or her professional goals, ambitions and aspirations as well as strategies related to how to attain those goals, ambitions and aspirations.

4. “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
Why is a PDP important?
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
- Benjamin Franklin

5. Why is a PDP important? It will help you: Clarify your career goals
Define where you are going in your career and how you are going to get there
Understand your existing skills and expertise and identify what skills or expertise you need to develop in order to meet your career goals
Create a structured timeline and plan to achieve your career goals
Take control of your own professional goals and growth

6. Why is a PDP important?
IT IS YOUR CAREER ROADMAP

7. Sample Professional Development Plans
SRA

8. Sample Professional Development Plans

9. Sample Professional Development Plans

10. Sample Professional Development Plans

11. Sample Professional Development Plans

12. Key elements of developing a PDP
Long-term career goals – Partner at Kearse LLP

13. Key elements of developing a PDP
Long-term career goals – Partner at Kearse LLP
Required or possible short-term interim career goals – 5 years’ experience in oil & gas

14. Key elements of developing a PDP
Long-term career goals – Partner at Kearse LLP
Required or possible short-term interim career goals – 5 years experience in oil & gas
Necessary skills assessment – what you need to achieve these career goals
Soft skills
Technical skills/ experience
Relationships
Other

15. Key elements of developing a PDP
Long-term career goals – Partner at Kearse LLP
Required or possible short-term interim career goals – 5 years experience in oil & gas
Necessary skills assessment – what you need to achieve these career goals
Soft skills
Technical skills/ experience
Relationships
Other
Identifying needed skills – what you have versus what you need

16. Key elements of developing a PDP
Long-term career goals – Partner at Kearse LLP
Required or possible short-term interim career goals – 5 years experience in oil & gas
Necessary skills assessment – what you need to achieve these career goals
Soft skills
Technical skills/ experience
Relationships
Other
Identifying needed skills – what you have versus what you need
Setting out action plan to obtain skills / experience

17. Key elements of developing a PDP
Long-term career goals – Partner at Kearse LLP
Required or possible short-term interim career goals – 5 years experience in oil & gas
Necessary skills assessment – what you need to achieve these career goals
Soft skills
Technical skills/ experience
Relationships
Other
Identifying needed skills – what you have versus what you need
Setting out action plan to obtain skills / experience
Elements of Action Plan should be SMART

18. Key elements of developing a PDP
Elements of your action plan are SMART when they are:
Quality S
Specific M
Measurable A
Attainable R
Relevant T
Time bound

19. Key elements of developing a PDP
Elements of your action plan are SMART when they are:
Quality
Example S
Specific
Increase my number of clients by 20% M
Measurable
I currently have 5 clients. To increase by 20% I need 1 more A
Attainable
I have several leads that can help me achieve my goal R
Relevant
I need to increase my number of clients to X in order to make partner T
Time bound
Within two months

20. Key elements of developing a PDP
Long-term career goals - Example
Required / possible short-term career goals – Example
Necessary skills assessment – what you need to achieve these career goals
Identifying needed skills – what you have versus what you need
Setting out action plan to obtain skills / experience
Set out time frames for accomplishing action items

21. Key elements of developing a PDP
Long-term career goals - Example
Required / possible short-term career goals – Example
Necessary skills assessment – what you need to achieve these career goals
Identifying needed skills – what you have versus what you need
Setting out action plan to obtain skills / experience
Set out time frames for accomplishing action items
Identify success criteria

22. Key elements of developing a PDP
Once your plan is complete, you will:
Execute
Track progress to:
Stay accountable
On track
Stay motivated
Review and revise

23. Building Your Professional Development Plan

24. PDP Development Process Overview
Long-term goals
Short-term interim goals
SMART plan

25. STEP 1: Set out long-term career goals
Depending on where you are in your career and your career thinking, this can be:
1 year out – “I want to make partner next year”
5 years out – “I want to be the GC of HSBC in 5 years”
10 years out – “I want to be the CEO of the National Oil Company”
Timing depends on you!

26. STEP 2: Set out shorter-term career goals / interim steps
The interim steps required/possible to take in order to achieve longer-term career goals.

27. STEP 2: Set out shorter-term career goals / interim steps
The interim steps required/possible to take in order to achieve longer-term career goals.
LONG Term Goal = General Counsel of HSBC

28. STEP 2: Set out shorter-term career goals / interim steps
The interim steps required/possible to take in order to achieve longer-term career goals.
LONG Term Goal = General Counsel of HSBC
Shorter-term goals/ interim steps:
LLM in finance
Law firm experience
Exposure to various aspects of the banking industry

29. STEP 2: Set out shorter-term career goals / interim steps
The interim steps required/possible to take in order to achieve longer-term career goals.
LONG Term Goal = General Counsel at HSBC
Shorter-term goals/ interim steps:
LLM in finance
Law firm experience
Exposure to various aspects of the banking industry
MAKE THESE SMART!

30. STEP 3: Set out required skills / experience
Getting from where you are to where you want to go
Research and identify the skills required to achieve the interim steps
Interim Step
Skills / Experience Required
LLM in finance
Undergraduate degree
Finance experience
Law firm experience
Relevant contacts
Exposure to various aspects of the banking industry
Internships
In house positions

31. STEP 3: Set out required skills / experience
Getting from where you are to where you want to go
Research and identify the skills required to achieve the interim steps
Ways to research:
Look online
Network
Mentor
Career coach

32. STEP 4: Personal Assessment
“One has to know the size of one's stomach.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche, Ecce Homo

33. STEP 4: Personal Assessment
The individual SWOT Analysis in the context of your career goals
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
SWOT

34. STEP 4: Personal Assessment
The individual SWOT Analysis in the context of your career goals
Strengths
- What am I good at?
- What skills / experience do I have?
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
SWOT

35. STEP 4: Personal Assessment
The individual SWOT Analysis in the context of your career goals
Strengths
Weaknesses
- What am I not so good at?
What skills am I lacking?
Opportunities
Threats
SWOT

36. STEP 4: Personal Assessment
The individual SWOT Analysis in the context of your career goals
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
- What opportunities are available that could help achieve your goals?
Threats
SWOT

37. STEP 4: Personal Assessment
The individual SWOT Analysis in the context of your career goals
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
- What could hinder your ability to achieve your goals?
SWOT

38. STEP 4: Personal Assessment
The personality test – identify what you don’t know about yourself
Myers Briggs
16 personalities
Etc.

39. Practical Exercise
Your personality test

40. STEP 5: Skills and Experience to Attain
Required Skills and Experience
Existing Skills and Experience
Skills and Experience to Attain

41. STEP 6: Develop Action Plan
This is the MEAT of the professional development plan SMART Actions to obtain needed skills / experience and other supports
SMART Action Plan
Short-term goals
Existing Skills
Required Skills
Long term goals

42. STEP 7: Set Time Frames Implementation schedule
Define action items and use a calendar

43. Practical Exercise
Your professional development plan

44. Enhancing Your PDP Finding a mentor Career coach Networking
Getting feedback

45. Evaluating and Updating Your PDP

46. Evaluating Your PDP and Your Goals
Your PDP is not a static document
Developing your PDP involves an iterative process

47. Evaluating Your Plan and Your Goals
Continue to review the goals set out in the plan
Review your goals to make sure they are up to date and reflect your interests and positions
At least yearly
Be flexible and revise as necessary
Continue to review the action plan
Review your progress at least quarterly
How much have I accomplished?
Is my plan realistic?
What am I doing well?
What adjustments do I need to make?
Change activities? Add more activities?

48. Evaluating Your Plan and Your Goals
Prioritise your professional development
Make time to develop your plan
Make time to review your plan
Make time to review your goals

49. Conclusion What a professional development plan is
Why a professional development plan is important
Key elements of a professional development plan
Sample professional development plans
Built your professional development plan
Evaluating and updating your professional development plan