Personal development plans

The following section and the linked PDF resource will give you guidance on the Personal Development Plan, what it is and how you can utilise it in support of your professional aspirations.

3 key questions to ask yourself...

  1. What is a Personal Development Plan(PDP)?
  2. Why should I have one?
  3. How can I write one to reflect my own aspirations?

The answers are straightforward……

1. What is a Personal Development Plan (PDP)?


A PDP is just another name for a plan of action, only this one refers specifically to your aspirations regarding personal development. We make plans every day, but do not always write them down; a PDP allows you to set your own personal targets and find the best way to achieve them.

2. Why Should I have one?


An action plan will help you to visualise what you are doing and keep track of your achievements. To be totally effective, it must be a fluid document that is reviewed at regular intervals to ensure that it is always accurate, relevant and realistic.

3. How can I write one to reflect my own aspirations?


You now have 2 options. Some of you may feel confident enough to go straight ahead and fill in a PDP, if this applies to you, download the PDF info pack, go to page 2-A-1, consider the example and then fill in the template on page 2-A-3. Please note that the design used for the template is only a suggested format. Many of you may need a little more time to consider the various factors that will affect your future decisions. If this is the case, take some time to go through the guidance on the following pages. The questions aim to promote thought and consideration of the direction that you want to go in and the methods that you want to use. They also take account of your own personal circumstances before you decide on a course of action.

Download and study the full PDP information pack here (PDF)