Plan Your Journey Preview
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This guide allows you to preview Duke's professional development planning tool for Ph.D. students. If you are a Duke user, please use the NetID login button at the top right to create your professional development roadmap.
Students in the biomedical sciences and other STEM disciplines can use the skills, interests, and values assessments available through the free online myIDP tool hosted by Science Careers. Students in Chemistry and other physical sciences disciplines can take advantage of the ChemIDP tool available through the American Chemical Society. Finally, this skills and competencies checklist may be useful to students across disciplines.
Students in the biomedical sciences and other STEM disciplines can use the skills, interests, and values assessments available through the free online myIDP tool hosted by Science Careers. Students in Chemistry and other physical sciences disciplines can take advantage of the ChemIDP tool available through the American Chemical Society. Finally, this skills and competencies checklist may be useful to students across disciplines.
To assess my interests, use journaling or another reflection technique to keep track of the tasks I do each day and how much I enjoy each one.
Use the online Life Values Inventory to assess my values and actions. The tool and report are free and were developed by a past director of Duke CAPS as a resource for all students.
Explore Duke Career Center’s five-step Career Development Process, including a "Know Yourself" assessment that helps students uncover what drives them and assess my values, skills, interests, and personality.
Use the free Keirsey Temperament Sorter II assessment report to gain insight into the values I might seek in a career. If desired, debrief this assessment through an individual appointment with a Duke Career Center advisor; schedule a one-on-one appointment or visit drop-in advising.
Participate in professional development events focused on building self-awareness; see The Graduate School's professional development calendar for upcoming offerings.
Make an individual advising appointment or visit drop-in advising with the Duke Career Center.
Build community to successfully navigate the challenges of starting a Ph.D. program with the Ph.D. Peer Mentoring Program sponsored by Duke Interdisciplinary Studies.
Use campus resources such as Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the Student Wellness Center to help understand how to live in alignment with my values. CAPS offers individual appointments and group counseling as well as a variety of other resources. Use Timely Care for 24/7 virtual care, self-care, and well-being tools.
Talk with faculty about my interests and skills and seek advice about career opportunities.
Talk with more advanced graduate students and postdocs in my department or program about career opportunities that fit with my knowledge, skills, and values.
Join the Duke postdoc listserv to learn more about the fellowships, job openings, and engagement opportunities open to me. All members of the Duke community may subscribe to the Duke postdoc list.
Explore LinkedIn profiles of professionals who work in fields of interest, or see what kinds of career opportunities are available for professionals with my degree. For more information on how to use LinkedIn as a career research tool, consult the Duke Career Center’s video on leveraging LinkedIn as a complement to the Duke Alumni Network.
Connect with alumni to learn more about career opportunities that could be a good fit for me. I can find and reach out to alums using the Duke Alumni Network or pose a question and let the Ask a Blue Devil tool find an alum who can answer it.
Make an individual advising appointment or visit drop-in advising with the Duke Career Center.
Explore the Versatile PhD CareerFinder tool. Reading the General Information about a career path provides a broad overview; Real-Life Examples illustrate individual career journeys. The Graduate School’s subscription provides free access to graduate students; authenticate as a Duke user my first time entering VersatilePhD to access the full range of Versatile PhD resources.
Begin a professional development reading list. I can find a good starting point with this blog post.
Use the myIDP assessment to explore connections between my knowledge and skills and possible career opportunities. While this tool is designed for the biomedical sciences, it may be of interest to other STEM disciplines. ChemIDP may also be of interest to those in Chemistry and other physical sciences disciplines.
Explore job families that align with my skills and interests in the free online ImaginePhD tool. If I’m in Psychology, I might also explore the APA’s Resource for Individual Development Plans.
Take advantage of Duke's pilot subscription to Beyond the Professoriate to explore both faculty and professional career options for PhDs.