5 Examples of PDP Goals

Professional Development Plan or PDP goals are objectives that you need to set to grow in your professional career. It might be steps you learn new relevant skills, expand your professional network and find more start at your workplace.

If you are still confused, then read this article, as here, we will provide you with 5 examples of PDP goals. Reading this article will help you, by giving some ideas, prepare for your own goal to take your professional career to the next level.

1.   Learn new skills:

To grow is to learn new things that can help you perform your duty much better. The skills you need to develop are dependent on your industry, job and personal preferences.

For example, some in-demand skills are cloud computing, data analysis skills, management skills and the like.

If you are confused about what skills you need to develop, talk to your seniors or manager for their suggestions. Besides that, browse job descriptions of positions you want to attain.

To learn new skills, you need to take online or in-person courses, shadow a coworker and the like. So, be careful about where you want to go, what you need to learn and from where you can learn best.

2.   Develop your workspace skills:

Workspace skills are the practices and tools that help you in the workplace connect and interact smoothly with others. Sometimes, they are called human or soft skills. Workplace skills can be very important to take your professional career to the next level. Workplace skills can be verbal and nonverbal communication, self-awareness, empathy and leadership.

So, it’s wise to take online courses on communication, negotiation or psychology.

In addition, you can join a social public speaking club to improve these skills.

3.   Leadership responsibilities:

Actively looking for leadership opportunities will be a way for you to develop leadership skills and show others that you are working hard to grow. Go to your manager to see how you might be able to put your leadership skills into practice. The following are two examples for you to start:

·        Plan the next team offsite or activity

·        Lead a team initiative to collectively learn a new skill or tool

 

4.   Professional network expansion:

If you expand your professional network, then you will be able to have new ideas, build your profile, be aware of new job opportunities and learn continuously.

You can sign up for new events to attend in your field and join professional groups in person or using social media platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook.

The things you can do to achieve these goals are:

·        Take part in 5 in-person or virtual professional events

·        Look for and join three professional groups on LinkedIn

 

5.    Finding a mentor:

A mentor can help you cope with challenges that may come up in your professional life. Besides that, they can also help you make progress in your professional career.

It may seem a challenging task to find a mentor, but you should have a positive attitude. Some workplaces have mentoring programs in place making it far easier for people to connect with a more experienced professional. You may also find that your professional network may expand this way.

So, include in your PDP report a way to find people who have done something marvelous that you want to do. Or, if possible, reach out to an expert in your workplace that can help you learn more about your field.

The goals that can help you find a mentor are:

Fix a meeting with potential mentors to see whether they are a fit

Ask those who work in your industry to help you find a mentor