The career planning tools referred to below are designed to help you set goals for your career. These tools will also assist you in identifying the steps required towards achieving those goals.
Below is a brief description of a range of different tools that we recommend as support for your career development planning.
MyIDP
We recommend using the free, online, interactive MyIDP from ScienceCareers/AAAS. This IDP tool was developed by a team of scientists and career advisors for trainees in biomedical/STEM sciences. In addition to setting goals for research projects, it encourages exploration of a full range of career options, and involves a four-phase process: Self-assessment (skills, interests, and values), Career Exploration, Goal Setting, and Implementation. It includes the following features:
- Exercise to help you examine your skills, interests, and values
- A list of 20 scientific career paths with a prediction of which ones best fit your skills and interests
- A tool for setting strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to keep you on track
- Articles, guides, and other ressources
- Related videos to the IDP and career planning
Learn more about the IDP process and using myIDP here
ImaginePhD
ImaginePhD is a free online career exploration and planning tool for postdocs and PhD students in the humanities and social sciences. It is a resource that can help bridge the knowledge gap between doctoral education and the realm of career possibilities. ImaginePhD is designed to meet this need by allowing users to:
- assess their career-related skills, interests, and values
- explore career paths appropriate to their disciplines
- create self-defined goals
- map out next steps for career and professional development success
Research Careers
Research Careers provides a collection of profiles of people who have chosen to make the transition from academic to industry. This collection of career profiles enables you to see what others in your position chose to do, why and how they made the move, and what they most enjoy about their job. These career profiles are written by researchers with backgrounds spanning the humanities, social sciences, physical and life sciences.
Research Careers also provides a selection of useful resources for those looking at alternative career paths.
Visit the Research Careers website
Early Career Researcher Forum – Royal Society Te Apārangi
The Early Career Researcher Forum represents the national voice of New Zealand's ECR community and celebrating their achievements and contributions in the fields of physical, biological and social sciences, as well as the humanities.