Professional Development Plan

Introduction

            The focus of my professional development plan is to increase my knowledge and broaden my experiences as a leader to be more effective in my professional career and personal development. A comprehensive approach to goals that combine experiential learning opportunities and formal education/certification aims to develop my abilities and provide knowledge and experience that can shape my impact on my current organization and future leadership opportunities. The use of SMART goals will help set and achieve goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

1 Year Goal

Goal: Participate in a four-month internship program with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management or U.S. Internal Revenue Service human resource department to gain experiential learning opportunities focused on greater leadership knowledge and perspectives related to human resource management.

Action/Strategy: Utilize the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program or IRS Pathways Program to participate in an internship that will broaden my knowledge of human resource/leadership functions in a different organizational context than my current organization. First step is to obtain approval from current organization leadership for participation. Then contact Office of Personnel Management through DOD SkillBridge Program or the IRS through their Pathways Program points of contact listed. Next, I will submit required resume and application packet. Final step will be approval for participation in an internship program.

Personal/Professional Importance: This goal will provide me with broader knowledge of leading and executing human resource functions that will increase my knowledge and value as a leader. It will also allow me to enhance and share knowledge that is gained to provide different perspectives and tools for increased efficiency and effectiveness in reaching team objectives in my current organization. At the organizational level, this experience will lead to greater efficiencies and performance adopted from cross-organizational learning and improved performance within required human resource functions in Army talent acquisition.

Assessment Plan: Initial assessment of attaining goal will be successful approval for participation with current organization leadership and program sponsor organization within the next thirty days. Next assessment benchmark will be thirty days after with successful submission of required resume/application packet. After participation in the program, enhanced skills developed will be measured through quarterly performance evaluations within current organization and solicitation of feedback from peers and subordinates during corresponding time periods.

Resources: Current organization leaders, peers that have participated in similar programs, Department of Defense SkillBridge Program (Office of Personnel Management Program), and Internal Revenue Service Pathways Program.

2-3 Year Goal

Goal: Gain greater knowledge and leadership capabilities by improving technical skills related to data analytics through certification in current computer programs such as Microsoft Power BI and Excel.

Action/Strategy: Utilize the Academy to Innovate HR (AIHR) certification program in people analytics to develop user level knowledge in Microsoft Excell and Microsoft Power BI to input and analyze raw data. In gaining user level knowledge, I will be able to understand how actionable data is collected and analyzed to make more informed leadership decisions. The first step in achieving this goal is to enroll in the AIHR People Analytics certification program. The program is divided into fifteen modules and requires 42 hours of instruction. My plan is to complete the certification in twelve weeks which equals 3.5 hours per week and one to two modules per week over a twelve-week period. Benchmarks for completing this goal are in the first month completing fourteen hours of study and modules 1-5. The second month an additional fourteen hours of study will be completed and modules 6-10. In the third and final month, the final fourteen hours of study will be completed and modules 11-15.

Personal/Professional Importance: Current trends in business leadership require leaders with technical knowledge to understand the importance of data driven decisions related to managing talent and organizational effectiveness. Understanding my weakness in this area requires personal development to stay relevant and competitive in an ever-changing leadership and business environment that relies on technical knowledge and data driven decision making processes. As a leader, this knowledge will allow me to make better decisions that are based on quantifiable data and trends backed by that data. This knowledge and certification will make me more valuable to my current organization or future employers and assist in attaining greater leadership roles.

Assessment Plan: Ongoing assessment of achieving this goal will be measured based upon key benchmarks established in the action/strategy discussed above. Successful completion of five modules of instruction per month will allow for completion of the program in a three-month time frame. A capstone project and final exam at completion of instruction will validate a successful learning outcome.

Resources: Academy to Innovate HR (AIHR) People Analytics Certificate Program

 5 Year Goal

Goal: Attain the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Senior Certified Professional Certification (SCP) and demonstrate my experience/knowledge in strategic human resource management through leading the alignment of HR strategies to organizational goals.

Action/Strategy: Attain qualification for eligibility for examination by transitioning from general operational HR responsibilities in current assignment to a leadership position focused on strategic HR or HR policy/procedure development within approx. one year. Perform strategic level HR duties for minimum three years. Next, and concurrent with strategic/policy development HR position, I will prepare for the examination utilizing study materials provided through the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (BASK) program.

Personal/Professional Importance: This goal will allow me to build upon my experience and education at lower levels of HR policy/procedure implementation to transition into increasing levels of leadership responsibility directing and guiding organizational operations related to human resource management. It will also encourage me to become more involved and strive for leadership positions that allow me to lead the direction and policies that guide an organization’s management of human capital. In this process I will develop higher level leadership skills and become a greater leadership asset capable of improving HR related performance in an organization.

Assessment Plan: Immediately begin networking within my current organization for potential advancement opportunities. Within approx. one year attain a strategic HR or policy development position either within my current organization or through new employment within a different organization. Maintain appropriate position for a minimum of three years. Study for examination once appropriate position is secured. Final assessment of goal attainment will be a passing score on certification examination and receiving certification as a senior certified professional.

Resources: Supervisors within current organization and professional associates in outside organizations. The Society for Human Resource Management BASK study program.