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Career Development

“If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else” -Lawrence J. Peter

Career development offers numerous benefits such as enhancing skills and knowledge, making you more competent and confident in your role and preparing you for future opportunities. Focusing on career development can lead to career advancement while increasing job satisfaction by aligning work with your interests and values. Use the resources below as examples of learning opportunities. 

ANR employee stretching.






UC ANR Performance Standards
Analyze where your performance is strong and areas for development by reviewing the UC ANR Performance Standards. Work with your supervisor and if you have one, a mentor or coach to create a development plan. UC ANR Performance Standards (Web page)

My UC Career 
This portal is a robust online development tool available to UC academics and staff seeking to advance their career. It provides you with tools to learn more about your strengths, skills, and opportunities. My UC Career (UC Systemwide Career Development Portal)

UC Davis Career Development
View upcoming workshops, offered virtually, on a variety of career development topics. Check out the toolkit for self-assessment, career exploration, goal setting, taking action, and evaluating your progress. Plan a 1:1 Confidential Career Coaching. Career Development (Web page).

UC ANR Mentorship Program (Feb-November)
The program pairs Mentees who seek professional development with Mentors from across UC ANR. The program provides a supportive structure in which mentees cultivate contacts, better understand ANR, gather information, explore challenges and enhance effectiveness as they design their personal growth and career paths. ANR Mentorship Program (Webpage)

Skills vs. Competency
Skills and competencies, though often used interchangeably, differ in scope and application. A skill is a specific ability to perform a task effectively, often gained through practice and training, and can be technical or interpersonal, like coding or communication. In contrast, a competency is a broader concept that encompasses a combination of skills, knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes necessary for effective performance in a role or situation. While skills are more straightforward to measure and acquire, competencies involve higher-level application and integration of various skills, such as leadership or adaptability, making them more complex to assess and develop. Competencies vs. Skills (PDF)

Career Development Tools 
Use this page to find assessment and planning tools to upskill and prepare or update your career path. Tools include the Individual Development Plan, a Self-assessment, and a Training impact plan. Career Development Tools (Web page).


Feel free to browse the UC Learning Center (Web page), Gartner (Web page), LinkedIn Learning (Web page), and other resources for further exploration.