Make the Most of Your Time at NIH with FINDER

We've all heard that goal setting is important, but why exactly? Goals do more than just give us something to work toward. They motivate us and drive our success. They help us establish priorities, make better decisions, finish tasks efficiently, and even anticipate potential pitfalls before they derail our progress.

It's good to start early, but the key is simply to start where you are. Whether you're in your first week at NIH or well into your training, setting professional goals, revisiting them regularly, and discussing them with trusted mentors are essential ingredients for success.

Many might be somewhat familiar with IDPs and these individual development plans have historically been used to help get on the same page with your PI. Using the framework of professional development planning, FINDER recognizes that satisfaction and success look different for everyone.

Each person's FINDER will be different because you outline what satisfaction and success mean to you in the space you are at now. Your journey at NIH is unique, and your own individual plan should reflect that. That's why FINDER is organized around four comprehensive categories that encompass the full spectrum of your experience:

Getting started with FINDER is straightforward:

1. Pick a section from the four main categories
2. Click on a subsection that interests you
3. Answer the questions using the "What to consider" prompts on the right side – think of it like a journal with self-reflective guidance
4. Set goals in the 'Actions' section
5. Repeat for each area you want to develop

Don't feel pressured to complete everything in one sitting. FINDER is designed to grow with you over time. You can use bullet points, write in paragraph form, or whatever style works best for you.

FINDER isn't a one-and-done exercise. It's a living document that should evolve with you. Plan to revisit and update your FINDER every 3-6 months to track your progress, celebrate accomplishments, and adjust your goals as your interests and circumstances change.

FINDER is your tool, designed for you and driven by you. It's:

• Not required – This is an optional resource for your benefit
• Private and secure – Hosted internally within NIH
• Confidential – Your information remains private to you
• Flexible – You control what and how you share
• Easy to use – Intuitive navigation and automatic saving

One of FINDER's most valuable features is its flexibility in sharing. You might share your Career & Professional Development section with an OITE career counselor but keep your Science & Research section out. You might share your Science & Research section with your PI but keep other sections private.

FINDER makes sharing simple through:

• Email or Teams integration
• Printable versions for in-person meetings
• An archive feature that saves different versions based on your updates
• Automatic saving of every version you share or export

This gives you a framework for productive conversations while maintaining control over your information.

Your time at NIH is valuable, and FINDER helps you maximize every opportunity. Whether you're just beginning to think about your career path or you're ready to refine specific goals, FINDER provides the structure and flexibility to support your unique journey.

Ready to get started? Log in to FINDER and begin exploring. Pick one section that resonates with you right now and see where the self-reflective prompts take you. Explore and discover how it can help you map out and achieve your professional goals.