The technological advances that have occurred in recent decades have resulted in substantial changes in the nature and structure of occupations and industries. Career development is now being recognized as a lifelong process. Individualized career plans (ICPs) or personal plans of action are becoming important instruments for counselors and others to use in helping their students and/or clients meet their changing goals, interests, and needs in today's rapidly changing society. An ICP can be both a tool and a procedure that individuals can use by themselves or with others to implement and monitor their own career development. Rather than a rigid track, a good ICP can provide a renewed focus for an individual's life. Good ICPs are comprehensive, developmental, person centered, and competency based. It has been suggested that the various life roles be used to provide the main section of a plan and that each plan contain a section in which individuals can project their own future career growth. These life roles include the following: worker, consumer/citizen, learner, and family member roles. The ICP model lends itself well to various formats and modifications, it can be targeted in many directions, and it is adaptable for use at all levels of schooling as well as in employment and training agencies. ICPs can also be developed to assist disabled students and working women. The career passport, which is a variation of the ICP model, presents a systematic process for developing an experience-based resume that documents nonwork as well as work experiences and details the skills, attitudes, and knowledge gained through these experiences. (MN)