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I believe in a practical approach to self assessment. There are many instruments available for federal government employees to evaluate their interests, likes, and dislikes but few if any tools are tailored specifically to the federal government employee. Yes, federal employees are unique in many ways. We work for the largest single employer in the country, have over 900 occupational titles to explore, employment opportunities worldwide, and unlike the private sector we have detailed Classification Standards, (MPP) Merit Promotion Plan Announcements, and Position Descriptions at our disposal to help us focus on the specific jobs we seek. The assessment process featured in Take Charge of Your Federal Career utilize the tools that are readily available to all federal employees and culminate in the development of a comprehensive Individual Development Plan. The assessment is the critical first step of the process that will help you take charge of your federal career. After completing the 11 page assessment in the workbook you will have at your finger tips all of your information you need to complete the puzzle. It’s like having all of the pieces in a box and then we start assembling the data (puzzle pieces) into an order that will make sense to YOU. For data on online degree attainment, or information on online graduate degrees please visit eLearners.com for course details.
You are starting with an advantage since you are already working in federal government. Unlike those just starting to explore career options, you have a good sense of what is available in your agency and possibly know of a number of occupations job series that you would like to explore. Many federal employees that work at entry and mid-level positions deal with a large segment of their organization and interact with specialists from many fields. You may already have an informal network of federal employees that you deal with on a regular basis and others who you contact from time to time. You’ll build on this network as you progress through this guide. You are already working for an organization that offers considerable advancement opportunities. Maybe not where you are currently employed but you must consider the entire federal sector. Uncle Sam employs just about 2,700,000 civilians. The diversity of work and the ability to transfer to other agencies and locations further improves your chances. WHO's ON FIRST AND WHAT's ON SECOND Unlike the famous baseball comedy routine of Abbot and Costello, “Who’s on first and What’s on second”, you need to know who’s who in your agency. You also need to know what’s available from your personnel or human resources department and who there can best help you identify career enhancement opportunities. There are excellent tools available that agencies offer employees to explore their interests and to develop their careers. Before You Enroll: Check the Facts 61.3 percent of colleges and universities in the United States offer some type of distance learning. Distance learning is a broad term, but includes programs like correspondence and online classes. Distance learning programs are gaining popularity, especially with adults. These programs provide students with opportunities to gain additional training and competencies, but with the benefit of not having to sit in the classroom. Members of the military, working adults, and parents raising small children have enrolled in the greatest numbers, but anyone can benefit from the convenience and flexibility of distance learning. Unfortunately, not all distance learning programs are the legitimate. Some universities, in fact, have falsified credentials and the degrees they award are worthless. Columbus University, for example, is an example of a university that does not have the ability to award degrees. They have falsified their credentials and have operated out of many states, including Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. Their Web site advertises that they are "The Established Name in Distance Education," but that is not true. For anyone who has been awarded a degree from Columbus University, they might be surprised to find out that their school is a fake. Establishments like Columbus University are referred to as diploma mills (or sometimes degree mills). It is up to prospective students to be concerned about the quality of their education. One way to be certain that a school has not falsified their credentials is to learn about its accreditation status. Accreditation helps ensure the quality of the education provided by your education provider. It does not matter what kind of training or education is received. Technical training schools as well as the Ivy Leagues are accredited. Accreditation status is important regardless of the type of course being taught. Correspondence and online courses need to be provided by accredited schools, just like the more traditional on-campus courses. The U.S. Department of Education grants organizations (or agencies) the ability to accredit each and every education provider in the United States. Referred to as accreditation agencies, they are in charge of awarding accreditation to each school. An accreditation agency reviews several factors when evaluating schools, colleges, and universities including online colleges and universities. Just like other types of reviews and inspections, accreditation must be renewed after a period of time. There are many types of accrediting agencies. For example, there are national accrediting agencies and regional accrediting agencies. There is very little difference between the two major types of agencies. Historically, regional accrediting agencies have awarded accreditation to academic institutions based on whether their main campus was located within a particular region. For example, the University of Massachusetts (and its distance learning division, UMass Online) has campuses located in Massachusetts, and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). NEASC is a regional accreditation agency and typically reviews and awards accreditation to schools in the New England region of the United States. One of the most important facts to check before enrolling in an educational program, especially a distance learning program, is the schools accreditation status. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a reliable resource to research if a school is accredited by an agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Attaining the appropriate education can be time intensive, but many are turning to online education to begin a new or enhance their current career.
A successful career development plan starts with thorough preparation and planning. This is true whether you are beginning your career, seeking re-employment or considering a more satisfying occupation. An important first step in this process is to assess your personal characteristics; take a good look at who you are and what you have done. This will require time and effort, but the time you invest will be worthwhile. Self-assessment can help you to decide on a realistic career objective. The information you compile will also be helpful when writing your resume, completing job applications and preparing for job interviews. One point to remember is that Uncle Sam rates applicants based on education AND/OR work experience. The qualification standard for Administrative and Management Positions lists the entry grade of a GS-5. To meet the basic qualifications for this entry grade you must have either a four year bachelor’s degree or three years general experience. All grades above the entry level require 1 year equivalent specialized experience at the next lower grade. Your experience can come from volunteer work, temporary details or promotions, and from past and present jobs that you have or now hold. Remember that education can substitute for work experience. If a job requires three years experience you can use a combination of related education and actual work experience to qualify. It all boils down to a comprehensive evaluation of your background and then presenting it in a way that raters will understand it. Use the workbook to write down key information and contacts. This way all of your information will be in one location for future reference. Comprehensive KSA Definitions (General Employee Competencies) including supervisory KSA definitions are included in Chapter two of Take Charge of Your Federal Career along with all of the critical assessment forms that you will need. The following forms are available on this site at NO COST. You can download them for your personal use to start planning for your career advancement.
Download the following forms to start your personal assessment. The forms are in Microsoft Word format.
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