Government Articles
Getting Hired By the Federal Government
By Ted Daywalt
The Federal government hires people with nearly every level of education and experience. Your clients may need your help when applying for Federal positions.
Best Places to Work in the Federal Government: What Your Clients Need to Know
By Amanda Davis
The 2011 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings were recently released, and the government is already hard at work using these results to improve employee satisfaction and attract the next generation of top talent to federal agencies. Learn more about which agencies ranked the highest, how agencies are using this data as a recruitment tool and, most importantly, how you can put this information to work for your clients.
Accelerating Veterans and Transitioning Military Personnel towards Job Readiness, Employment, and Successful Reintegration
By John C. Koontz
VETPROPULSION® is a new and exciting approach to getting veterans and transitioning military personnel employed. It is an intense employment seminar designed to utilize the VetCTMS© toolkit and teach a proven, six-step modern job search process. Participants work together as part of a team and keep motivated while successfully gaining their employment desires.
USDA Rural Development: Committed to the Future of Rural Career Opportunities
By Colleen Callahan, Julie Wilson and Molly Hammond
As job seekers hunt for new opportunities, most probably assume that their only option is to look in metropolitan areas for work. What about the idea of a career path in a rural area? There are opportunities to build a career in many rural communities across this country and the USDA helps make this a reality.
A Toolkit for Vets
By John Koontz
The Veterans Career Transition Management System (VetCMTS) is an innovative and comprehensive job search system designed to assist transitioning military personnel and veterans to successfully move into the civilian work world. It provides a variety of tools including: a reference manual, telescripts for contacting employers, daily progress sheets to track activities, and a weekly progress sheet. The toolkit is designed to allow veterans to take ownership of their career development and facilitate the process of finding suitable employment.
Hiring Reform Celebrates First Anniversary
By Amanda Davis and Brooke Bohnet
At the one year anniversary of federal hiring reform, the "Partnership for Public Service" looks at what has changed in the way government recruits and hires our nation's best talent. Federal hiring reform officially began May 2010 when President Obama outlined new hiring policies in a Presidential Memorandum, and the government has made strides on reforming hiring processes since focusing on the effort.
Government Work – Is It For Me?
By: Danielle Gruen
Looking to broaden your understanding of government work and its opportunities? Perhaps considering employment within a government agency or department either for yourself or for clients? Effective decision-making requires current and accurate information on government work, exploration of opportunities, and examination of the labor market.
Increasing Awareness of Federal Government Career Opportunities
By Imants Jaunarajs and Tori Spring
Three years ago, The Career Center at The University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) decided to “develop a plan to increase campus wide awareness of federal job and internship opportunities”. This is our story of how we implemented an innovative public service initiative on campus.
Promoting Federal, State and Local Incentives for Enhancing Individual Career Development
By Cynthia Gurne
The government is a major funder of career programs, either directly from the various federal agencies or through state and local pipelines. Being aware of these programs, eligibility for participation and methods of applying can enable a career service provider to more effectively help clients enter, develop or transition from a career field.
Associate Editor, Government Dept. Position Open
Call for Volunteers
If you are an NCDA member working in local/state/federal government, corrections, military, or workforce development, please consider serving as an Associate Editor.
20 Ways to Get Published in 2011
By Jennifer Kim
Do you have knowledge of career development related to local/state/federal government, corrections, military, or workforce development? Are you interested in writing an article for the Government section of Career Convergence, but not sure about the topic? Here are 20 ideas to get you started.
From Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots (and other career services for new veterans)
By Jennifer Kim
Here are a few helmet-to-hardhat resources - but we are looking for more! If you have veteran career resources to share or if you work in a program serving new veterans, please contact Jennifer Kim (Jennifer.kim@mepcom.army.mil) to submit an article or discuss ideas for writing an article.
Management Strategies for a Virtual Career Services Program
By Barbara Reuper-Baum
What if you were asked to design a program that would provide a wide range of career services to over 60,000 people working in over 500 locations around the world—and told that you must do so without putting counselors in any of these locations?
Informational Interviews: Teaching Clients Effective Techniques
By Christine Toresdahl
Informational Interviews, a tool used by job seekers and career-changers to obtain information about careers, trends, and industries, are a powerful method to find job openings. However, many individuals are reluctant to use this tool. This article offers a workshop format one Workforce Center is using to help them overcome these barriers.
Top Web Tools for America's Job Seekers
By Janet E. Wall
Given that our unemployment rate continues to flirt with double digits, we all try to find ways to help our clients and customers. Over the last few years several online tools have been developed. Here is a listing of what some consider the best tools.
The Association of Counselors and Educators in Government (ACEG)
By Don Hill
Learn more about the Association of Counselors and Educators in Government (ACEG)! The ACEG is a division of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and is comprised of counselors and educators who work with members of the Armed Services and their families (active duty or retired) and civilian employees of the Department of Defense and other government agencies.
Civilian to Military: Assisting Clients Seeking a Military Option
By Ted Hagert
In today's economy, many individuals are looking at the military as a viable option for employment. Here is a plan of action to assist counselors who are unfamiliar with the military and its vast career options.
Guide to America's Federal Jobs
Book Review By Jennifer A. Smith
This new directory provides comprehensive information on finding, applying and getting hired in the federal government. The resources provided will be invaluable to counselors and to both seasoned and first-time federal job seekers.
Perceptions Keep Businesses From Reaping Benefits Local Workforce Centers Can Provide
By Kristine Kinzli
Getting businesses past the negative perceptions of their workforce center and engaging them in the value saving programs are today's assignments for the workforce center professional.
Capitol Briefing: Mobilizing For Change
By Thomas R. Stowell
As Congress considers reauthorization of career and workforce legislation and the impact of newly proposed initiatives, we look to our members to advocate for issues important to our organization and profession. The Government Relations Committee provides support and information to aid your efforts. Members can dramatically impact policy decisions related to NCDA's legislative agenda through advocacy, education, and collaboration.
The Advocacy Imperative Goes On
By Amy Mazur
Advocacy continues to be an important competency for career development professionals. Beginning with some visibility at the 2008 NCDA Global Conference in Washington, DC, the work of a small group of Boston career development professionals continues to motivate and define competency for them and others in the greater NCDA community.
Uncle Sam Wants You!
By Karol Taylor
Civil service is again coming into vogue. Career counselors and coaches are being approached by clients seeking direction toward federal government careers. More and more students are requesting instruction on completing and posting their federal resume. Are you prepared to assist them?
Bridging Employment Gaps: Strategies from a Military Spouse
By Stefani Schomaker
The frequent relocation of military families requires military spouses to use creative strategies for bridging gaps in their employment. These same tactics can be utilized by ALL job seekers.
Policy that Moves Beyond Employment toward Worker Resiliency
By Natesha Smith
The advocation of public policy by career development professionals has primarily been focused on education, training and employment. However, for future progress in policy development, it would be wise for career professionals to play a key role in identifying strategic goals that emphasize resiliency and employability in workers.
The Value of Servant Leadership Skills in Government Employees
By Darrell Norman Burrell and Brian C. Grizzell
In order to meet changing leadership challenges, government employees with managerial authority must seek skill development and executive training in Servant Leadership, which encompasses empowering, motivating, and nurturing employees towards collaboration, knowledge sharing, and team building cultures.
A Look at Restorative Justice: What Are We Going To Do With All These Ex-Offenders?
By Stephen Sisco
Unquestionably unemployment contributes to an increased rate of parole revocation, which is a major risk factor for recidivism. Professionals who assist ex-offenders in the search for employment must possess a comprehensive set of workforce development skills.
Military to Civilian: Assisting Transitioning Army Personnel in Navigating the Civilian Job Market
By Natesha Smith
The U.S. Army as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has an active role in providing transition assistance programs to discharged or retired soldiers. Due to the stressful life of transitioning personnel, unanswered questions and uncertainty may be brought to the attention of civilian career practitioners. This article addresses such topics as culture shock, transferable skills and tools for exploring the market for the post-military population.
Emotions and Employability: A focus on the soft skills of women offenders
By N. Jonas Ohrberg
While incarcerated, women offenders have an opportunity to pursue an education and improve career related skills. Although programs available to them may provide educational opportunities, they often ignore the development of effective interpersonal skills. This article stresses the need for programs that will teach women offenders about emotional awareness and help them develop effective interpersonal skills.
Bridging the Gap from Job to Career for U.S. Veterans
By Jennifer Phillips, Jennifer Braud, Lindsay Andrews, and Emily E. Bullock
This article addresses the complexities of U.S. war veterans career development. It addresses many of the barriers associated with this population including homelessness. The Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) Approach to career counseling is presented as a method for assisting veterans from initial placement to long-term career development.
Try DecideAttitude: Successful Responses to the Job Search
Book Reviews by Karol Taylor
Since so many job seekers seem discouraged and overwhelmed, particularly those in State and Federal One Stops and Rapid Response agencies, resources such as these motivational pocket books are a valuable tool.
Why Government Managers Need to Develop Critical Thinking Skills
By Asila Safi and Darrell Norman Burrell
Evolving leadership challenges like succession planning in government, international cultural genocide, and international terrorism have made decision making for government managers very tough with extreme implications. All government managers need to develop and utilize critical thinking skills. The engagement in managerial critical thinking is about learning to overcome and become self aware of biases, false assumptions, myths, and faulty paradigms that can hamper effective decision making.
Career Development for People with Psychiatric Disabilities
By Janice D. Rubin
This article outlines the career development strategies and approaches that have been successful in identifying career areas and employment opportunities for people with psychiatric disabilities. Strategies offered are especially helpful to practitioners who work with state vocational rehabilitation offices.
Teach Job Search Skills with Improv
By Andy Wainer
The use of Improv techniques in career counseling can add some fun to learning job search skills. Relevant Improv techniques are suggested for many of the skills clients need to engage in career exploration and conduct a successful job search. Best of all, it benefits clients in a variety of settings from One-Stops to students to private practice.
Addressing New Veterans' Employment Needs with e-Tools
By Denise Felder
Veterans returning home after recently serving in the Middle East face many adjustments, including career planning. This article details a few of the Department of Labor's online resources available to recently separated military personnel, their families and the career counselors assisting them in finding information about job searching, career development and post-secondary education.
The Career Readiness Certificate: An Economic Success Story
by Barbara Bolin
The Career Readiness Certificate is fast becoming a national portable skills credential. Based on three WorkKeys assessments, it is filling an important role in our education / training system. The Career Readiness Certificate objectively certifies applied skills and trainability so it is particularly valuable to exiting CTE high school students. The Consortium now consists of 43 states, and close to 60,000 Certificates have already been issued.
The Presidential Management Fellowship Internship Program
by Darrell Norman Burrell
In the aftermath of 9/11 and the events of Hurricane Katrina, the need for people with advanced degrees and fresh ideas has never been more important in the management ranks of government. The article discusses the Presidential Management Fellowship Internship Program which is a little known option for getting into government on a fast-track to senior management jobs.
Career Development Services Within Maryland Correctional Educational Facilities
by Diana M. Bailey
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) manages and delivers correctional education services behind the fence. The article provides statistics on the need for services and the outcome of services offered for Marylands incarcerated population.
Our Point of View: It is Better to Volunteer!
by Sue Pressman and Tanya Bodzin
The authors offer insight into governmental consulting opportunities. They suggest that it is better to volunteer ones services than do disservice to the counseling profession by accepting low compensation rates. Finally, they make recommendations for raising the compensation bar for the career counselor.
Quality Standards For Career Centers?
by Howard Splete and Bill Freed
NCDA has supported professional standards for career development service providers, as Nationally Certified Career Counselors (NCCC) and Global Career Development Facilitators (GCDF) . What have we done to promote similar professional standards for the organization and administration of career centers and their programs? Are they needed?
Get Hired! How to Land the Ideal Federal Job and Negotiate a Top Salary
Book Review by Janet Ruck
Have you tried to help your clients wind through the maze of the federal hiring process? If so, you know that Uncle Sam is not a benevolent recruiter. Lily Whiteman has tackled this challenge and provided counselors with a valuable resource.
The Importance of Self-Marketing
by Janet M. Ruck
Emphasizing accomplishments rather than just listing skills, can be an effective form of self-marketing that federal employees can use.
Competency Based Workshops Help Internal Revenue Service Employees Manage Their Careers
by Dan Vale
IRS career management workshops help employees maximize their career potential, and facilitate the achievement of the IRS strategic goals of retention and reorganization. These workshops form an integral part of the career development services the IRS offers its employees.
Competitive Sourcing: Crisis and Opportunity
by Janet M. Ruck
Competitive sourcing (also known as public-private competition for work currently preformed by federal employees) is intended to spur the government to work more efficiently and ensure that taxpayers are receiving the best service at the most reasonable cost. For the federal employees whose functions have been identified as those that could be performed by the private sector it means turmoil, anxiety and often, loss of federal status.
The Career Readiness Certificate: New Resource for Job Seekers and Employers
by Barbara Bolin
Since its inception in 2003, the Career Readiness Certificate Consortium has grown to include 37 states. The Certificate is fast becoming a national credential because of its benefits to employers and employees.
People with Disabilities: Exploring Self-Employment as a Career Option
by Greg Wimer
Entrepreneurship is an exciting way for people with disabilities to realize their full potential while becoming financially self-supporting.
The One-Stop Career Center: A Resource For Job Seekers
by Marjorie Hendrickson
The Workforce Investment Act delineates basic principles to guide service delivery to employers, their employees and job seekers through local One-Stop Career Centers. This article includes a brief background of the Workforce Investment Act and how the One-Stop system delivers career services to communities.
Tips on Understanding Federal Vacancy Announcements and Applying for Federal Jobs
by Elda Schwartz
The tips provided in this article are intended to simplify the federal application process by helping applicants understand how to decipher a vacancy announcement and prepare a well-written application package that will lead to a job interview.
New Developments in Federal Employment
by Elda Schwartz
More jobseekers are looking to the federal government as an employer of choice. People are realizing that there is more to federal employment that is appealing in this post 9/11 era in which there is a reawakening of interest in public service. Excellent federal benefits and regular working hours are appealing to people wanting to balance family and work life.
The O*NET System for Career Development Professionals
by Janet Wall
The US Department of Labor has produced a comprehensive, dynamic, and high-quality system of occupational information and supporting tools. These are available without cost to career development and workforce practitioners and researchers.
The Internal Revenue Service Creates New Career Management Tool
by Daniel Vale
The Career Advancement and Progression Guide (CAP) is a tool used by IRS managers, employees and personnel services representatives to help plan employees career progression and to facilitate overall IRS workforce planning. CAP includes diagrams of employees most likely career path options and other vital information about various job series and career paths.
Articles Wanted!
Government authors needed.
Contact the Associate Editor, Government Department, to contribute. Articles can relate to any career development in any governmental area including local/state/federal, corrections, military, workforce development, etc.
Fast Track to Federal and Commercial Occupational Information Sources
By Peter Manzi
Accurate and timely information about occupations, job growth and labor demands is more important than ever in todays volatile job market. This article offers a clear guide to some of the best government and commercial sources for occupational information.
The Internal Revenue Service is Reaching Beyond the "Horizons" with Mentoring Opportunities
by Judith L. Button
Are you looking for a chance to introduce adult learning principles that excite, educate and motivate employees in your organization? The underpinnings of a structured mentoring program, sponsored at the Internal Revenue Service, can show you how. Mentoring has long since been applauded for its vital cornerstone approaches that deliver extraordinary synergies and strategies that assist employees in becoming the ultimate drivers of their career. See how the IRS is Reaching beyond the HORIZONS with mentoring opportunities.
Resources to Help Military Service Members Make Successful Transitions to the Civilian Workforce
by Larry Woods
Career development facilitators and career counselors can help military service members make a smooth transition from the military to the civilian workforce by becoming familiar with the wide variety of resources that are designed for this purpose.
Using the Workforce Investment Act and Other Resources to Foster Career Resiliency in our Youth
by Fran Abbott
How many more youth are we going to loose to the streets, substance abuse, violence, unemployment and chronic under employment, violence? As career development professionals, we know that our young people are our future.
New South Carolina Legislation Calls for Enhanced K-12 Career Guidance, CDF Certification
by Ray Davis, Ph.D.
Current legislation in the South Carolina State Legislature seeks to enhance the role of career development as being essential to economic development, school improvement, and the present and future prosperity of citizens. Included in this K-12 reform is revitalized career guidance and counseling and career development certification through Career Development Facilitator training.
Opportunities Offered to Professionals the Workforce Development Field
by Tammy Ditzel
Where can you get both certification programs and general training? The Maryland Institute for Employment and Training Professionals (MIETP) provides staff development and networking opportunities for professionals in the workforce development field.
