The Encore Career
Aging baby boomers, coupled with early retirement incentives designed to reduce salary loads, are swelling the ranks of retired public service professionals. Despite this crop of 60’s era retirees’ declaration that they would not toil into their advanced years like...
Reengineering Government is No Longer a Myth
Government outsourcing, or privatization, is a central strategy to the notion of reengineering government which has been widely discussed and written about since the 1970s. However, while recession-choked cities and counties are now looking closer at outsourcing,...
Avoiding the Serial Applicant Syndrome
Step 1: Don’t apply for the job. Step 2: Repeat, as needed. Sometimes your job search can feel like a numbers game - the more applications you send in, the better the odds that you’ll land that dream position, right? Well, what may have worked when you were in high...
Is the Public Sector making a turnaround?
Decreasing revenue streams and budget shortfalls have led to hiring freezes, unpaid furloughs, and in many cases, layoffs of state and local government employees across the country. And while the private sector is feeling its own brand of pain, the recession has...
Local Government Term Limits
Any individual who advocates for mandatory local government term limits for local government offices has either never worked in local government or Is a fool. Term limits for County Board, City Council, Mayor, Township, Borough, Parish or School Board public offices...
Impact of Federal Elections on Local Employment
At least one interpretation of former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil's declaration that "All politics is local" suggests that while people may support or reject an issue on a national basis, they tend to actually vote in ways that impact them locally. If you...
Communication Is Critical In Change Management
Much has been said since 2008 – and still is, today – about the devastating impact upon governmental budgets brought on by the foreclosure and property tax calamities. In fact, I don’t believe enough can be said about it. Having once served as Public Information...
Conflict of Interest – Taking a More Aggressive Approach to Protecting the Integrity of Public Service
As public servants we are all fully cognizant of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act (promulgated from the Political Reform Act of 1974) and the prescribed requirements for disclosing our financial interests and avoiding such conflicts. Most all...
Your Professional Brand
As governments begin to hire again it is imperative for those seeking employment to be better positioned as a powerful professional brand. Everything about you should demonstrate that as a candidate for employment you are THE protagonist for high performance and...
Federal Hiring and Veteran’s Preference
Are you a veteran of the armed services? Are you taking advantage of your veteran’s preference whilepursuing employment with the Federal government? Disabled veterans and veterans who served on active duty at certain times receive special hiring preference. It is one...
Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
Government has entered a new era. It is an era of reset. When completed, it will change the priorities of governments, nationwide. With the convergence of an unprecedented decline in the world economy combined with escalating cost associated with the delivery of local...
Employee Wellness Programs are a Good Investment In Tough Times
Times are tough. As a result, many state and local governments throughout the country are looking for ways to tighten the purse strings. An obvious strategy is to cut expenses, eliminating non-essential programs and services in order to balance budgets. While...
Emergency Services: A Job That Requires Work
So you want to be a first responder. The list of folks who make this choice each year can number in the thousands. What will make you successful in fulfilling your wish; preparation? Preparing for your career in Emergency Services should start the second that you...
The Benefits of Using Executive Recruiters in 2013
Personnel costs typically consume as much as eighty percent or more of government operating costs and the importance of attracting and selecting experienced, highly qualified and well-suited employees for executive and management positions in public service cannot be...
What Does the Future Have in Store for You?
2013 and we are nearing February 1st! Futurists have long been calling for individuals to round out their careers by building multiple revenue streams. By 2019, more layoffs will have occurred, more robots will be replacing humans, and more individuals will be footing...
How to Be an Educated Consumer of Metro Area Employment Data
Every month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases its report on employment and unemployment rates in the nation’s 372 metropolitan areas. Along with other economic indicators, these figures can tell a lot about a local area’s economic health –...
Good Enough For Government Work
There is a story that was shared with me many years ago of a man said to have been the source of the well-known phrase “ Good Enough For Government Work”. It was said to have originated some 70 years ago. The man, an engineer, owned a small engineering firm and would...
Railroads in America – A Government Dilemma
Very early on, the British Monarchy insisted on a 4 foot 8.5 wheel spacing because they wanted to promote and ensure maximum trade and commerce throughout the kingdom. They decreed that every wagon and ox carts had to have a wheel spacing of 4 feet, 8.5 inches. They...