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  • Close-up of a red emergency alarm button on a white wall. The alarm, clearly vital for an Emergency Manager, instructs users to break the glass to activate it, including the phrase "SMASH GLASS" in French, German, and Italian. The button has a weathered, slightly rusted appearance.

    Public Service Career Spotlight: Emergency Manager

    Typically when we think about emergency management, we think about the professionals who are on the ground when an emergency happens—such as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and other first responders. However, there are also a number of people who work behind the scenes to help make that response possible. Emergency management specialists are […]

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  • A keyboard engulfed in bright orange flames and thick smoke, with the keys melting from the intense heat. This image of technological destruction conveys a sense of urgent catastrophe.

    Trash Worthy Technology

    I recently attended a conference on waste to energy in southern California.  I was amazed at the amount of municipal employees who could see the writing on the wall with regard to the next generation of technology coming online.  The ability to manage the last 10 to 20% of a waste stream into an energy […]

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  • A man in a business suit balances on a tightrope high above a city skyline on a rainy day, illustrating the precarious nature of government work. He holds an open black umbrella and extends his other arm for balance, with city buildings and a cloudy sky visible in the background.

    The Future of Government Work

    Walk the halls of government today and you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported back in time. You’ll observe hierarchical, siloed organizational structures that date back to the era of black and white television, antiquated IT systems, and service delivery models driven by bureaucracy instead of citizen needs. You’ll also find that legacy thinking still […]

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  • A vintage U.S. postage stamp featuring a detailed engraved portrait of John F. Kennedy in brown ink. “JOHN F. KENNEDY” is written vertically on the right side, and “13c UNITED STATES” is at the bottom, honoring his legacy of public service.

    Revisiting JFK’s Call to Public Service 50 Years Later

    “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country” President John F. Kennedy With those words and the creation of programs such as AmeriCorps and the Peace Corp, President Kennedy challenged a generation to enter public service. That generation answered the call and made the government workforce […]

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  • A large, weathered concrete block, partially covered with the American flag, sits on a dark asphalt road. The block appears to be tethered by an old, rusted metal hook protruding from its top. White dashed lines run parallel on either side of the block, evoking a sense of government authority.

    Beyond Gridlock in Local Government

    The facts on the ground Government will continue to be in the vortex of a perfect storm. It must Do far more, with far less Forge ahead in unchartered waters yet maintain stability and constant service Find new ways to seek efficiency, yet maintain a competent workforce Continue to comply with existing regulations and innovate […]

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  • Blue digital background with letters, numbers, and symbols. The words "Send Resume" are prominently displayed in large, bright, glowing text in the center of the image. The background has a code-like, matrix effect reminiscent of programming scripts.

    Your Ten Seconds of Resume Fame

    At some point in your job search you may have wondered why so many career experts spend lots of time talking about how to write the perfect resume, when you may have also heard that recruiters spend very little time reviewing it. The Absolute truth is that your resume has only about 10 seconds to […]

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  • Black and white illustration of a grand, historic building labeled "City Clerks Office" with "Brooklyn" written beneath it. The city clerk's office features a central tower and numerous windows. Horse-drawn carriages and people are depicted in front of the building.

    A Day in the Life of a City Clerk

    A city clerk is one of the oldest public service positions, dating back to Ancient Greece. In the United States, the office of city clerk was one of the first to be established when early colonists set up local governments. Today, a city clerk is an elected or appointed senior official who is responsible for […]

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  • A neoclassical building with a yellow facade features six tall, fluted columns supporting a semi-circular portico. The columns have ornate capitals, and the structure includes multiple arched windows. A decorative railing tops the building against a clear blue sky, evoking an air of authority often associated with government managers.

    Skills for Government Managers of the Future

    Leadership in government organizations is changing into something quite different than it was as recently as 10 years ago. The International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2014, and our members have been marking the turn of the century by taking a careful look at public sector leadership and the skills […]

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  • A red pushpin holds a paper with the word "resume" prominently highlighted, set against a background of blurred words and hashtags related to loans and financial terms.

    Executive Resume Writing Tips

    A senior executive’s professional resume has one job, and that is to portray your value and significance that you can bring to the business. At the executive level it is expected that you have all the soft skills required to lead and manage teams, however the key is to focus on highlighting your value added […]

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  • Colorful paper cutouts with text are pinned to a corkboard. The text reads, "Don't say I wish. Say I will." The background is a textured, light brown surface and the paper cutouts, in shades of green, yellow, and pink, are pinned with silver push pins—a motivational message ideal for the public sector.

    Attitude is Everything in the Public Sector

    I was training a group of public agency managers the other day and asked them the question, “provided you had the option for a pool of prospective employees, all with baseline qualifying skills, and could choose between one with extraordinary skills and knowledge or one with a demonstratable great work attitude, which would you choose?’  […]

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